Points:

God Restores people through confession and praise. (1-5)

God Restores people through remembrance and promise. (6-38)

SG Questions:

Think about all the ways we try to fix what ails us (which is a good thing): diets, sleep protocols, productivity systems. What are you currently working hardest to "optimize”? What have you tried through the years and what were the results?

Now think about your spiritual life; is God currently highlighting an area of life he’s been working on with you lately? How’s that been going?

When you think about confessing sin to God, do you picture a principal handing down punishment or a doctor offering a cure? Read 1 John 1:9 together. What makes it hard to believe that confession is meant to be restorative rather than punitive, and what would change if we really believed it?

Sulking after confession can be a veiled form of self-salvation, as if we need to add our guilt to what Jesus did on the cross. Where do you tend to land after you confess: relief and rejoicing, or lingering shame? Why do you think that is for you? What would it look like to receive forgiveness the way someone does on the day of their baptism?

Ongoing confession is kind of like brushing your teeth every night after a deep dental cleaning. What does your current rhythm of confession look like, both alone with God and with another person (James 5:16)? What is one practical step you could take this week to grow the discipline of confession?

The Israelites prayed through their history to remember who God is. Think of a struggle you are in right now. Which moment from your own story, or from Scripture, of God's faithfulness could you deliberately recall to lift your eyes off the struggle? Share with your group the personal or biblical story that most encourages your heart when you remember it.

Discussion Questions:

Think of a time you assumed you already knew how to handle a situation, only to realize you needed to stop and think it through differently. What happened?

Nehemiah discovered that the wealthy nobles and officials were charging interest and enslaving their own Jewish brothers to profit from the famine (Neh. 5:1–5). What internal issues — attitudes, habits, or patterns — tend to do the most damage in a church, more than any outside opposition?

When Nehemiah confronted the nobles, they were silent and then repented, restoring what they had taken (Neh. 5:6–13). Is there a relationship in your life right now where you're avoiding a direct conversation instead of going straight to the person? What's holding you back? Is there someone you need to do some repair work with?

Nehemiah pointed out that their behavior toward each other would bring "the taunts of the nations" and damage their witness (Neh. 5:9). How does the way believers treat one another inside the church shape how outsiders view us and view Jesus? Can you think of an example, positive and negative?

Unlike previous governors who enriched themselves, Nehemiah refused his food allowance and used his own resources to provide for his people because of "the fear of God" (Neh. 5:14–18). What would it look like for you to lead — at home, at work, or in this group — by giving more of yourself rather than expecting more from others? Do you desire to lead more in Jesus’ church? How should you prepare? What next step could you take?

"We actually can't do the work of restoration out there unless God does the work of restoration in here.” Would you spend some praying as a group for your group and Lakeview as a whole, would experience the fullness of the restoration work God wants to do in us!

Discussion Questions:

Roughly 80% of people tend to avoid conflict. Where do you see that tendency in your own life — and how might avoiding conflict actually get in the way of doing "God's work, God's way"?

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that they will have tribulation in this world. How does reframing opposition as something you've "signed up for" (rather than something that means you're off track) change how you respond when it shows up? Can share about a time when this truth was particularly helpful?

Sanballat and Tobiah's opposition grew three escalating stages — verbal mockery, intimidation, and plotted physical violence. Can you think of a time you faced one of these forms of opposition because of a stand you took for Christ? How did you respond in the moment? What did you learn or grow in through that experience?

Nehemiah's response starts with raw, honest prayer (4:4-5), which the sermon suggests we should pray "Christo-centrically" — following Jesus's example of praying for those who oppose us rather than only against them. Is there someone opposing you right now that you've been avoiding praying for? What would it look like to pray for them today?

Nehemiah's practical wisdom (arming the people, posting guards, setting up a communication plan) was built on top of faith-filled perseverance — "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome" (4:14). In an area where you're currently facing opposition, what would it look like this week to combine practical wisdom with that kind of remembering, rather than leaning on one without the other?

Discussion Questions:

“The more wisdom you get, the more wisdom you realize you lack." Where in your life right now do you feel the tension of needing more wisdom than you currently have — health, relationships, finances, parenting, work? What wisdom do you need?

Nehemiah rested three days before doing anything (2:11), even though he likely felt urgency to act. Do you sense the need for better pacing in your life? How so? What would it look like for you to let God set the priorities on your calendar before you fill it with everything else?

Nehemiah inspected the walls at night, alone, before saying anything to anyone (2:12–16) — he wanted to "get eyes on" the problem rather than act on secondhand reports. Can you think of a time you jumped to a decision or opinion before you had the full picture? What might it look like to slow down and seek understanding before acting on something you're facing now?

Nehemiah carefully prepared his approach to the people rather than riding in with a "Savior complex" and a ready-made plan. Where do you tend to speak or act quickly without considering how it will land with the people you're trying to lead or influence? Is there a situation currently where you could use some wisdom on how to handle the relationships?

The king supplied Nehemiah with a military escort — something Nehemiah hadn't thought to ask for. “Empowering Grace” is God supplying what we need but "it doesn't show up before you need it, it shows up when you need it." Describe a time you stepped out to do something hard for God and discovered He supplied grace you hadn't planned for or asked for.

Lakeview has experienced the Supernatural Grace of God in its first year. How so for you? How have you seen “the good hand of our God upon us?” Spend some time reflecting how you’ve seen it personally and how you’ve seen it around the church? Close by praying and giving God glory for this and asking him to continue as we lean into year two.