Online Bible Study – Week 2

Study Video

This Bible Study goes along with Part 2 of a sermon series we’re working through at St. Andrew’s called “Rebuilding.” If you haven’t listened to this message from February 20th, you can find it HERE.

Nehemiah Chapter 3

As I mention in the message this chapter can be tough going with all of the Hebrew names, but ultimately, I believe it’s important to read the entire thing. If you’re struggling with the pronunciations, you can find a number of audio Bible selections at BibleGateway. For Nehemiah 3 you have the choice of 3 different readers in the NIV as well as readers for several other English translations: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Neh.3

When you’ve read or listened to the chapter pause and consider your first impressions. What stands out to you?

    1. In the message I talk about the significance of people being named in the Bible. Whenever you see a long list of names like this it’s always important. In many cases this has to do with people listed being remembered and their contribution to God’s story honoured. In other cases, it’s about connecting the people reading the story in the present with those who have gone before them in faith.

 Questions:

    • Can you think of Christians from the past or your own life whose example you remember and honour? Is keeping their memory alive important to you? Have you told anyone else about them?
    • Think of your own faith story. Can you look back through family, church friends, or other Christian mentors and see a story of faith connecting you to those who came before you? How far can you trace it back?
    • The record of individual and family names in the Bible reminds us that individual contributions to God’s story and purpose in the world matter. Can you imagine your name being written down for others to remember? What would that entry say? If you can’t think of this on your own, ask a friend or family member.
    1. Take a closer look at the list of names. The obvious categories are priests and governing officials, but there are an enormous variety of people mentioned. If you’ve got the time, try to count every name. If you don’t consider that Nehemiah divided the wall into roughly 40 sections, and note that there are usually several individuals and families named for each

 Questions:

    • What sort of people are included in this list of names? Try to list them all. What stands out to you? What might it say about different people’s ability to contribute to an important community task?
    • When you look at the number of people listed what does that say about the scale of the task? What does it also say about the importance of everyone doing their part?
    • Do you feel that you have something to contribute to your family, community or to this church? Are you more likely to undervalue or overvalue what you have to contribute?
    1. The main theme in the message based on this passage in Nehemiah 3 is the importance of working together. Yet there are different ways to do this. Take a closer look at verses 28-30 and consider the following questions:

Questions:

    • Are you more of an independent worker or do you work better in a group?
    • If you are more independent, do you find it easy to ingrate your independent work into a larger shared project? (ie. does the section of wall you’ve built link into the sections built by others?)
    • If you are more inclined to work in a group, how do you find working with others who are more independently minded? Are you able to let them do their own thing when you share a common goal? (ie. are you willing to let them go off and build their own section of the wall?)
    1. The message notes that the names of several different communities and regions outside the city of Jerusalem are included in the list of builders. Take a moment and see how many you can find.

Questions:

    • How easy do you find it to work with people outside your immediate community or group (ie. family, neighbourhood, company, organization or church)? Is it something you do often or rarely?
    • Is this something we do well in the church – either here at St. Andrew’s, or in your larger experience of church life? What are some things that make this easier or harder in your experience?
    • In the message I suggest that working with other groups will play an important role in rebuilding. What groups might you work with in your own personal rebuilding? What churches or other organization might St. Andrew’s work with?