Healthy Politics--Lesson 9--The Work is Never Done--Nehemiah 13

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are “happily ever after” endings so appealing? How realistic is it that the book of

Nehemiah does not conclude with a “happily ever after” ending? How has a constant

battle been your experience in maintaining a healthy spiritual walk with the LORD?

2. What are the top two things in your daily routine that present the most compromise with

the things of this world? How do you keep these things under control?

3. What do you think of Nehemiah’s seemingly harsh responses to the broken promises and

unholy actions of the Israelites? How does Nehemiah’s use of the word “hesed”

(committed covenant love) in Nehemiah 13:14 offer a beautiful context for his seemingly

harsh responses?

4. Nehemiah refers to earlier history when he reprimands the Israelites for not keeping the

Sabbath and for not keeping themselves separated from what would make them unholy.

How does knowing the stories of the bible help you know the path to walk in a culture

that tolerates just about everything except intolerance?

5. What danger do we face in losing a generation because they do not know how to speak

the language of faith in God as well as they know the ways of the culture around them?

6. How has our study of healthy politics helped you see beyond the ugliness of our physical

political battles to the security of the Kingdom we truly serve? What qualities of healthy

leadership have stood out to you?

Healthy Politics--Lesson 8--A Covenant of Commitment--Nehemiah 10-11

Discussion Questions:

1. What kinds of struggles have you had with becoming lukewarm in your walk with God?

What helps you overcome?

2. Is it a wise practice to call a curse and an oath upon yourself? Why do you suppose the

people of Nehemiah’s time do this?

3. What kinds of things have you struggled with separating from that distract you from a

more faithful walk with God?

4. What do your calendar and use of money say about what is most important in your life?

How did obeying the Sabbath and releasing debt help the Israelites keep their right

priorities?

5. In what ways do you invest in worship of the LORD? Are there some things you should

consider doing differently so worship of God is a core part of your life?

6. Do you see yourself as one who would volunteer to move into the “holy city”? What fears

or inconveniences have tried to stop you from dedicating yourself in this way?

Healthy Politics--Lesson 7--Bringing About Revival--Nehemiah 8-9

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the standard that guides us as a nation? How can followers of God help our nation

move back to a deeper trust in the Scriptures and the nature of God for our standard?

2. What do we learn from bible history about the importance of entrusting ourselves to the

ways of God? How faithful and merciful has God been? What does rebellion against God

produce?

3. How is reaping what we sow evident through the prayer of the Israelites in Nehemiah 9?

4. Why would the Israelites begin their prayer of confession with praise for the creator God?

How does this provide context for what they are confessing and seeking from God?

5. How does reviewing your personal history with God help you walk better with Him? How

does reviewing His history with all of mankind assist in seeing events of today’s time in a

healthier way?

6. Are there any areas you need to reclaim for your spiritual development, like the Israelites

reclaimed the Feast of Tabernacles?