“Begin Again” – Pt. 3 (Nehemiah 2:1-10)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:1-10

OBSERVATION QUESTONS:

1)  Why was Nehemiah “deeply frightened”? (v.1-2)
2)  What did Nehemiah tell the king? (v3)
3)  How did the king respond? (v.4)
4)  What was Nehemiah’s petition to the king? (v.5)
5)  What did Nehemiah let the king know next? (v. 6)
6)  What did Nehemiah need from the governors? (v.7)
7)  What did Nehemiah need from the manager of the forest? (v.8)
8)  What three things was Nehemiah going to construct with what the manager of the forest gave him? (v.8)
9)  Why did the king agree to Nehemiah’s requests? (v.8)
10) In addition to writing the letters, what did the king do to protect Nehemiah? (v.9)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1) Have you ever allowed an unbeliever to see you distressed or troubled? If so, why?
2) Have you ever shared your troubles with unbelievers? If so, why?
3) Has the Lord ever given you favor to receive what you needed from an unbeliever? If so, what happened?

LIFE LESSONS:

1) Because we are children of God, we are entitled to all that the Father controls!
2) There are times when the Lord will bless us through the people of the world!
3) The favor of God can open doors for us that no man can shut!

To read today’s devotional, please go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers’ blog.

“Begin Again” – Pt. 2 (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:5-11

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1) How does Nehemiah describe the Lord, in his prayer? (v.5)
2) What does Nehemiah tell the Lord about how He treats those who love and obey him? (v.5)
3) What does Nehemiah ask the Lord to listen to and see him doing? (v.6)

4) Whose sins does Nehemiah confess? (v.6)
5) How had the people of God sinned against Him, according to Nehemiah? (v.7)
6) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people sinned against Him? (v.8)
7) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people repented of their sin? (v.9)
8) What two things did Nehemiah remind God of concerning His people? (v.10)
9) What did Nehemiah ask the Lord to do for him, as the king’s cup-bearer? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

In your prayers:
1) Do you praise God for who He is?
2) Do you remind God of His promises (His Word)?
3) Do you “stand in the gap” for others who have sinned against the Lord?
4) Do you ask the Lord to grant you favor with specific people?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The best way to begin a prayer of petition to the Lord is to acknowledge His greatness!
2) Be specific when confessing your sins, as well as the sins of others that you intercede for.
3) The word of God is God’s promise to His people.
4) Don’t hesitate to pray God’s word (promises) back to Him!

To read the devotional on today’s Scripture go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers’ blog.

“Begin Again” – Pt. 1 (Nehemiah 1:1-4)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:1-4

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Who came to visit Nehemiah in Susa? (v. 2)
2)   What two things did Nehemiah ask? (v. 2)
3)   What four things did Nehemiah hear? (v. 3)
4)   How did Nehemiah respond? (v. 4)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Have you received distressing news recently?
2)   If so, how did you respond?

LIFE LESSONS:
1)   It is human nature to want what is best for those we love!
2)   The Lord allows us to face troubling circumstances so that we will recognize our need for Him!
3)   The wisest thing that we can do after receiving distressing news is to pray and wait upon God for direction.

To read the devotional for this Scripture please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers’ blog.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 9:18-10:3)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 9:18-10:3

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      How did the Jews celebrate their victory (v.18-19)?

2)      What annual celebration did Mordecai establish throughout all generations (v.20-21, 26-28)?

3)      How were the Jews to celebrate during their annual two day festival (v.22)?

4)      What terrible circumstances were the Jews celebrating victory over (v.23-25)?

5)      Who confirmed the annual celebration (v.29-32)?

6)      How was Mordecai advanced in Ahasuerus’ kingdom and among his people (10:1-3)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What do you do to celebrate victory over your enemies?

2)      Have one of your victories ever resulted in your advancement?

3)      If so, describe what happened?

4)      What do you to commemorate the victories in your life?

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      The Lord is worthy to be praised  for delivering us from evil!

2)      The Lord is worthy to be praised for the victories He’s allowed in our lives!

3)      The Lord is worthy to be praised by testifying about His goodness!

4)      The Lord is worthy to be praised for what could have happened to us, but didn’t!

5)      The Good Shepherd prepares a table before us, in the presence of our enemies!

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 9:1-17)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 9:1-17

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What happened on the day that King Ahasuerus’ decree was executed (v.1)?

2)      Why couldn’t the Jews enemies withstand them (v.2)?

3)      Who helped the Jews and why (v.3-4)?

4)      What did the Jews do to those who hated them (v.5)?

5)      How many men, including the sons of Haman, did the Jews destroy (v.6-10)?

6)      What was the king’s response to the slaughter (v.11-12)?

7)      What happened the next day, as a result of Esther’s petition (v.13-17)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      Have you ever witnessed the humiliation of one, or more, person(s) who opposed you?

2)      If so, what happened?

3)      How have you responded to any opponents you may have had since? Why?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      As children of God, we can always expect Him to fight our battles for us.

2)      The Lord always gives His people the wisdom to withstand those who oppose them.

3)      The Lord may allow our enemies to prevail against us for a season, but will always cause us to triumph over them in the end.

4)      Those who oppose the people of God are opposing God Himself.

5)      The Lord has never lost a battle.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 8:1-17)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 8:1-10

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What did King Ahasuerus give to Esther and Mordecai (v.1-2)?

2)      What did Esther ask the king to do to save her people (v.3-6)?

3)      How did the king respond to Esther’s plea (v.7-8)?

4)      Who wrote, sealed and sent the decrees that reversed Haman’s plans (v.9-10)?

5)      Where were the letters published (v.11-14)?

6)      How did Mordecai and the Jews respond to the decrees (v.15-17)?

7)      What did the non-Jews do because of the decrees (v.17)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      Have you ever been given authority to share “good news” with anyone?

2)      If so, what was the “good news”?

3)      How did the people you shared the “good news” with respond to it?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      The “Good News” for those who believe is that Jesus saves us from our sins.

2)      The devil’s plan to destroy our lives was reversed at the foot of the cross.

3)      Jesus arose from the dead with all authority in heaven and on earth.

4)      Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, every believer has access to the Father’s throne of grace.

5)      People believe the “Good News” when they realize how good God  is to His people.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 7:1-10)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 7:1-10

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What did King Ahasuerus ask his queen on the second day of her banquet (v.1-2)?

2)      What did Esther reveal about the threat on her life and the life of her people (v.3-4)?

3)      What did the king ask in response to Esther’s petition (v.5)?

4)      Who did Esther reveal to be her adversary (v.6)?

5)      What did Haman do after Esther’s revelation (v.7-8)?

6)      On what was the adversary hanged (v.9-10)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      Have you ever encountered a person, or persons, who were inexplicably intent on destroying your reputation or character?

2)      If so, what did you do about it?

3)      What happened to those who were opposed to you?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      Those who oppose a child of God will always find themselves on the losing side.

2)      The Lord fights for those who trust in and depend upon Him to do so.

3)      Those who oppose a child of God are opposing the Lord Himself.

4)      Our enemies are often defeated in the same way they attempt to defeat us.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 6:7-17)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 6:7-14

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What did Haman recommend the king do to honor the man he delighted in (v.7-9)?

2)      What did the king tell Haman to do for Mordecai (v.10)?

3)      What did Haman do for Mordecai (v.11)?

4)      What was Haman’s reaction to what he had to do for Mordecai (v.12)?

5)      What did Haman’s wife and friends tell Haman (v.13)?

6)      Where was Haman escorted to while complaining to his wife and friends (v.14)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What blessing do you expect to receive for your faithfulness to the kingdom of God?

2)      What would you do if the Lord told you to bless your enemy in the same way that you want to be blessed?

3)      Have you ever felt envious or jealous of someone whom the Lord blessed more than He blessed you?

4)      If so, what happened?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      God expects His children to love their enemies.

2)      Loving our enemies includes praying for them when they don’t deserve our prayers.

3)      Loving our enemies includes rejoicing with them when they rejoice, and weeping with them when they weep.

4)      When we love who God loves, as God loves them, He will bless our obedience to His will.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 6:1-6)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 6:1-6

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What did the king do when he could not sleep (v.1)?

2)      What did the king discover after reading the records about his kingdom (v.2-3)?

3)      What inquiry did the king make about Mordecai (v.3)?

4)      What was Haman doing while the king was asking about Mordecai (v.4-5)?

5)      What did the king ask Haman (v.6)?

6)      What did Haman think about the king’s question (v.6)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      Have you ever done anything to help others for which you were not recognized?

2)      If so, what (if anything) did you do about the oversight?

3)      Have you ever known anyone who was intent on vindicating themselves?

4)      If so, what happened to that individual?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      A true servant of God does not need the applause of people, but only seeks to please the Lord.

2)      The Lord always blesses those who do what is right, whether others acknowledge their actions, or not.

3)      Because God is absolutely just, we always reap what we sow.

It’s a Celebration! (Esther 5:9-14)

NEW LIFE LESSONS BSFBP: “It’s a Celebration!” Esther 5:9-14

 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What changed Haman’s mood after leaving the queen’s banquet (v.9)?

2)      How did Haman respond (v.9-10)?

3)      What did Haman boast about before his friends and wife (v.11-12)?

4)      Why was Haman still dissatisfied (v.13)?

5)      What did Haman’s wife and friends suggest he do to lift his spirit (v.14)?

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1)      What has been the greatest honor you’ve ever received?

2)      Was there a person or circumstance that diminished that honor for you?

3)      If so, how did you feel?

4)      What, if anything, did you do about whatever disrupted the event?

 

LIFE LESSONS:

1)      When our hope is not in God, we allow our feelings and circumstances to determine our gratitude or thankfulness.

2)      When our hope is not in God, we believe that we can control people and circumstances.

3)      When our hope is not in God, we live a very self-centered life.