-Reach This City: Hard Work Pays Off-

Announcements:
1.  We are celebrating COMMUNION this Sunday at REVO.  This is always a special service for us, and a great time to remember the sacrifice that Jesus went through for our salvation.  You don't want to miss it!



Text:  Nehemiah 6:15-7:4

1.  Nehemiah records that the reason why his opposition lost their confidence and self-esteem was NOT  just because the wall was finished, but because the people knew that God was on the side of the builders.  They accomplished something that only God could have done.

One of my favorite quotes:  "Most of our lives we've done what we ourselves can accomplish.  So when are you going to stop trying on your own and let your story be about things that only God can accomplish through you?"

What are some examples in your life where you've been able to accomplish things that can only be explained by the admission that God showed up and did only what He can do?


2.  Nehemiah still comes into contact with opposition.  It will remain there throughout the book.  However, it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal right now.  Why do problems seem less significant and overwhelming when you're following God?  When you focus on God, how does that change the way you view your opposition and problems?


3.  Even though the wall is built, Nehemiah still gives certain rules for the opening of the gates.  He does this to protect from an ambush from his enemies.  What are you doing to keep your guard up spiritually?  To protect your relationships and family?  To ensure that what you've worked so hard to build won't be lost?


4.  Nehemiah shares and celebrates the wins, but keeps focused on Moving Forward.  This would be a great time to share some "wins" with each other in the group.  Brag on God, your rGroup, your church, your husband/wife, group leader or group members.  Share some things God has been doing in your life.

Now, set some new goals.  Share what you are working towards together.  What are your next steps?  How are you striving to continue to Move Forward and Reach This City?  Nehemiah knows that the milestone must be celebrated, but also is aware of the importance of staying faithful and obedient to what God has called him to do.

So how will you stay faithful and obedient?

Reach This City: Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Recap:
In chapter 6:1-14 Nehemiah models what it looks like to keep the main thing the main thing. He filters every opportunity, every meeting, and every decision through the filter of God's call on his life. In other words if a particular relationship, decision, or meeting wouldn't help him accomplish the vision God had given him, he knew not to bother with it. Tonight will be about assessing our "filtering" skills and developing a game plan to see God's vision for our lives realized.   

-What has God called you to accomplish (this can be as general as the call to make disciples or as specific as a call to over seas missions)?

-What are you doing to accomplish this call (be honest)?

-What may be holding you back or distracting you from accomplishing God's vision for your life (a relationship, a negative pattern of behavior, poor calendar arrangement. etc...)?

-Do you really value God's vision for your life or has answering these questions revealed that you've really been more interested in your own vision?

-If we're honest, most of us will have to admit that on a daily and hourly basis we live out our vision for our lives rather than God's vision. How can we alter that this week and keep the main thing the main thing?

Announcements:
-Baptism this Sunday (At REVO North. No services downtown)!
-Coats for Kids (Bring em')!

Reach This City: Righting Wrongs through Generosity

Hey leaders!

First of all, you're awesome!

Second of all, what you are doing is making a difference in the lives of your groups members!

Third of all, you are helping to make disciples so that we can Reach This City with the Gospel!

Fourth of all, you're awesome!

Announcements:

1.  Don't forget to pump the REVO United service on October 27th.  We are having our second baptism of 2013!  It's going to be at the North campus, and we'll have one service at 11 with lunch afterwards.  Do any of your group members need to take the next step and get baptized?  Ask them to talk to you after group, and if they have any questions that you can't answer then send one of the REVO pastors an email!

Also, why don't you plan to sit together as a group at Baptism and cheer?!  Bring some noisemakers, paint your chest, wear a rainbow wig, DO SOMETHING to get jacked up about life change through Jesus!

2.  Coats for Kids is going on through the month of October.  Turn your coats in at rGroup or at either campus on Sunday morning!

Question to discuss tonight on Nehemiah 5:1-19

1.  Why do you think most people hate when churches, pastors, charities, or anyone for that matter talk about money?  

(not generous, guilty over their lack of giving, misconceptions about money, think they are trying to be guilted to give more, insecure, bad past experience)

2.  What are the differences that you've seen in how followers of Jesus treat money as oppose to people that aren't Christians?  

(sometimes non-Christians give more, sometimes you don't see a difference, some Christians are very generous).  Do you think it matters if there is a difference or not between the two groups?

3.  Nehemiah 5:9-

-What do our finance say about who we really are? 

(it illustrates what matters the most to us, it illustrates our level of obedience to God's word, our faithfulness to God, and our trust in God.  When you think about it like that, no wonder Jesus talked about money so much!)  

-Do you think that they way you spend your money shows others what you think of Jesus and His church?  

-If so, then what do others think of Jesus based on your giving? 

(answers range from "worth selling out for and very important" to "not really worth it and not that big of a deal")

4.  Do you believe that your generosity can help Reach this City?  How?

5.  Nehemiah 5:19

-How can you turn your physical generosity into a spiritual gift to God?  How do make that connection with giving of your time/money/resources to actually giving to God?  

(Do you feel like your offering is going to an institution, or do you treat it as a gift to God so more lives can be changed?  When you volunteer and serve, do you feel like you're just sweating and working for someone or an organization, or do you treat it as your gift to God?)

-What would happen if you switch the object of your giving from people/organization/groups to making God the object/recipient of your giving?  

(it would be an act of worship, wouldn't be obligatory, wouldn't be burned out, would give joyfully and willingly, etc.  It's a perspective change).

Remember, there are 2 general ideas that come from Scripture concerning what we have:

1. Scripture teaches that everything comes from God.

2. Scripture teaches that resources (including money) can open up doors for people to hear/respond to the Gospel message.

Reach This City: Protect This House!

Nehemiah 4:15-23

-We've been called to a personal building project. We are to build our relationship with Jesus, our relationship with our spouse, and we are to build and cultivate our children. What else are we called to build (think about singles or people without children)?

-Do you agree that while Satan is an enemy who seeks our destruction, we make his job easy and are often the primary cause of our own ruin? If so, in what ways do we bring destruction on ourselves?

-It's easy to determine how to defend things from an external enemy, but when our enemy is internal...when our enemy is ourselves...putting a game plan for defense together is more difficult. What steps can we take this week to protect the things we've built from our own inclination to destroy/neglect them?

-The Bible says that if we hold fast to the gospel then we are "being saved" (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). How might this truth help us develop that strategy for defending the things we've built against our number one enemy (ourselves)?

The Triad

-What did this text teach you about God?

-What did this text teach you about yourself?

-What are you going to do about it?