Throughout this series, I Was Made for This, we have been following Nehemiah, who set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As he set out to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, he gathered the people of Jerusalem, especially its leaders, to come together to rebuild the walls. Some heeded Nehemiah's call and got to be part of the work God was doing, but others chose to settle and missed out on being part of something extraordinary.
When is a time you felt like you were a part of something extraordinary?
1. Read Nehemiah 3:1-5. List the different responses of the people of Israel to Nehemiah’s call to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
Nehemiah 3:1-5
Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel. 2 People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri. 3 The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana. 5 Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.
2. What qualifications are listed about the people who stepped up to help rebuild the wall? (Hint: This is not a trick question!)
3. Read 1st Corinthians 1:26-29. What does this passage of Scripture teach about the type of people God uses to do extraordinary things?
1st Corinthians 1:26-29
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
4. Why does God choose the people whom He chooses to have an impact for Him, according to this passage of Scripture?
1. Based on the Scripture you studied today, what qualifications is God looking for in order to accomplish extraordinary things through us?
2. What is at stake if we choose to settle for ordinary instead of acting on our divine burdens and choosing extraordinary?
3. In what area have you found yourself settling and sitting along the sidelines instead of obeying God’s call to do something about the problems and needs you see around you?
God is looking for those who are available and willing to step up and do what they can to have an impact for Him. When it comes to your divine burden, what would it look like this week for you to be available to act on it and have an impact for Christ? Share that with your group and commit to taking that step this week. After everyone has shared, pray together, asking God to help each one of you take steps of obedience this week and act on your divine burdens.
We do not know why the leaders from Tekoa refused to play a part in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. Whatever excuse they had, it is clear that they missed out on being a part of something extraordinary that God was doing. During the weekend message, we talked about three main reasons people settle for ordinary instead of acting on their divine burdens and choosing extraordinary: Laziness, pride, and lack of compassion. In our study today, we will look at what Scripture teaches about each of these topics and be encouraged not to let these mindsets keep us from living extraordinary lives for Christ.
One of the most subtle and dangerous mindsets we can have is laziness. Laziness can hold us back and keep us from doing anything about the divine burdens God has placed on our hearts. If we live with a mindset of laziness, we will look back on our lives and realize we lived very ordinary lives, accomplishing little for the kingdom of God when we had the opportunity to make an extraordinary impact for His kingdom.
1. Read Proverbs 6:6-11.
Proverbs 6:6-11
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
2. What is the danger of laziness, according to this passage of Scripture?
3.How might laziness hold us back from living extraordinary lives for Christ and doing something about the divine burdens God has given us?
4.How can we fight against a mindset of laziness?
A second sneaky mindset that might keep us from making an impact for God and His kingdom is pride. Instead of taking steps to address the divine burdens God places on our hearts, pride causes us to view ourselves as "too good" to step up when we see needs and problems arise. Instead of pride, Scripture calls us to choose humility, never seeing ourselves as too good to step in and meet the needs around us. That is the example Jesus set and called His followers to model while He was on this earth.
1. Read John 13:1-17.
John 13:1-17
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
2. Describe Jesus’ model of humility.
3. How does Jesus’ example of humility encourage us to fight against our human tendency toward pride?
4. How can we fight against a mindset of pride?
A final mindset that keeps us from living extraordinary lives is a lack of compassion. A lack of compassion leads us to view the needs and problems around us as "someone else's problem." With this mindset, we assume someone else will address the problem and refuse to put ourselves in the shoes of those affected by the problem. Of course, Scripture teaches us to live differently, doing something when we see needs around us.
1. Read Matthew 25:31-40.
Matthew 25:31-40
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
2. What do we learn about having a mindset of compassion in this passage of Scripture?
3. How does this passage of Scripture encourage personal responsibility when it comes to the needs and divine burdens that we see around us?
4. How can we cultivate a mindset of compassion?
Look back at the three mindsets to avoid that keep us from living extraordinary lives: laziness, pride, and lack of compassion. Which of these areas do you find yourself struggling with the most? Why? Share with your group one step you can take this week to fight against that mindset.
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