HCBC Sunday School – “Friends” Class
Get an Understanding (Nehemiah 8:1-12)

1) Memory Verse: James 1:22
a. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
2) First Thoughts
a. America is ripe for another “great awakening”, a period of intense, widespread revival, in which many individuals and churches are roused to a new enthusiasm for God, resulting in positive changes in the general culture, characterized by obedience to God.
b. Example – the great awakening of the mid-1700’s; led to the Revolutionary War, and the establishment of the United States of America.
c. What “sparks” a great spiritual awakening? ANS. Great need, fervent prayer. Greatest hindrance - unconfessed sin.
3) Understand the Context
a. After completing the wall around Jerusalem, Nehemiah and the Jewish people realized the city was underpopulated and still vulnerable to attacks. More serious problem – spiritual condition of the people was as deplorable as the broken wall!
b. God used Ezra (priest, passion for God’s Word, 13 years before) and Nehemiah (leadership) to spark a spiritual awakening among the people.
4) Explore the Text
a. Come, confessing sin and praying.
i. See their desire! No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. ~ John 6:44, Proverbs 2:1-5
b. Listen, actively engaged with Holy Spirit who opens your heart.
i. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? ~ Luke 24:32
c. Respond in worship, acknowledging the truth (Amen), weeping in repentance, weeping for joy.
i. …and those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ~ Isaiah 66:2
d. Grow, letting God restore, heal, encourage, “reckon it so”.
i. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, ~ Luke 4:18
e. Go in Christ, His power and grace!
i. By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: ~ Romans 1:5