• Did you give this year to the Sudan project? How do you feel about that mission project today?

Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. It is God’s intention to restore and rebuild not only the lives of people but the whole world, and God calls on people to be about this restoration of God’s kingdom. In rebuilding the people of Israel, God put it on the heart of Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Without walls, Nehemiah knew that there would never be any structure to create a stable society or families, a growing economy, or established safety from enemies.

• Why do you think God wants to restore and rebuild this world?
• What structures did you have and not have in your family as a child? How did that affect your family as a whole?

Because God is a God of restoration, God is in the business of “do-overs.” God never creates disposable throw aways, but wants to take all things and renew them into new life and new purpose. Just as God didn’t want to create a new Jerusalem and a new Israel, Nehemiah became a part of God’s plan to restore the Israelites to a place of prominence.

• Have you ever been given a “do over” in life? Describe.
• How does the disposable culture we live in affect your view of God’s desire for restoring all people to wholeness?

Read Ezekiel 22:30. Even though God is a God of restoration, God works to restore through people. God is constantly looking for someone who will build up what has been torn down whether families, communities, education, economic, or environmental systems, or individual lives. It is through the body of Christ that God nourishes and directs this rebuilding of God kingdom on earth. And we all are a part of Christ’s body.

• Have you ever seen God use his people to rebuild someone’s life? Explain.
• What in our community is in need of restoring or rebuilding? How are we failing or succeeding in letting God use us to restore them?
• What are your social networks? Do you think God is preparing you to build God’s kingdom through them?

The amazing thing is that God uses us, Christ’s body, even though we ourselves are broken. In fact God only uses people whose hearts break for the things that break the heart of God. Brokenness always precedes building and before we move forward into the ministry of rebuilding others we must often stop and examine where our brokenness remains. When we do that, God is faithful to rebuild us and restore us so that we can truly become the people who bring restoration to the world around us.

• What things do you see around you that breaks the heart of God? Does it break your heart as well?
• Describe a time you truly stopped and let God restore, rebuild or refocus your heart?
• How is God telling you to move forward in God’s rebuilding of your life and/or this world?