Sermon Study Breakdown (Neh. 5:1-13)

This week, Pastor Zach and Josh break down the sermon study distributed to growth group leaders at Soteria Church on February 25, 2024. The sermon study on Nehemiah 5:1-13 is as follows: REFLECT Just for fun, what did you do to receive your most expensive traffic violation? Why is confession of sin so difficult? ENCOUNTER In Nehemiah 5, sin comes to light. In order to build a good wall, you have to dig into the ground to lay the foundation for it. When you dig down to lay the foundation, you might unearth something that has long been buried and hidden away. Spiritually speaking, this is what Nehemiah does in Jerusalem. As he is getting ready to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, certain sins of the people are unearthed. And these sins needed to be dealt with before the building project could get underway. The people had to confess their sin in order for the community to move forward in faith. In Acts 19, we see another situation where sin is confessed. In this passage, Paul goes to Ephesus. During his time there, many sorcerers and demonists repent and become Christian. Let’s examine the situation surrounding their confession of sin. Read Acts 19:11-17. Why was Jesus’ name esteemed by the Ephesians? Read Acts 19:18-20. What radical actions accompanied the new believers’ confession of sin? What was the result of their confession? Read Acts 19:21-27. How did the mass conversion of the occultists impact the community at large? Read Acts 19:28-29. How did the community respond? TRANSFORM How can the hidden sin of individuals debilitate the collective mission of the church? How does Romans 5:6-10 give hope and comfort to you in your sin? Propagate: Where we grow in community by multiplying healthy groups through the ministry of the Word. This podcast is a ministry of and for growth group leaders at Soteria Church in West Des Moines, IA. To learn more about Soteria, visit soteriadsm.com today.