O. S. Hawkins - The Nehemiah Code Bible Study Guide: Its Never Too Late for a New Beginning

R ebuilding. Who among us is not in need of an occasional new beginning as we journey through different periods of life? Some of us deal with relationships that need to be rebuilt. Some are in the process of rebuilding businesses. Most coaches are continually engaged in the rebuilding process. Other people are seeking to rebuild their integrity after a misstep. Some are rebuilding their self-confidence. The good news is... its never too late for a new beginning.

Nehemiah lived 2,500 years ago, and he wrote the book on rebuilding. He was a civil servantan ordinary guywho applied some universal principles that enabled him to rebuild a broken city and, in the process, rebuild a lot of broken hopes. His story unfolds many years after the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom, called Israel, was ruled by a series of wicked kings until 722 BC , when the Assyrian army swept in and carried the people into a captivity from which they never returned. The Southern Kingdom, called Judah, lasted until 586 BC , when it was finally devastated and destroyed by the Babylonians.

The Babylonians broke down the walls of Jerusalem, burned its gates, demolished its temple, and led its people away as captives. But after several years, the Persians broke the Babylonian supremacy and allowed some of the Jews to return home. These Jews began to rebuild their temple and city... but the sheer magnitude of the task caused them to give up. Years passed. The city, still broken and burned, was in dire need of rebuilding.

In stepped Nehemiah, a Jew still in exile, with a cushy civil service job complete with benefits and retirement. But Jerusalem burned in his heart. So he left Babylon to return to Jerusalem, armed with a focused objective to rally the people, rebuild their hope, and, ultimately, rebuild their holy city. He had a plan for rebuilding, and in the pages of his book, he left us some secrets to his successa sort of hidden code, if you willthat can become a fountain of hope and strength to anyone and everyone who will apply his formula.

The journey you are about to make will enable you to apply these marvelous truths so you can rebuild any broken walls in your life and reinforce your own legacy. As you go through this study, I think you will find that Nehemiahs message to you across the centuries is plain and powerful: It is never too late for a new beginning!

T he Nehemiah Code Video Study is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small group gathering. Each session begins with a welcome section, several questions to get you thinking about the topic, and a reading from the book of Nehemiah. You will then watch a video with O.S. Hawkins and engage in some small-group discussion. You will close each session with a time of personal reflection and prayer as a group.

Each person in the group should have his or her own copy of this study guide. You are also encouraged to have a copy of The Nehemiah Code book, as reading the book alongside the curriculum will provide you with deeper insights and make the journey more meaningful. (See the For Next Week section at the end of each between-studies section for the chapters in the book that correspond to material you and your group are discussing.)

To get the most out of your group experience, keep the following points in mind. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small-group time. This is where you will process the content of the teaching for the week, ask questions, and learn from others as you hear what God is doing in their lives. For this reason, it is important for you to be fully committed to the group and attend each session so you can build trust and rapport with the other members. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you refrain from participating, there is a lesser chance you will find what youre looking for during this study.

Second, remember the goal of your small group is to serve as a place where people can share, learn about God, and build intimacy and friendship. For this reason, seek to make your group a safe place. This means being honest about your thoughts and feelings and listening carefully to everyone elses opinion. (If you are a group leader, there are additional instructions and resources in the back of the book for leading a productive discussion group.)

Third, resist the temptation to fix a problem someone might be having or to correct his or her theology, as thats not the purpose of your small-group time. Also, keep everything your group shares confidential. This will foster a rewarding sense of community in your group and create a place where people can heal, be challenged, and grow spiritually.

Following your group time, reflect on the material youve covered by engaging in any or all of the between-sessions activities. For each session, you may wish to complete the personal study all in one sitting or spread it out over a few days (for example, working on it a half-hour a day on different days that week). Note that if you are unable to finish (or even start!) your between-sessions personal study, you should still attend the group study video session. You are still wanted and welcome at the group even if you dont have your homework done.

Keep in mind the videos, discussion questions, and activities are simply meant to kick-start your imagination so you are not only open to what God wants you to hear but also how to apply it to your life. As you go through this study, be watching for what God is saying to you as learn from Nehemiahs example that it is never too late for a new beginning.

Note: If you are a group leader, there are additional resources provided in the back of this guide to help you lead your group members through the study.