Visions of Restoration
Discipleship Cycles in Nehemiah
A “discipleship cycle” (or d-cycle) is a practice of hearing from Creator’s word, applying it in our lives, and then learning from our experience together.
- Part l: Naming What is Broken
- Part ll: Imagining a New Way
- Part lll: Walking the Good Road
- Part lV: Finding Restoration in Community and Land
- Part V: Finding Healing in Community
- Part Vl: Obedience Over Sacrifices
Introduction
Nehemiah lived thousands of years ago in the ancient Near East. Through Nehemiah’s love of his land, people and culture, he played an important role in how Creator wanted to bring healing and restoration to Nehemiah’s land and people. Nehemiah’s leadership was characterized by prayer, courage, resilience, wisdom and strategy. We hope that as you engage in his story, you’ll see many parallels to the importance of Native leadership today.
Feel free to go through these studies by yourself, with a friend or with a group. We recommend going in order because each part follows Nehemiah’s story in the order it’s told in the Old Testament.
You’ll notice that there are six parts and each part follows this pattern:
- Taking some time to look at an image that is connected to a theme in Nehemiah’s story
- Reading a part of Nehemiah’s story from the Old Testament
- Considering how Nehemiah’s story applies to your life
- Reflecting on the bigger story about Creator’s work of redemption (which Nehemiah’s story fits into)
Part l: Naming What is Broken
Introduction:
Nehemiah lived thousands of years ago in the ancient Near East. Through Nehemiah’s love of his land, people and culture, he played an important role in how Creator wanted to bring healing and restoration to Nehemiah’s land and people. Nehemiah’s leadership was characterized by prayer, courage, resilience, wisdom and strategy. We hope that as you engage in his story, you’ll see many parallels to the importance of Native leadership today.
Feel free to go through these studies by yourself, with a friend or with a group. We recommend going in order because each part follows Nehemiah’s story in the order it’s told in the Old Testament.
You’ll notice that there are six parts and each part follows this pattern:
- Taking some time to look at an image that is connected to a theme in Nehemiah’s story
- Reading a part of Nehemiah’s story from the Old Testament
- Considering how Nehemiah’s story applies to your life
- Reflecting on the bigger story about Creator’s work of redemption (which Nehemiah’s story fits into)
Story: Creator's vision and yours
Take a few moments to look at this picture:
- What do you see in the picture?
- How does it relate to your story?
- What healing do you want to see happen in your and your community’s story?\
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
What would renewal look like in your story?
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
As followers of Creator Set Free, we believe that our story is renewed because he opens a new pathway forward in his life for our story
Part ll: Imagining a New Way
Story: Creator's Vision and Yours
Take a few moments to look at this picture:
What do you see in the picture?
How does it relate to your story?
What do you hope to see when you go home? What do you want to see renewed in your life?
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
What do you see that needs to be rebuilt in Nehemiah’s story?
Where do you see Creator working in your life and help you to rebuild?
Home? Family? Culture? Faith?
As we are invited to be part of this journey of renewal in our lives, family life, community, etc.,
Creator is helping us to understand where our journey lies ahead. Creator is helping us to
rebuild our lives by showing us where we are now and how to put our trust in Creator as our
journey continues. Nehemiah received a vision from Creator about his people going back to
their homeland and rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem.
Does Nehemiah’s prayer in Ch 1 resemble a prayer for Native people to go their homeland
and rebuild the ruins of the reservation?
Is Creator providing a vision for Native students to be transformed and sent out to their
people?
Richard Twiss, in his book *One Church Many Tribes*, said Nehemiah is a great study in
praying with identification:
Though Nehemiah had never lived in Jerusalem and did
not personally contribute to its spiritual condition, he prayed, ‘Both my father’s house and I have sinned’ (Neh. 1:6). Like Nehemiah, we must identify with the brokenness of our lands and own them. We are all in this thing together!
Because of our bad hearts and broken ways, we don’t have the tools we need for
restoration. But Creator Sets Free identifies with us and brings what we need. As
believers we must employ the same tools that Nehemiah utilized. Repentance,
confessions, forgiveness, reconciliation and restitution were his instruments of
reconciliation; and they must be ours if we are to restore the land.
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
Consider the Big Story of Creator Sets Free again, focusing on the third circle, "The Chosen One and His Ceremony of Redemption":
How does the life and work of Jesus exemplify things we see in Nehemiah?
How does Creator Sets Free demonstrate identification?
What sorts of things does he see when he examines the broken state of our hearts?
What is his plan for taking away our disgrace?
Listening prayer. What is one way you could be more like Jesus today?
- What does he want you to identify with?
- What does he want you to see?
- What does he want you to do?
Listen to this story (in two parts) of a Native student answering these questions about her story:
Part lll: Walking the Good Road
Story: Creator’s Vision and Yours
Take a few moments to look at this picture:
What do you see in these pictures?
What can you do to gain confidence in yourself? What does it mean to have the confidence to effect change in your life and your family?
What gives you hope to wake up and do what is right?
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
We aren't alone in rebuilding what is right and what needs to change for the betterment of ourselves, our family and our community. Nehemiah realized he would have to trust God from what occurred to the people of Israel and Judah. “Rebuilding the wall” represents removing the barriers, lies, spiritual strongholds that prevent Native students from walking the Good Road and becoming fully alive in the Great Spirit.
Consider the Big Story of Creator Sets Free again, focusing on the fourth circle, "Inviting others into the Story of Creator Sets Free":
As you think about your own call to rebuilding, what strategies of Nehemiah's do you think Creator is calling you to engage with?
In Ephesians, Small Man (Paul) tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against
the powers and spiritual forces opposed to Creator's Good Road.
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
I want to share a story about LiSteN on the Navajo reservation. It started when I was asked to
host in my community for a summer immersion experience called LiSteN: Learn & Serve in
Navajoland. I prayed and compared ideas with what our Pacific Islander brothers and sisters
have done in their immersion experience called Ho'olohe Pono'; which means listen intently and
justly.
What role should prayer play as you think about your answer above?
We listened to stories from the community and learn how to serve the people by listening what
needs to be rebuilt. As we listened to the Native community, we asked Creator where is he at
work and help people to witness that Creator is standing guard for them. It's different from
what we expected. We witnessed hope for Native people having a closer relationship with
Creator. Hope brings harmony and beauty back to our lives and revives the land. Would you like
to attend LiSteN this summer in June?
http://native.intervarsity.org/events-and-conferences
Listen to this story of a Native student answering these questions about her story:
Part lV: Finding Restoration in Community and Land
Story: Creator's Vision and Yours
- Have you seen injustice in your community?
- How would you approach this injustice?
- Read Nehemiah 5:1-13
- How did Nehemiah confront to the people about slavery and charging interest? Why did he do this?
- In what way can you be more faithful like Nehemiah?
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
As we rebuild ourselves, our family, and our community, we must address the injustices in order to help all of us to find healing now. How can we do that?
Jesus had compassion on people he encountered. He went to the sick, poor, blind, demon-possessed, oppressed etc. For example, in Matt. 9:36-38 and 10:5-7 Creator Sets Free (Jesus Christ) observed the need of guidance and healing for the community, and he was moved in his spirit with great compassion. Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” He called the twelve disciples to go to their own people.
Where have you seen problems or injustices within your community that you feel God is inviting you to advocate for?
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
Nehemiah realized there needs to be a change for the people he’s leading and it started with talking with officials and nobles, and help them advocate for the community. Nehemiah's authority was seen as governor, but he advocated for the community on these injustices. Jesus can help you to advocate for the community.
- What authority do you have now? In a couple years? Further in the future?
- Do you think forgiveness will play a role while addressing the injustices in your community?
Walking on the Good Road and his Ceremony of Redemption help us to advocate for the community and observe God’s justice to restore the people and land as one. Jesus calls us to love ourselves, love others, and love the land.
Let’s listen and ask Creator Sets Free to keep us on the Good Road and ask for courage on how can advocacy brings restoration to the people and land.
Listen to this story of a Native student answering these questions about her story:
Part V: Finding Healing in Community
Story: Creator's Vision and Yours
- Is there a tradition or celebration you would do with your family and you feel replenish at the end? Would you mind sharing this experience with us
- On the second day, how do you observe their relationship with God? Why do you think they are celebrating?
- In what way have you share a story with your family or peers in Native InterVarsity? Do you see it similar to sharing the Good Story (Gospel) with them?
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
Feast of Tabernacles is a week-long feast of celebrating and acknowledgement of how Creator God helped the Jews get out of Egypt to Canaan. They use this tradition to celebrate what Creator God had done for them, share stories, and be reminded that their faith helped them to survive. They are home.
What do you think is similar to your traditions with family and friends compare to the feast of Tabernacles?
As Nehemiah, Ezra, and Levites assembled everyone to hear the Law of the Lord their God, they rejoiced, gave their offerings, feast, confess, and worship. They done this on the 7th month and it led them to witness their failures and make a commitment to trust God.
Samaritan woman was encouraged when Creator Sets Free (Jesus) told her the time is coming when all who honor and serve the Great Mystery will not need to do so in this mountain not in Village of Peace. The Father is looking for ones who will honor him in spirit and truth – and the day for this has now come. Then she went to her village and invite others to witness who will restore the world and set all people free.
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
Through Native InterVarsity, we host dinners where we invite students and other members to share a meal, laugh together, and learn how to love one another. We host a mutton harvest every Spring where we invite the community and students to feast together. We share stories from the school year and pray for another year of spiritual protection, transformation, and restoration.
We invite people to share their story and invite the Good Story (Gospel) to be in the center of the Native community on campus. We encourage Native students to finish their academics.
Let’s pray and listen to Creator God on how can this happen on your campus or in your family or in your community.
Listen to this story of a Native student answering these questions about her story:
Part Vl: Obedience Over Sacrifices
Story: Creator's Vision and Yours
- Have you ever forgotten something important? Like a family member's birthday or something else? What did it feel like to realize it? What did you do differently to not forget after that?
- Do you think you have a responsibility in your life? What does it look like?
- If you were to receive help, would you take the offer? If not, why?
- Imagine you are in Nehemiah’s shoes; how would you feel about what his people have done?
- What did Nehemiah say to raise his concerns to God?
Read about how Creator worked in Nehemiah's story
Respond to Nehemiah's story in your life
The first part of scripture portrays in Numbers 22. The Ammonite and Moabite weren’t able to enter the assembly of God because in Numbers 22, they saw Israelites as a threat and hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam was confronted by God through his donkey. God led Balaam to bless the Israelites instead.
Throughout scripture, Nehemiah trusted Eliashib the priest to store the grain offerings, frankincense, vessels and tithes of grain, wine and oil. Later on, Nehemiah found out what the priest did for Tobiah was unlawful. Nehemiah tried to set things right to help the people follow Moses’s law and help them know who they are. In comparison, it’s like how Native elders would want the culture to continue, but have concerns when Christianity only portrays American culture.
Creator Sets Free invites us not to leave our culture but to witness our culture being renewed.
Nehemiah helped them to respect and honor the Sabbath and marriage in Ch 13:15-31. Creator Sets Free, Jesus Christ, also reminded his disciples and Pharisees to respect and honor. The scriptures are Luke 6:1-5 and Matthew 19:1-12.
Reflect on how Creator is moving in your life
Creator Sets Free was confronted by the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and reminded them about the sacred teachings related with marriage and sabbath. As Creator Sets Free shared what has occurred in the Old Testament and do the right thing, Nehemiah followed the law given from Moses. Nehemiah wanted to honor Creator God through obedience.
One example of respecting and honor in Native community is learning how to be a relative with Native students during LiSteN, annual summer immersion program, and they would invite me in their homes, families and land. I learn every year on how to be a blessing to them when I listen to them. It starts with listening in the Native community and with Creator God. I hope this discipleship cycle of Nehemiah encourages you to continue to bless your people.
Let’s pray together on how you can bless your family, community, and Tribal nation through God’s provision.
Listen to this story of a Native student answering these questions about her story:
