NEHEMIAH – PART 4 YOUNG ADULT CELLS DEC 2005 WEEK 2

DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT Leader’s Notes

FOCUS (10 mins) Learning Outcomes:

Brainstorming Exercise: Understanding, Behaviour

Prepare a whiteboard or big piece of paper and divide it into two Objective:
columns. At the end of this lesson, you
Tell them that all of us had at one time of other been discouraged will be able to:
before. • Remember 3 causes of
Explain that discouragement is something that has plagued every discouragement.
• Implement 3 cures for
human being. No matter who were are, rich or poor, educated or
discouragement in your life.
uneducated, man or woman, powerful politician or normal citizens, • Encourage and spur one
we have been discouraged before. another in a practical way.
Ask if they agree. (All will agree).

On the paper, write down “Causes” and “Cures” on each column

and ask them to brainstorm on what are the causes and cures of
discouragement.

Summarize their answers. Remember there are no wrong answers.

Next, move from the general causes and cures to personal sharing
by asking if they can remember a time when they were discouraged
and how they deal with it.
Give time for those members who want to share.
Again, summarize or paraphrase their answers, be quick to affirm
spiritually right answers.

Tell them that today’s lesson is dealing with discouragement.

You can hand out the lesson notes at this time.

You can read the last paragraph of the introduction and explain
that we will look at three causes and cures of discouragement from
the passage in Nehemiah.
Read the objectives of the lesson to the people as well.
Tell them that the causes and cures in the notes are not
As the lesson is quite
exhaustive but what we can glean from the passage in Nehemiah.
straight-forward, I don’t
think there is a necessity to
II. The Causes of Discouragement (15 mins) divide the cell into small
groups.
Have someone read Neh 4:6-12.

A. Fatigue
Explain that fatigue is the first cause of discouragement using the
information in the member’s notes.

Ask the discussion question:

You may look around and direct someone to share. You may also Eg. Packing your room, bring
share something personal about projects that you have given up out all the stuffs on the floor,
halfway. but halfway through tired
and leave it lying around
Get another person to Read 1 Kings 19:3-9. overnight. Scolded by mum
Ask him/her to explain the situation or describe the story up to the etc.
passage. Ask him/her what was God’s solution for Elijah?
Answer  rest and nourishment.
Say, if we are tired, sometime the most spiritual thing to do is to
sleep.

B. Frustration
Again, ask the first person to repeat verse 10.
Explain the second cause of discouragement is frustration. Paint a
picture (in words) for them about the amount of rubble, debris,
stones, burn-down gates that the people has to clear.
Leader’s Notes
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NEHEMIAH – PART 4 YOUNG ADULT CELLS DEC 2005 WEEK 2

Ask them the discussion question:

Try to get them to picture themselves in the story. Facilitate the
discussion by working on good thoughts from the people.
Some possible answers in overcoming frustration:
Prayer, walk away from the problem to cool down, don’t look at the
problem but look at the promise of God. (Actually, try to steer the
people to know that when faced with difficulty, we should always fix
our eyes on promise of God rather than the difficulty of the task.)

C. Fear
Get another person to read verses 11 and 12.
Explain that fear is the third cause and can be contagious as seen
by the passage of the Jews repeating 10 times they will be attacked.

What fear did to them?

Paralyzed them into inaction.
Explain that fear can be a big stumbling block from us in achieving
anything in God and life.

Ask the question if they are worrier or happy-go-lucky?

Just go one around quickly to understand each other better. Many
will say depends on situations. It is ok.

III. The Cures of Discouragement (15 mins)

Have someone read Neh 4:13-18.
Explain that Nehemiah took certain steps to overcome
discouragement in the camp.

A. Reorganize Your Priorities

Steps Nehemiah took:
Explain that Neh 4:9, Nehemiah has already posted guard. Now
new challenge, so he equipped the people with weapons (v 13) and
posted them at the lowest point. (lowest point  most vulnerable)

How this help overcome the problem:

1) Discourage the enemy
2) Encourage the people.

Ask the personal application question: eg. if they are tired

constantly, maybe re-look at their schedule, encourage them to find
a place for quiet time.

B. Remember the Lord

Explain that remembering the Lord is not just thinking about Him, IV. Conclusion
but recalling the greatness and promises of God. This will help us
focus on the greatness of God rather than on the bigness of the Throw a virtual ball around
task. by asking the people to
thank God for someone in
Some practical steps: praying in tongues, praying silently on the the God and encourage that
train, recall how God has helped you in past, proclaim the promises person.
of God in the Bible etc.
Try not to get the ball
C. Resist the Enemy thrown to the same person
Explain that as Christian, we are in warfare. (Eph 6:12, 2 Cor 10:4) twice.
James 4:7 -> we are to resist the enemy.
Nehemiah took practical actions of equipping the people to face the After everybody has finished,
threat of war. He is basically telling the enemy not to mess with him. open up the whole group for
He will fight them if attacked. anybody to thank or
encourage someone they
Some practical ways: sharing with friends, encourage yourself, wanted to but has not done
things are not as bad as it seems, praying against discouragement, so in the first round.
do not wallow in self-pity, hang around with cheery/faith people
rather than doom-gloom people etc.
Leader’s Notes
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