Expository Bible-study guide to Nehemiah.
Part of the God's Word For You series.
The book of Nehemiah chronicles a key moment in the history of God's people: the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the return from exile.
Understanding this book doesn't just mean knowing about a rebuilt wall. Nehemiah helps us think through any type of rebuilding we might do for God—from our homes and families to our local church, our communities and our world. It teaches us, ultimately, about Jesus and his mission.
A pastor with decades of experience in cities, Dr. Eric Mason unpacks this rich book verse by verse. He explains the context, gives plenty of application for our lives today, and shows us what it looks like to get involved in God's work to build his kingdom.
This expository guide can be read as a book; used as a devotional; and utilised in teaching and preaching.
Introduction
1. Rebuilt to Build (Nehemiah 1)
2. Nehemiah Makes Plans (Nehemiah 2)
3. The Rebuilding Begins (Nehemiah 3:1 – 4:9)
4. Defense and Development (Nehemiah 4:10-23)
5. Rebuilt through Justice and Love (Nehemiah 5)
6. Finishing the Wall (Nehemiah 6 – 7)
7. Rebuilt through the Word (Nehemiah 8)
8. Faithful and Unfaithful (Nehemiah 9)
9. Sacrificial Commitment (Nehemiah 10:1 – 12:43)
10. Faith Without Compromise (Nehemiah 12:44 – 13:31)
Glossary
Bibliography
| Contributors | Eric Mason |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781784986797 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | July 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
I was kindly sent a copy of Nehemiah For You by Eric Mason. It’s a book which helps the reader to be strengthened to build for God, meditate on God’s Word, be equipped to teach the Bible to others, and to learn more about this particular Book of the Bible during personal study time.
This book is written in good clear print, with an eye-catching cover that clearly tells the reader what the book is about and its purpose in just a few short sentences. It also has the same look, design and feel as other ‘For You’ books in the series. When opening the book, the contents are easily readable, so you can find straight away which section you want to read or are currently reading and working through. This book also includes a very handy glossary at the back to help with further understanding of words that are marked in grey throughout the book. The sections within the book have a helpful question and reflection time at the end, which can be done individually or within a group discussion. Again, on the back cover, the book clearly describes what it is about and what its aims are.
The "_____ for You" series are one of the best series on the market at the moment for commentaries that explore application really well. This Nehemiah book from Eric Mason is no different, with helpfully structured chapters, plenty of exposition, and excellent application. It's the perfect handbook for a newer preacher who wants a helping hand to think through how to use this book of the Bible with a congregation. While I will also buy something a bit more academic to use alongside this, it's a superb introduction to the book that I wouldn't go without.
This book is part of the For You series from The Good Book Company. They have several books based on specific books of the Bible. I have read a few others and thoroughly enjoyed them and this one is no exception.
The purpose of this series is to walk the reader through a book of the Bible, verse by verse. This is a great way to get a deep dive into a book of the Bible, understand its context and greater message from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Nehemiah For You is structured with ten chapters, each addressing a specific chapter of the book of Nehemiah. Each chapter provides an in depth look at the author, writing style, and context of Nehemiah's story along with biblical take aways. All readers will walk away with a greater understanding of how Nehemiah applies to our modern day lives.
Each chapter is concluded with questions for reflections. This is a wonderful aspect of each chapter as it forces the reader to ponder the insights discussed.
Mason does a great job of providing practical scenarios that allow us to be a Nehemiah in our own communities.
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
There's nothing more frustrating than rebuilding a sand castle.
Okay...maybe a few things, but working to get the sand just right, mounting each turret perfectly without crushing the foundation beneath, it's all a lot of hard work.
I can't imagine what it was like as the exiled Jews returned to Jerusalem, to see their ancestral city laying in a crumbled heap, without protection, without the vibrant life they'd known from the stories of the grandparents.
The book of Nehemiah tells us the story of how God initiates, and completes, restoration and our role in His work as His representatives. The walls need to be rebuilt for Jerusalem to become a place of worship again and He's working not only on the structures of the city, but also on the hearts of the people.
Nehemiah For You: Strength to Build for God by Eric Mason takes us chapter by chapter through this historical book to show us how the tasks and challenges Nehemiah faces as he walks in obedience to God and how that influences our work for the kingdom today as light bearers in our churches and communities.
He draws lessons for us as we serve in our local churches, about how to deal with opposition or resistance, how to move with one purpose, the value of surrendering our personal preferences, being a student first and foremost of God's Word.
This commentary series is one I really enjoy. They're written for the average church member so they're easy to follow and understand. With helpful reflection questions at the end of each section it's also very practical.
If you're studying the book of Nehemiah, this is a great resource for you to have!
Quick Stats
# of pages: 176 pages
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 5 stars
*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
This is an excellent study of the book of Nehemiah. It begins with some helpful background as to how the book of Nehemiah fits in with broader Bible narrative, establishing the context of the book.
The style of this Bible study makes it very accessible, packed with sound teaching and background, not overly theological, but enough to give the reader a solid understanding.
It is ideal for personal study or it could be used as a basis for a Bible study group, with questions at the end of each section to help you along. Or if you were researching for a talk or sermon then there is plenty of good material.
Key themes like knowing our calling, hearing from God, leadership, how to deal with opposition and perseverance, are all discussed using examples from the text. There is such depth in the story, so much more than a story of rebuilding a wall, and we can gain insight into our own situations, how to fight our battles and build our societies in strong relationship with a loving God.
My familiarity with the book of Nehemiah mainly stems from my childhood church's building campaign, and I read "Nehemiah For You" with one of the "Let us rise up and build" fundraising bookmarks my dad made in the late nineties. However, even though I felt like I knew the story well, it had been years since I had actually read it, and this book inspired me to go back and revisit Nehemiah, reading chapters before reading the associated sections in this book. I appreciated Eric Mason's clear explanations of some of the more complex historical and cultural elements of this Bible book, and he draws out great applications for how Christians can apply core themes from Nehemiah in their churches and communities.
Mason writes with a realistic, boots-on-the-ground perspective about church ministry and community renewal projects, sharing some examples from his pastoral ministry in an urban church. He emphasizes both the internal and external changes that were necessary for repentance and healing in Nehemiah's context, and he shows how these core themes apply to current issues today. I appreciate how well he balanced writing about both personal holiness and social justice, addressing both as essential without emphasizing one over the other.
"Nehemiah For You" is a great resource for pastors who are planning to preach through Nehemiah, especially if they feel uncertain about how to handle the social justice themes without watering them down or overly politicizing them in today's cultural context. This book would also be a great selection for Bible studies, personal reading, and family devotions with older children, especially when people are going through phases of vision-casting, project management, and communal renewal.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
