Check the Events Page for What is Happening (not everything is listed here) (waterschurch.org/events)

MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM TO ALL LG LEADERS:

Dear Life Group Leader,

This week’s discussion centers on Godly leadership—how it’s not just for people with titles but for every believer. Your role as a leader is to highlight the key takeaways from the message while ensuring that everyone participates in the conversation. Encourage your group to reflect on how they can lead by example, confront with love, lay down privilege to empower others, and lift burdens instead of adding to them. The goal of this discussion is not just knowledge, but transformation—so push for application. Let’s get everyone involved!

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Reminders:

✳ Please regularly check your Planning Center profiles for requests to join your life groups, remove members from the list that no longer attend, or add members not listed. Please ensure that you have added no-reply@churchcenter.com to your email contacts so that you do not miss an email from Planning Center and encourage your members to do so as well.  This will ensure you do not miss a member request or any emails that come from the Planning Center site. Thank you!

Waters Class Schedule:

• 1st Sunday: Discover Waters – after 1st service
• 2nd Sunday: NO CLASSES
• 3rd Sunday: Connect Class – after 1st service
• 4th Sunday: Baptism Class – after 1st service

Waters Help: Need marriage and family care  or have a group member in need of marriage and family care?   Click here:  help resources page  or visit waterschurch.org/help

Location Text Alerts:

LEADER GUIDE:

Take time to read the entire chapter, perhaps breaking it up among your group members beforehand. 

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Key Verse: Nehemiah 5
TOPIC: Leadership That Lifts

Prayers that Get Heard and Change the World

Ice Breaker Question: Leader: Consider thinking about this beforehand and going first to give members a chance to think.

• Who has been an inspiring leader in your life and why? What was one thing they did that challenged the “status quo” and made a big impact in that organization, family or school?

Opening Prayer:Lord God, we come before You today with humble hearts, seeking Your guidance and wisdom. Thank You for bringing us together to learn from the example of Nehemiah. Open our eyes to see the opportunities You’ve placed before us to lead with love, humility, and courage. May Your Word challenge us to live as godly leaders who lift others up, reflect Your truth, and bring transformation to our homes, churches, and communities. Holy Spirit, guide our discussion today and help us apply what we learn in practical ways. We surrender this time to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Lean into the Problems People Face

📖 Nehemiah 5:1-5 ESV– The people cried out because of economic hardship and exploitation, and Nehemiah listened instead of ignoring their struggles.

• What are some common problems in our families, churches, or communities that we tend to ignore?
• Why do people often avoid confronting problems? How does ignoring problems make them worse?
• Testify: Share a time when you notice leadership didn’t exist. What happened to the people?
• Application: What is one problem in your relationship circle that you need to acknowledge and lean into this week?

2. Love People Enough to Confront

📖 Nehemiah 5:6-8 ESV – Nehemiah was angry at injustice but used that anger to confront the issue constructively.

• How can anger be used in a Godly way? How do we balance truth with love when confronting others? Have you experience truth without love? Where?
• Jesus flipped tables in the temple (John 2:13-16). What was the difference between Jesus’ righteous anger and human sinful anger?
• Testify: Share a time when you had to lovingly confront someone about a bad decision or destructive behavior. How did they respond? What did you learn?
• Application: Who in your life needs you to have a tough but necessary conversation? (Leaders this might be difficult to answer, give lots of grace if there’s not many offerings).

3. Live as an Example

📖 Nehemiah 5:14-16 ESV – Nehemiah refused to take advantage of his position and instead led by serving alongside the people.

• How do leaders lose credibility when they demand more than they give?
• What’s the difference between leadership that serves and leadership that takes?
• Testify: Share about someone in your life who leads by example rather than position. What have you learned from them?
• Application: What’s one way you can be an example in your home, workplace, or church this week?

4. Lay Down Privilege to Empower Others

📖 Nehemiah 5:17-18 ESV –  Nehemiah refused special treatment as governor so the people could be lifted up.

• How does our culture define leadership? How is Jesus’ model of leadership different?
• R.G. LeTourneau gave away 90% of his income and used his business to fund missions. Why do you think some people hoard wealth while others use it to bless others?
• Testify: Have you ever seen someone sacrifice their privilege or position to benefit others? How did it impact you?
• Application: What privilege, resource, or opportunity has God given you that you can use to empower someone else this week?

5. Lift People’s Burdens

📖 Nehemiah 5:19 ESV & Galatians 6:2 ESV – Leadership isn’t about adding weight to others, but helping carry it.

• How can we tell the difference between helping people and enabling them?
• Testify: Share about a time when someone lifted a burden off your shoulders. How did it change your situation?
• Application: Who in your life is burdened right now? What is one practical step you can take to help them this week?

Closing Challenge & Prayer

• What is your biggest takeaway from today’s discussion?
• Which leadership principle from Nehemiah 5 do you need to apply most this week?
• Pray for one another: Ask God to give courage for confrontation, wisdom for leadership, and strength to serve.

🔹 Final Thought: Leadership isn’t about having a title—it’s about serving, standing up for what’s right, and lifting others toward Jesus. Let’s be leaders who live the message, not just hear it.