Sunday, September 27, 2026

Relationships can be challenging, especially when someone doesn’t understand the concept of personal space, physically or emotionally! Sometimes the most loving thing you can establish are boundaries with these people. Boundaries aren't there to control others but can actually help you keep your peace. They can create safety, sanity, and clarity, so that you can be yourself and bring your best to relationships.

While we might feel like setting boundaries is a modern problem, Scripture shows it was just as necessary in Old Testament times. . As Nehemiah was following God’s call to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, he encountered persistent boundary breakers and had to establish strict limits. His very first reaction was to turn to God: 

Nehemiah 4:4
Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!  

This week, as we explore Nehemiah’s story and the practical tools used to navigate opposition, we’ll discover that boundaries aren’t mean or bad. Instead, they protect your heart from bitterness and prevent unhealthy things from impacting your life. Ultimately, boundaries empower you to love others well without losing yourself in the process. 

Discussion Questions:
How would you describe your personal space bubble? 

When you think about boundaries, what makes you uncomfortable? How does your perspective change when you consider boundaries as something that help maintain peace?

Read Nehemiah 4:1-23. What do you learn about boundaries from these passages?

Consider the four tools Barb presented (pray first, guard your heart, add more support, stay ready). How would applying these tools benefit you in a relationship that requires a boundary?

What is one thing you will do this week to either institute a boundary in a relationship or apply one of the tools to your life?

Prayer: 
Lord, people who fail to respect boundaries are a part of life, but your word shows us that boundaries and limits aren’t bad. Instead they help us keep our peace. Thank you for this reminder, as these situations often feel lonely and frustrating. Help my heart to be soft and receptive to what you want to teach me about healthy boundaries this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.