Nehemiah-Learning Leadership

Transcription

Study Through the Bible
Nehemiah:
Learning Leadership
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on a study title you’d like to see q
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INTRODUCTION
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Study 1: Prepare for the Mission
Leader’s Guide — Participant’s Guide
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Study 2: Share and Sustain the Vision
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Study 3: Manage the Opposition
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Study 4: Celebrate and Continue the Completed Mission
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©2009 Christianity Today International
ChristianBibleStudies.com
Nehemiah: Learning Leadership
Introduction
Introduction
How to use the “Nehemiah: Learning Leadership”
quarterly series by ChristianBibleStudies.com.
Why read this book?
If you’ve ever faced an overwhelming task or felt inadequate to meet a challenge,
you’ll be able to identify with Nehemiah. He struggled with issues still with us
today: motivation, fatigue, criticism. But this book also offers inspiration and vision.
Without neglecting the practical, Nehemiah shows how to tackle God’s difficult
assignments and survive both opposition and apathy.
Who wrote this book?
Probably the writer of Ezra (which was originally combined with Nehemiah)
who many think also wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles. He likely drew from Nehemiah’s
memoirs and from census records.
What were the historical
circumstances surrounding it?
The Babylonians conquered Israel in 586 b.c. Persia, in turn, conquered Babylon
(539 b.c.) and later allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. By 445 b.c., however,
the challenges of rebuilding their homeland had demoralized them. Under Ezra,
they had rebuilt the temple, but the walls of the city remained in rubble.
Why was it written?
To remind God’s people of their spiritual heritage and to keep them from becoming
careless toward the Lord.
2
Introduction
When was it written?
The incidents occurred between 444 and 432 b.c. The book was probably compiled
about 430 b.c., though no one knows for sure.
What to look for in Nehemiah:
A shining example of one man’s methods of accomplishing his goals. Watch for the
ways he balanced his spirituality with down-to-earth action. One example: we prayed to
our God and posted a guard (4:9).
3
Prepare for the Mission
Leader ’s Guide
L e a d e r ’s G u i d e
Prepare for
the Mission
A leader must have passion.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “He who
would be a good leader must be prepared
to deny himself much.” Behind every great
leader is a passion for a mission—a cause
so compelling that the leader cannot help
but take action. But how is that passion born?
From where does the idea come?
Scr ipt ure: Neh emiah 1– 2
B ased On : Th e B ibl e s tu dy “ The Way o f Leader s hip, ”
by M ichelle L. R ayb u r n
4
Leader ’s Guide
Part 1
Identify the Issue
No te to Lea der : Provide each p erson with the Par ticipant ’s G uide, inclu d e d a t
t h e en d of th i s study.
Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, a physics professor at the University of Texas, wrote a book about
the physics of NASCAR racing, and for her research she was given the opportunity to drive a
NASCAR racer on the 1.5 mile track of the Texas Motor Speedway. With an instructor in the
passenger seat, she drove the car at speeds up to 150 m.p.h. It was while accelerating to get up to
that speed that the author learned an interesting lesson about race cars. She writes:
We trundled down pit road, and when Paul motioned, I pressed the clutch, shifted into third,
then released the clutch and stepped on the gas…. A NASCAR engine is optimized for speed,
so when you’re puttering along at 100 m.p.h., it chugs uncomfortably. The solution is to go
faster.
So, the author is driving the car at 100 m.p.h., but the car is chugging roughly like a locomotive.
What’s the matter with this car? It doesn’t feel like it’s designed for speed because it can’t go even
100 m.p.h. without running roughly. But that’s just it. The car is designed for higher speeds! The
solution to a chugging race car is not to slow down, but to go faster! This baby is designed to blister
the asphalt.
Things run best when used as they were designed. You were designed to live fully for God. If you
live halfway for God, you will feel like you’re driving a racecar with a chugging engine. Your soul
just won’t feel right. The answer is to “go faster.” You need to commit yourself and everything
about you fully to the Lord.1
Discussion Questions:
[Q] Give an example of a leader you know who shows great passion for the area he or she is
working in. If this person influenced you in some way, share how that happened.
[Q] A popular saying is that most things we learn are “caught, not taught.” What do you think
that means? If you can, give examples.
[Q] What would your life look like if you committed “yourself and everything about you fully
to the Lord”?
[Q] How would that commitment help those you seek to lead?
1
Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, The Physics of NASCAR (Dutton, 2008); as seen in Time (3-3-08), p. 43.
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Leader ’s Guide
Part 2
Discover the Eternal Principles
Teaching Point One: The mission begins with a need.
Read Nehemiah 1:1–4.
When Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem, he expressed his concern by sitting
down and weeping. His mission began with a need and proceeded with preparation to meet
that need. In his book Jesus on Leadership, C. Gene Wilkes defines the mission as God’s call on a
person’s life, and the vision as his or her “unique take on that mission.”2
Wilkes also says, “Leadership begins when a God-revealed mission captures a person.” Greg Ogden
adds that the leader’s calling has a feeling of “an inner oughtness, or this I must do.” Nehemiah
had this sense of oughtness when he knew he must go to the king and ask for a hefty favor.
[Q] What needs concern you right now? Name as many as you can think of.
[Q] Out of the needs you mentioned, which one seems the most urgent to you?
[Q] Do you sense God calling you to meet that need? If so, how?
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help us think through what God is calling us to do.
Activity: Write in the box below what you think is your personal mission—the one thing
more than anything else that you feel you are called to do. Then form pairs and tell your partner
what you wrote in your box. Describe why you feel passionate about that mission. Discuss with
each other ways that you can best fulfill that mission.
My personal mission:
“O Lord ... be attentive to the prayer of this, your servant...”
— Nehemiah 1:11
2
C. Gene Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership (Tyndale House Publishers, 1998), p. 20.
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Leader ’s Guide
Teaching Point Two: A leader prepares by praying.
Before doing anything else, Nehemiah prayed and fasted about his concern. First he praised God
for his awesome greatness; then he confessed his sins and the sins of his people, remembering
God’s faithful forgiveness in the past. He didn’t pass the blame; instead, he confessed his own sin
too. Finally, he presented his request to God, asking for success as he went to the king.
[Q] What strikes you about Nehemiah’s prayer?
[Q] Why did he add fasting to his prayer? What do you think is the purpose of fasting?
Le a der ’s Note: Fasti n g was for Ne he miah’s sake, not an atte mpt to t wis t
G o d’s arm into doing what he wanted. H e was preparing his own hea r t to
l i sten an d h ear wh at G o d had for him.
[Q] Why do you think Nehemiah started his prayer with praise to God? Is he trying to butter
God up? If not, what is the purpose of such a prayer?
Le a der ’s Note: Agai n , this was for Ne he miah’s sake, not G o d’s. Dwe l ling
o n how a wesome G o d is help ed him b elie ve and trust that G o d could d o
t h e i mp ossi bl e.
[Q] What specific sins did he confess?
[Q] Why did Nehemiah include himself in his confession, even though his sins were minor
compared to others’ sins?
Teaching Point Three: A leader shares the mission with those in authority
over him or her.
Whatever the reason, after his time of prayer and fasting Nehemiah waited nearly four months—
from autumn to spring—until the time was right to speak his request to the king. Great leaders
wait patiently for God’s timing, not running ahead of him.
Then the time arrived, and Nehemiah was ready when the king asked him what he needed. But
Nehemiah didn’t respond on impulse, even though he had already prayed. Instead, he offered
another prayer to God, this one quick and silent, and then spoke his request to the king. Leaders
must cultivate a habit of praying in all situations before acting. Impulsiveness leads to irrevocable
mistakes. Nehemiah made sure his words were God-pleasing and his actions God-directed.
7
Leader ’s Guide
When the king asked about his need, Nehemiah knew his plan well enough to be able to give
a clear answer. Leaders must prepare well, planning the initial steps before approaching those
in charge. Nehemiah knew what he planned to do, how long he estimated it would take, and
what resources he needed.
William Arthur says that there are four steps to achievement: “Plan purposefully, prepare
prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.”
[Q] In your ministry, who is the “king” that you need to approach with your idea?
[Q] Are you prepared enough to know what you need, and organized enough to present
a clear plan to this person or group? If not, how can you prepare?
Le a der ’s Note: I f you ha ve time, let p eople share what the y think th e y
n eed an d brai n storm as a group how t he y can b e tte r pre pare.
Teaching Point Four: A leader presents the need to others.
After he went to the king and secured what he needed for his mission, Nehemiah took some
key individuals with him to survey the wall and make a plan of action; and he didn’t reveal
his plan to them until he had presented the need to them in person. He showed them the
condition of the walls and they responded enthusiastically with, “Let us start rebuilding” (v.
18). Showing the need was more effective than just talking about it.
If 89 percent of what people learn is acquired through visual stimulation, it’s not surprising
that our followers need to see a clear picture of the need. If you cannot physically show them
the task, help them see with words.
Finally, Nehemiah knew their efforts would be successful with God’s power. Greg Ogden says
that a calling is “bigger than we can ever accomplish in our own resources.”3
[Q] What might be the benefit of waiting to reveal your plan to others? List some of the
consequences of revealing it too early.
[Q] What are some ways to help people “see” the need for your mission?
3
Greg Ogden, Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God (Zondervan, 1990), p. 262.
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Leader ’s Guide
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: On your own this week, compare Nehemiah’s prayer in
Nehemiah 1 to Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9. How are the prayers similar?
What was the outcome in each situation? Write your own prayer to God
about the mission that God has called you to, using Nehemiah’s and
Daniel’s prayers as examples.
—Study by Michelle L. Rayburn, with JoHannah Reardon
9
Pa r t i c i p a n t ’s G u i d e
P a r t i c i p a n t ’s G u i d e
Prepare for
the Mission
A leader must have passion.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “He who
would be a good leader must be prepared
to deny himself much.” Behind every great
leader is a passion for a mission—a cause
so compelling that the leader cannot help
but take action. But how is that passion born?
From where does the idea come?
by M ichelle L. R ayb u r n
10
Part 1
Identify the Issue
Things run best when used as they were designed. You were designed to live fully for God. If you
live halfway for God, you will feel like you’re driving a racecar with a chugging engine. Your soul just
won’t feel right. The answer is to “go faster.” You need to commit yourself and everything about you
fully to the Lord.1
Part 2
Teaching Point One: The mission begins with a need.
My personal mission:
“O Lord ... be attentive to the prayer of this, your servant...”
— Nehemiah 1:11
Teaching Point Two: A leader prepares by praying.
Teaching Point Three: A leader shares the mission with those in authority
over him or her.
Teaching Point Four: A leader presents the need to others.
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: On your own this week, compare Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1
to Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9. How are the prayers similar? What was the outcome
in each situation? Write your own prayer to God about the mission that God has
called you to, using Nehemiah’s and Daniel’s prayers as examples.
1
Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, The Physics of NASCAR (Dutton, 2008); as seen in Time (3-3-08), p. 43.
11
Share and Sustain the Vision
Leader ’s Guide
Share and
Sustain the Vision
A leader must be able to bring others on board.
Stephen Samuel Wise says, “Vision looks inward
and becomes a duty. Vision looks outward and
becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and
becomes faith.” In lesson one, we defined the
mission. Now it is time to define the vision—
how that mission looks when it is complete.
Nehemiah’s mission was to repair the wall of
Jerusalem, but there were specific tasks for accomplishing this mission
that were a part of his vision. He surely knew he couldn’t do it all alone
because he enlisted the help of many others, sharing his vision with
them to complete the work.
B ased On : Th e B ible s tu dy “ The Way o f Leader s hip, ”
by M ich elle L. R aybu r n
12
Leader ’s Guide
Part 1
Identify the Issue
No te to Lea der : Provi de ea ch p e r son w ith t he Par ticipant ’s G uide,
i n c lu ded at th e en d of th i s st udy.
Often vision is caught through something tangible. If we want others to catch our vision,
we may need to do something that demonstrates that vision. Bill White, a pastor in
California, shares this story:
Because Vance is an African American living in a predominately Hispanic
neighborhood, he stands out. But what really sets Vance apart is that he is a servanthearted father who cares not only for his own kids, but also for the many other kids
who play in the streets by his building.
One night at 9 p.m., there was a knock at Vance’s door. The 16-year-old boy
who lives a few doors down needed help tying his tie. He had a big presentation at
school the next day, and he had no father to help him get ready. After Vance had
finished tying the tie, the boy sheepishly asked, “Do you have a pair of black dress
shoes I could borrow?”
Immediately, the Spirit brought to Vance’s mind the $60 pair of shoes in his
closet that he hadn’t even taken out of the box yet. He was certain God was telling
him to give the boy those shoes.
Vance cringed inside. He told the boy to wait at the door as he headed into the
apartment to look for any pair of shoes but the expensive pair. Before he went to
the closet, though, he told his wife what he sensed the Spirit was saying to him. She
agreed that it sounded like God had given him a great idea. So Vance got out his
new shoes and brought them to the boy. His last hope was that they wouldn’t fit.
After all, how many 16-year-olds have size-12 feet?
They fit perfectly.
Just a few weeks after Vance gave away his new shoes, he and his wife sensed
God telling them to start a Bible study for the kids in their building. After much
prayer, they decided to invite the kids to their apartment for a Sunday evening study.
They ordered four Bibles in case any kids came. That Sunday, seven kids showed
up at Vance’s apartment—led by the 16-year-old owner of a new pair of shoes. The
following week they ordered more Bibles, and 14 kids showed up!
Who would have thought the kingdom of God would come to the kids of that apartment
complex just because one man chose to give away a new pair of shoes? What started as a
reluctant obedience ended up being a passion.
13
Leader ’s Guide
[Q] Give an example of a leader you know who shows great passion for the area he or she is
leading in. If this person influenced you in some way, share how that happened.
[Q] A popular saying is that most things we learn are “caught, not taught.” What do you
think that means? If you can, give examples.
[Q] What would your life look like if you committed “yourself and everything about you
fully to the Lord”?
[Q] How would that commitment help those you seek to lead?
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Form a team.
Read Nehemiah 3.
When the time was right, Nehemiah revealed his plan to all of the people and the work on the
walls and gates began. He assigned the work in a logical way by forming teams, each assigned to
a portion of the wall near their own houses.
When Nehemiah assigned work to the teams, he gave responsibility and authority to leaders to
carry out specific tasks, but these weren’t professional wall-builders! They were priests, perfumemakers, women, goldsmiths, and merchants. How did Nehemiah make this work? In Developing
the Leaders Around You, John Maxwell says, “Leaders create and inspire new leaders by instilling
faith in their leadership abilities and helping them develop and hone leadership skills they don’t
know they possess.”
Great leaders encourage people to tap into skills they don’t yet know they have in order to get
the mission accomplished.
[Q] What are some benefits of working in teams? Give an example from your own life, if
you can.
[Q] It has been said that God does not ask about our ability or inability, but our availability.
• Do you think that’s true? Why or why not?
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Leader ’s Guide
Teaching Point Two: Prioritize the work.
In chapter seven, after the wall was finished, Nehemiah appointed people to various positions and
gave them instructions for their responsibilities. They began the work with the gates by laying
beams, hanging doors, and putting the bolts and bars in place, then moved on to work on the
walls.
[Q] How do you go about prioritizing your ministry—what process do you use to determine
what needs to be done first?
If you are a leader with a vision that is too big to accomplish on your own, you already know
that you are going to have to find a team to work with you. “Effective teams work because
members sense that each person belongs, that they share a common goal and have a purpose for
functioning.”1 Nehemiah’s teams shared the common goal of rebuilding and the work got done in
just 52 days! Imagine how long that would have taken Nehemiah on his own.
[Q] How will you communicate your ministry priorities in a way that those under you will
understand and be motivated?
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help us think through forming our teams.
Activity: List several individuals who might be valuable members of your team. When you’ve
made your list, form pairs and share with your partner how you plan to communicate your
vision to that team.
Teaching Point Three: Stay balanced.
Charles Colson says, “The lure of power can separate the most resolute of Christians from the true
nature of Christian leadership, which is service to others. It’s difficult to stand on a pedestal and
wash the feet of those below.”
Once the work of rebuilding the wall began, Nehemiah had the responsibility of sustaining the
vision—carrying it to completion. Character was one of the foundational leadership qualities that
made him successful. A great leader has great character. John Maxwell says that leaders should
be character-driven, not emotion-driven—not doing things when they feel like doing them, but
committed to principles and action. Let’s take a look at some of Nehemiah’s character qualities.
1
C. Gene Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership (Tyndale House Publishers, 1998), 219.
15
Leader ’s Guide
A leader is even tempered. Read Nehemiah 4:1–5. Nehemiah responded to taunting and
mocking with prayer, not retaliation. Emotion-driven leaders react to opposition because it
threatens their popularity and undermines their good feelings. Character-driven leaders like
Nehemiah leave it up to God to deal with dissenters, and stay cool. C. Gene Wilkes says that
leaders “must be comfortable with how others may respond to their decisions.”2
[Q] How do you react when you feel threatened by others? Are you a people pleaser, or are
you willing to sacrifice popularity for the sake of your mission? Explain.
A leader is watchful, not fearful. Read Nehemiah 4:12–23. The work continued despite
opposition. He remained focused on the vision, despite the distraction.
[Q] What circumstances in your personal ministry make you feel afraid?
[Q] What could you do to conquer that fear?
A leader doesn’t let problems fester. Read Nehemiah 5:1–13. Nehemiah saw the oppression of
his people and stood up for them. He called a meeting to deal with the problem as soon as he
became aware of it.
[Q] Is there something in your ministry that needs to be dealt with right away? How can
you keep that problem from festering?
A leader doesn’t put on airs. Read Nehemiah 5:16–19. Nehemiah identified with common
people and this gave him credibility with his followers. His vision might have crumbled if he had
used his position for personal gain; instead, he refused special privileges, even providing for his
people from his own pocket. Great leaders care more about the mission than about position. “As
long as leaders worry about who sits at the head table, they have little time for the people they
are called to serve.”3
A leader is disciplined. A leader listens to God’s voice by cultivating his heart through spiritual
disciplines. Nehemiah kept his heart ready for new revelations from God and obeyed him
(Nehemiah 7:5). Throughout the Book of Nehemiah, we see a picture of a leader who returned
to prayer, scripture, and worship. A leader must never become so busy that he or she neglects
spiritual discipline. In order to lead and nurture others, you must first feed yourself spiritually.
[Q] What areas of spiritual discipline would you like to cultivate more in your life?
Le a der ’s Note: I f your group needs help with this question, discuss s o m e
s pi ri tual di sc i pl i n es suc h as solit ude, fasting, sacrifice, study, wor ship,
celebrati on , ser vi ce, praye r, and confe ssion.
2
Wilkes, 62.
3
Wilkes, 36.
16
Leader ’s Guide
[Q] How do you think spiritual discipline influences your ministry?
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Points:
• Study 1 Corinthians 3, and compare the principles from this New Testament
letter with the way Nehemiah led his teams. How does what Paul describes in
1 Corinthians 3 reflect team leadership? Compare and contrast Nehemiah’s
building project with the “building project” Paul describes.
• Read the account of King Josiah in 2 Kings 22–23 or 2 Chronicles 34–35. List
Josiah’s character qualities. Consider how they related to his leadership and
vision of bringing the people back to God. How did spiritual discipline play a
role in Josiah’s leadership? How do his habits compare with Nehemiah’s?
17
Share and
Sustain the Vision
A leader must be able to bring others on board.
Stephen Samuel Wise says, “Vision looks inward
and becomes a duty. Vision looks outward and
becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and
becomes faith.” In lesson one, we defined the
mission. Now it is time to define the vision—
how that mission looks when it is complete.
Nehemiah’s mission was to repair the wall of
Jerusalem, but there were specific tasks for accomplishing this mission
that were a part of his vision. He surely knew he couldn’t do it all alone
because he enlisted the help of many others, sharing his vision with
them to complete the work.
18
Part 1
Identify the Issue
Often vision is caught through something tangible. If we want others to catch our vision, we
may need to do something that demonstrates that vision.
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Form a team.
Teaching Point Two: Prioritize the work.
Teaching Point Three: Stay balanced.
• A leader is even tempered.
• A leader is watchful, not fearful.
• A leader doesn’t let problems fester.
• A leader doesn’t put on airs.
• A leader is disciplined.
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Points:
• Study 1 Corinthians 3, and compare the principles from this New Testament
letter with the way Nehemiah led his teams. How does what Paul describes in
1 Corinthians 3 reflect team leadership? Compare and contrast Nehemiah’s
building project with the “building project” Paul describes.
• Read the account of King Josiah in 2 Kings 22–23 or 2 Chronicles 34–35. List
Josiah’s character qualities. Consider how they related to his leadership and
vision of bringing the people back to God. How did spiritual discipline play a
role in Josiah’s leadership? How do his habits compare with Nehemiah’s?
19
Manage the Opposition
Leader ’s Guide
Manage the
Opposition
A leader must learn how to handle conflict.
When Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall, he
encountered some opposition, but he didn’t
allow it to stop him. Rarely does a leader
experience one hundred percent support in his
endeavor. However, a great leader knows how
to protect the vision from destructive opposition.
He derives his strength and confidence from God
and stays the course.
Scr ipt ure: Neh emiah 3: 3– 5 ; 4: 1– 1 1; 6 : 1 – 16
20
Leader ’s Guide
Part 1
Identify the Issue
No te to Lea der : Provi de ea ch p e r son w ith t he Par ticipant ’s G uide, inclu d ed a t
t h e en d of th i s study.
Sometimes criticism is blatant, and sometimes it’s simply a misinterpretation. For example, Ron
Jenson shares this story in his book Fathers and Sons:
I showed up at the house of a friend and rang the doorbell. I was supposed to bring some chairs.
He opened the door and said, “Ron, where are the chairs?”
I responded, “Oh, I forgot.”
He glared at me and barked, “That figures!”
I thought, That figures? He thinks I’m no good. He thinks I can’t follow through. He thinks I’m
useless. Then I thought, Who does he think he is? The creep. I bet he’s got a problem or 12!
But then I decided I had two options: believe the best about what he was saying—although
that was pretty tough—and just forget about it, or ask him what he meant—even though it
seemed obvious to me.
A couple of weeks later I saw him and brought it up: “You know the other day when I was
at your house and forgot to bring the chairs and you said, ‘That figures’? …”
He interrupted me and said, “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I was wondering what you meant.”
“Well, all day long that day in every meeting someone had forgotten something. It just
figured.”
So, he wasn’t saying, “Jenson, you’re a jerk.” He was saying, “My day’s been terrible.”
[Q] Give an example of when you’ve misinterpreted someone’s reaction as criticism. How did you
sort it out?
[Q] When you meet opposition from coworkers, family members, or friends, how do you
typically react?
[Q] When you meet opposition from strangers, how do you typically react?
[Q] What is the best example of conflict resolution that you’ve ever seen?
[Q] Samuel Johnson said, “Nothing will ever be accomplished if every objection must be
overcome.” At what point do we need to move ahead, even if everyone can’t see eye to eye on a
project?
[Q] What if the conflict simply can’t be reconciled—the parties are too far apart. An example
might be a Christian and a non-Christian who disagree on abortion. How can a Christian handle
such opposition in a godly manner?
21
Leader ’s Guide
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Friendly fire can be the most deadly.
As Christians, we often expect opposition from non-Christians. Sometimes it’s a shock when
the strongest objection to what we want to do comes from other Christians.
Some of Nehemiah’s own cohorts refused to help with the mission. C. Gene Wilkes
experienced this type of opposition when he took risks and implemented changes in
his ministry. He says, “When a leader guides people to new places, he often risks his
position, power, and provisions. After all, what if others in an organization aren’t feeling so
adventurous?”1
In your leadership, you will most likely encounter “friendly fire.” Not everyone you lead will
be as excited about your vision as you are. Nehemiah spent little time addressing those who
“would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.”
[Q] Give an example of a time when another Christian opposed something you were
trying to do.
• Did that opposition make sense? Did they have some valid points you could
consider? In other words, was the opposition ultimately constructive?
• If it wasn’t constructive, what do you think motivated the person to oppose
you?
• How did you handle the situation?
• In hindsight, do you wish you’d handled it differently? If so, how?
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help us think through how to handle conflict in church ministries.
Activity: Form pairs or groups of three or four. Assign each group one of the following
conflicts, and ask them to come up with a solution for it. When each group has come up
with a solution, ask them to share it with the rest of the group.
• Miriam and Rachel are team teaching a Sunday school class for junior high students.
Miriam would like it to include a lot of memorization and Bible study, and Rachel
would like it to have a lot of fun activities.
1
22
Leader ’s Guide
• Blake and Randy are forming a softball team for church. Blake thinks it should only
include church members so that the team has integrity. Randy thinks anyone should be
able to come so that it can be an outreach.
• Jill and Jackie are starting a prayer group. Jill would like to hold training classes on how
to pray. Jackie thinks that’s off-putting, and just wants to get together to pray.
Teaching Point Two: Enemy fire is deadly too.
Read Nehemiah 4:1–11 and 6:1–16.
Sanballat, an opponent of Nehemiah, flew into a rage about the rebuilding. In his mocking,
Sanballat referred to the Jews as feeble, and Tobiah the Ammonite continued the taunting with,
“What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of
stones!” (Neh. 4:3). Nehemiah didn’t retaliate or even respond to the mocking; instead, he prayed
about it (Neh. 4:4–5). In fact, his prayers are sprinkled throughout his retelling of the incident.
Nehemiah stood firm in the face of false accusations, recognizing that his enemies were trying to
discredit him by intimidating him to fall into sin (Neh. 6:13). He refused to run away or cower
before his accusers. Once again, in the midst of a trying time, Nehemiah prayed for strength to
continue the work (Neh. 6:9) and called for God’s justice (Neh. 6:14).
How did Nehemiah stand firm? It goes back to his
foundation when he started the work: “The God of
heaven will give us success” (Neh. 2:20). When the
work was finished in a mere 52 days, even his enemies
realized that the work the Jews had done had been
accomplished with God’s help (Neh. 6:16).
Leaders will experience lonely, dark times when the
work seems overwhelming in light of the opposition.
Great leaders draw their strength from God and
persevere despite hostility from outside. They emerge
at the other end as stronger leaders than before, more
equipped for the next call from God.
What’s In a Name?
Sanballat – a name
meaning “strength”
Tobiah – a name meaning
“Jehovah is good”
Nehemiah remained
dedicated to the cause
even though the very
names of his enemies
mocked him with their
irony.
[Q] Give an example of a time you faced outside
opposition (probably from a non-Christian).
[Q] What outside opposition stands in the way of your mission right now?
[Q] What aspect of managing opposition is the hardest for you?
23
Leader ’s Guide
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help us us think through how to handle conflict with non-Christians.
Activity: Form pairs or groups of three or four. Assign each group one of the following
conflicts. Ask them to think through how the Christian in the conflict they’ve been assigned
should respond. When each group has come up with a solution, ask them to share it with the
rest of the group.
• John is trying to start a neighborhood Bible study. Matt, who lives next door, is
an atheist and wants to stop John. He’s circulating false rumors about John in the
neighborhood.
• Chris, a teacher, wants to start a Bible study at work during her lunch hour. A
coworker is taking it to the boss with complaints based on the separation of church and
state.
• Ben has been quietly sharing Christ at work. He has a lot of Christian posters in his
cube. His boss told him to stop, or he’d be fired.
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of a leader, and the four
gospels are a “leadership manual” for today’s Christian leaders. On your
own this week, read John 7; 12–13; 15; and 18 for some examples of Jesus’
response to opposition. Then answer the following questions:
[Q] How did Jesus deal with the rejection of his own friends and family? How about the
hostility from the Pharisees and Romans?
[Q] What can you learn from studying Jesus’ leadership example?
[Q] How did Nehemiah follow Jesus’ example before his time?
or
Take a personal leadership retreat: Get away and study all four Gospels to get
a grasp of Jesus’ leadership example. Be sure to bring a journal to take notes
on your discoveries.
24
Manage the
Opposition
A leader must learn how to handle conflict.
When Nehemiah began rebuilding the wall, he
encountered some opposition, but he didn’t
allow it to stop him. Rarely does a leader
experience one hundred percent support in his
endeavor. However, a great leader knows how
to protect the vision from destructive opposition.
He derives his strength and confidence from God
and stays the course.
Scr ipt ure: Neh emiah 3: 3– 5 ; 4: 1– 1 1; 6 : 1 – 16
25
Part 1
Identify the Issue
Sometimes criticism is blatant, and sometimes it’s simply a misinterpretation. For example, Ron
Jenson shares this story in his book Fathers and Sons:
I showed up at the house of a friend and rang the doorbell. I was supposed to bring some
chairs. He opened the door and said, “Ron, where are the chairs?”
I responded, “Oh, I forgot.”
He glared at me and barked, “That figures!”
I thought, That figures? He thinks I’m no good. He thinks I can’t follow through. He thinks
I’m useless. Then I thought, Who does he think he is? The creep. I bet he’s got a problem or 12!
But then I decided I had two options: believe
the best about what he was saying—although
What’s In a Name?
that was pretty tough—and just forget about
it, or ask him what he meant—even though it
Sanballat – a name
seemed obvious to me.
meaning “strength”
A couple of weeks later I saw him and
brought it up: “You know the other day when I
Tobiah – a name meaning
was at your house and forgot to bring the chairs
“Jehovah is good”
and you said, ‘That figures’? …”
He interrupted me and said, “I shouldn’t
Nehemiah remained
have said that.”
dedicated to the cause
“I was wondering what you meant.”
even though the very
“Well, all day long that day in every meeting
names of his enemies
mocked him with their
someone had forgotten something. It just
irony.
figured.”
So, he wasn’t saying, “Jenson, you’re a jerk.”
He was saying, “My day’s been terrible.”
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Friendly fire can be the most deadly.
Teaching Point Two: Enemy fire is deadly too.
26
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of a leader, and the four
gospels are a “leadership manual” for today’s Christian leaders. On your
own this week, read John 7; 12–13; 15; and 18 for some examples of Jesus’
response to opposition. Then answer the following questions:
[Q] How did Jesus deal with the rejection of his own friends and family? How about the
hostility from the Pharisees and Romans?
[Q] What can you learn from studying Jesus’ leadership example?
[Q] How did Nehemiah follow Jesus’ example before his time?
or
Take a personal leadership retreat: Get away and study all four Gospels to get
a grasp of Jesus’ leadership example. Be sure to bring a journal to take notes
on your discoveries.
27
Celebrate and Continue the Completed Mission
Leader ’s Guide
Celebrate and
Continue the
Completed Mission
Don’t forget to thank God and to keep the mission pure.
People love a celebration! We can hardly
complete an event or a season without some
kind of festivity. A sporting season, conference,
wedding, building project, or graduation are
all occasions to celebrate in style. How much
greater the joy when we are celebrating what
God has done! A leader finds great joy in seeing a
mission come to fruition. The toil is worth the sheer
satisfaction of seeing the vision complete. But we also want to
keep the mission pure as it moves ahead.
Scr ipt ure: Neh emiah 12 : 2 7, 40 , 4 3; 1 3: 1– 3 1
28
Leader ’s Guide
Part 1
Identify the Issue
No te to Lea der : Provide each p erson with the Par ticipant ’s G uide, inclu d e d
a t t h e en d of th i s study.
Pastor and author Mark Buchanan tells the conversion story of an alcoholic named Wanda:
Wanda did well for about eight months—got into Alpha and a 12-step group, got her kids
back. Then she didn’t do well, in and out—mostly out—of rehab. Then she vanished.
Then one day she called again, sober, after a year in rehab in Vancouver. She was
getting out the next week. Could she come home?
Her first Sunday back, I initially didn’t recognize her. She looked healthy. Dressed and
in her right mind.
I was preaching on the ten lepers Jesus healed, and the one, a Samaritan, who returned
to give thanks. I said that anyone who has been cleansed by Jesus, who wants to be made
whole by him, worships at his feet in deep thankfulness, in utmost desperation. They have
nowhere else they want to go. And then, to close, I reminded people we have a tradition at
our church: anyone can come up to the front and pray with one of our prayer ministers.
Wanda came forward. But she didn’t go to a prayer minister. She walked onto the
platform, between the guitarist and the drummer, and stretched her hands heavenward.
She worshiped like One Leper returning.
A woman who didn’t know her, and who isn’t on the prayer team, walked up, put her
arm around her, and worshiped, too.
Then—you could hear it—all of us worshiped with deeper thankfulness, out of
greater desperation. Out of the storeroom had come new treasures as well as old, and the
Kingdom hovered very close.1
[Q] Have you ever experienced a similar moment when you or someone you were around
thanked God in a public and powerful way? If so, tell us about it.
[Q] Oswald Chambers said, “Worship is giving to God the best he has given us.” How
would you define worship?
[Q] How is worship related to giving thanks—is it the same? Different?
[Q] If you’ve ever been a part of an organized celebration to give thanks for something, tell
us about it.
1
Condensed from our sister publication Leadership Journal, © 2008 Christianity Today International. For more articles like this, visit Leadershipjournal.net.
29
Leader ’s Guide
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Celebrate and worship together.
Nehemiah’s memoirs conclude with a huge celebration of worship. They publically praised
God for the rebuilding of the wall. In their commemoration, they spent time in confession of
sin, in remembrance of God’s past and present faithfulness, and in prayers of thankfulness for
his grace and mercy.
Leaders must take adequate time to celebrate and worship God upon the completion of a
mission, not only in the big things but also in the moments along the way when God is at
work in the mini-goals that are accomplished.
Worship, like the kind that flowed from Nehemiah and the Israelites, happens when people
have cultivated the lifestyle of spiritual discipline that Greg Ogden talks about: “Worship is
not pulled out of people, but it flows out because people have put something in.”2
Read Nehemiah 12:27, 40, 43.
[Q] Have you ever been part of a celebration that “could be heard far away”?
• Was it a Christian celebration or a non-Christian one?
• Why do we often fail to have such Christian celebrations?
[Q] What are some ways that you can personally celebrate God on a daily or weekly basis?
Name as many ways as you can think of.
[Q] What is your plan for celebration when your current mission is complete?
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help you think through how to celebrate the completion of your mission.
Activity: Form pairs. Ask each person to share with the other one idea for what they
could do to celebrate a completed mission. Together brainstorm some other ideas.
Teaching Point Two: Recommit and dedicate the finished work to God.
At the end of their worship celebration, the people made a promise to God—a recommitment
to him. They put their commitment in writing and everyone signed the document, making
2
Greg Odgen, Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God (Zondervan, 1990), 150.
30
Leader ’s Guide
an oath to God, vowing total obedience. A worship celebration offers us an opportunity to
recommit our hearts to God.
Dedicate the finished work to God as they did in Nehemiah 12:27. Often in ministry, we
have dedication ceremonies for tangible projects like buildings. However, we can also do
that with intangible projects like programs and ministries. A time of celebration and worship
allows us to dedicate the entire work to God. After all, God loves a celebration; he has a
banquet prepared for us when our work on Earth is complete—the celebration of the supper
of the Lamb (Revelation 19:17).
When the people in Nehemiah first began the work on the wall in Jerusalem, they dedicated
it to God. At the completion of their mission, they dedicated the finished work to God. Then
they concluded their dedication with more worship and celebration, offering sacrifices and
bringing tithes. In our celebration and dedication, we can follow the same pattern of worship
and thanks to God.
[Q] Give some practical examples of how you might recommit and dedicate an intangible
project to God when it’s completed.
[Q] How might we offer “sacrifices” and “tithes” for our finished projects? Give practical
ways to do so today.
Optional Activity:
Purpose: To help us think through how to recommit and dedicate an intangible
completed mission to God.
Activity: Give advice to the following teams of “First Church” on how they can
recommit and dedicate their completed mission to God.
• The Care Team at First Church has worked all year to pass an inspection to become
an emergency shelter for their city in case of a disaster.
• First Church has just welcomed back a team from their first short-term mission trip.
• The Adult Ministry Team has completed training for three new adult teachers.
• The Women’s Team has just put on their first women’s retreat.
Teaching Point Three: Continue the mission by making sure it’s
faithful to biblical principles.
Leadership doesn’t end with the completion of one mission. The leader must move on to new
goals and continue to grow the ministry, but must also continue to nurture the progress that
31
Leader ’s Guide
has been made. John Maxwell says that “the idea of arriving is an illusion …. The point of the
journey is not arriving. The point is what you learn and whom you become along the way.”3
After the work was complete, Nehemiah returned to Babylon to his service with King Artaxerxes
(Nehemiah 13:6). However, he did not forget about the work in Jerusalem and obtained a leave
from his duties once again to conduct a review. What he found upset him and he set out to
confront the evil that had invaded.
When Nehemiah found out that Eliashib the high priest had traded favors with the enemy,
Tobiah, Nehemiah expelled Tobiah from the temple courtyards and demanded that the rooms be
purified. He restored the temple for worship.
Leaders must always be on the watch for problems that creep into the ministry, even after it
is well established. A great leader purifies and restores the ministry immediately when outside
influences and unbiblical teaching have defiled it. A successful ministry, like a successful
character-driven leader, is devoted to pure biblical principles without compromise.
[Q] Are there any areas in your ministry that need to be purged and restored? If so, how can
you go about doing that?
When Nehemiah realized that the Levites were not receiving what was due them, he confronted
the leaders and inquired about the problem. When he learned that people were misusing the
Sabbath day, he confronted and rebuked them, correcting the problem by making changes in
policy—having the gates close on the Sabbath eve.
He continued by confronting people who had intermarried with foreigners. Nehemiah didn’t
cower from confrontation, nor did he try to go easy on sin. In fact, he was quite harsh, even
beating some of them (13:25). We certainly shouldn’t beat anyone in our ministries; however,
Nehemiah shows us that it is important to be tough on sin.
[Q] As a leader, what keeps you from confronting sin?
[Q] Is there anyone you feel you need to confront in your ministry? (Just think about this
question, don’t answer it aloud.)
Leaders continue to establish other leaders. Read Nehemiah 13:30–31.
3
John C. Maxwell, Developing the Leaders Around You (Thomas Nelson, 1995), 115.
32
Leader ’s Guide
Nehemiah appointed leaders and assigned tasks, making sure they knew what he expected of them.
He gave them the supplies they needed to execute their duties. Great leaders continue to assign tasks
and equip people for the work.
Leaders have continued opportunities to establish and equip others as leaders. We must provide
opportunities for them to grow personally and to worship God, celebrating him. We must ground
people in the Word of God through teaching and training them, and grow them into maturity
through discipleship and accountability. Greg Ogden says that a leader should spend 80 percent of
his time with the 20 percent who have the “greatest ministry of leadership potential.”4
[Q] How do you equip others for ministry in your leadership?
[Q] How is this an ongoing thing rather than a one-time event?
A key aspect of Nehemiah’s completion of the mission and dedication to the ministry was in the
vows he and the people wrote in Nehemiah 10. By writing them down, he established accountability.
When we equip and train others, we must provide them with opportunities for accountability. “To
give an account simply means to tell the truth to the person to whom you are responsible for what
you have done or said.”5
[Q] What are you doing to create accountability in those you lead?
[Q] Do you have a mentor or accountability partner? How has or might this help you as a leader?
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: On your own this week, Read Nehemiah 8–12; Exodus 15; and
Joshua 4. Then ask yourself the following questions:
[Q] How do the celebrations of worship in Exodus 15 and Joshua 4 compare to the one in
Nehemiah?
[Q] What was the purpose of Joshua’s stone monument?
[Q] How did remembering God’s faithfulness play a role in all three passages you studied?
[Q] How can you incorporate worship into your mission?
4
Ogden, 166.
5
33
Celebrate and
Continue the
Completed Mission
Don’t forget to thank God and to keep the mission pure.
People love a celebration! We can hardly
complete an event or a season without some
kind of festivity. A sporting season, conference,
wedding, building project, or graduation are
all occasions to celebrate in style. How much
greater the joy when we are celebrating what
God has done! A leader finds great joy in seeing a
mission come to fruition. The toil is worth the sheer
satisfaction of seeing the vision complete. But we also want to
keep the mission pure as it moves ahead.
Scr ipt ure: Neh emiah 12 : 2 7, 40 , 4 3; 1 3: 1– 3 1
34
Part 1
Identify the Issue
Pastor and author Mark Buchanan tells the conversion story of an alcoholic named Wanda:
Wanda did well for about eight months—got into Alpha and a 12-step group, got
her kids back. Then she didn’t do well, in and out—mostly out—of rehab. Then she
vanished.
Then one day she called again, sober, after a year in rehab in Vancouver. She was
getting out the next week. Could she come home?
Her first Sunday back, I initially didn’t recognize her. She looked healthy. Dressed
and in her right mind.
I was preaching on the ten lepers Jesus healed, and the one, a Samaritan, who
returned to give thanks. I said that anyone who has been cleansed by Jesus, who wants to
be made whole by him, worships at his feet in deep thankfulness, in utmost desperation.
They have nowhere else they want to go. And then, to close, I reminded people we have
a tradition at our church: anyone can come up to the front and pray with one of our
prayer ministers.
Wanda came forward. But she didn’t go to a prayer minister. She walked onto the
platform, between the guitarist and the drummer, and stretched her hands heavenward.
She worshiped like One Leper returning.
A woman who didn’t know her, and who isn’t on the prayer team, walked up, put her
arm around her, and worshiped, too.
Then—you could hear it—all of us worshiped with deeper thankfulness, out of
greater desperation. Out of the storeroom had come new treasures as well as old, and the
Kingdom hovered very close.1
Part 2
Teaching Point One: Celebrate and worship together.
Teaching Point Two: Recommit and dedicate the finished work to God.
Teaching Point Three: Continue the mission by making sure it’s
faithful to biblical principles.
1
Condensed from our sister publication Leadership Journal, © 2008 Christianity Today International. For more articles like this, visit Leadershipjournal.net.
35
Part 3
Apply Your Findings
Action Point: On your own this week, Read Nehemiah 8–12; Exodus 15; and
Joshua 4. Then ask yourself the following questions:
[Q] How do the celebrations of worship in Exodus 15 and Joshua 4 compare to the one in
Nehemiah?
[Q] What was the purpose of Joshua’s stone monument?
[Q] How did remembering God’s faithfulness play a role in all three passages you studied?
[Q] How can you incorporate worship into your mission?
36

Nehemiah-Learning Leadership

Transcription

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