NEHEMIAH 2:1ff - Church Renewal Nehemiah's Way!

TOPIC: Leadership; Renewal, Vision

TITLE: CHURCH RENEWAL NEHEMIAH'S WAY: A Cupbearer With National Vision!
TEXT: Nehemiah 2:1ff

and I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?" [2:3]

In other words, they should not be this way.

And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." [2:5]

He does not mean that he will do it by himself!

Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach." [2:17]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What leadership or visionary qualities does Nehemiah model?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM [2:17a]
II. A CLARION CALL OR CHALLENGE (Solution) [17b]
III. A COMMON OBJECTIVE [17c]

CONTEXT: What was his vision? Of a restored Jerusalem, one which was not a reproach to God or His people. But he had a wall to build first!

What was his labor pool? An unlikely conglomeration of people -- some skilled, most just everyday Joes! People like us, people who needed to be motivated to do anything, who needed direction in order to move, and encouragement to keep on keeping on!

We must believe that God wanted us to see the obvious message in this historical narrative: rebuilding in spite of opposition among a people who had lost their vision for God's purpose for them.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three aspects of leadership are essential for a visionary?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM [2:17a]

Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” [2:17]

NOTE: “You see the bad situation we are in”

A. "that Jerusalem is desolate"
B. Per Webster's -

1. “devoid of [human] inhabitants and visitors”
2. “joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful” [as if separated “from a loved one”]
3. “showing the effects of abandonment and neglect"

C. Also "devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope: GLOOMY"
D. "and its gates are burned by fire."

1. on the one hand the gates are the points of entry into something; when a city, they are usually protected points “with towers”
2. but are also the physical barrier used in defense of the enclosure, something that controls passage

II. CLARION CALL OR CHALLENGE [17b]

“Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem"

A. A plea ... "come"

I.e. - Not a command but a fellow, one who shares in the predicament.

B. Inclusive by nature - "let us"

I.e. - You and I, not just you nor just Nehemiah.

C. Common goal

I.e. - Not his wall, not his need, not his defense ... but the common good.

III. A COMMON OR CORPORATE OBJECTIVE [17c]
“that we may no longer be a reproach.”

A. Corporate in that it is all of us in the same boat

B. Objective: “no longer be a reproach.”

1. They were a reproach!
2. Why? Because of their truth claims
3. They were not to be a reproach

APPLICATION: How does a church know it needs a vision? Here are some warning signs:

• evidence of confusion of purpose exists
• there is evidence of pessimism about the future and cynicism surrounds the present
• there will be an observable decline in pride in the church - ministries and facilities
• gossip, back-biting, tattling, and tale-bearing are in evidence - relational sin

What makes a good vision?

• It's appropriate to the organization and the times
• It sets high standards of and for excellence
• It clarifies purpose and direction
• It will inspire enthusiasm and encourage commitment (the visionary will himself be committed and enthusiastic).
• It will be clearly articulated and easily understood (easily remembered as well)
• It will be ambitious and challenge the organization (not an easily accomplished objective)

Adapted from Current Thoughts & Trends, Nov.93, p.6; a review of Burt Nanus' book, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.

[POOF] In his "The Fairy Mythology", the Scandinavian Keightley relates the story of a young maid whose service to her master was rewarded by an invitation to the wedding of two elves.

Unfortunately, the isle was not thoroughly cleaned, and though the bridegroom got by, the bride stumbled on a straw and fell on her face. Before she could catch herself, the young girl broke out in giggling ... instantly the vision vanished. (#468, p.200, Jacobs)

CHALLENGE: No vision will last in the face of ridicule, mocking, jeering or sin. When God gives us a vision we respond as the Hebrews responded to God's vision through Nehemiah.

So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a heart to work.

Nehemiah 4:6

Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Leadership, Nehemiah, Outlines, Preaching,
Renewal, Sermons, Vision