Hand Me Another Brick – Timeless Lessons in Leadership (Swindoll)
Session 14 – 5/16/2017
The Willing Unknowns (Nehemiah 7:1-4; 11)
Bible Reference: Old Testament Book of Nehemiah
Disclaimer: I am not a professional… or a biblical scholar/theologian. We will play it straight defaulting to the basic Bible text. Leave no man behind…. Respect each other; everyone is at their own place on this journey and in developing the Third F (Faith).
Goal: Understand biblical principles and apply them – using Nehemiah as a case study.
Warm Up: Introductions; References/Bible Version; Quick Review of Previous Lessons
What stuck with you from the last lesson? (Putting First Things First….)
Who would you say have been the most dependable people in your life, who have faithfully and humbly carried out their roles without pursuing their own glory or complaining that they don’t get recognition? Try to list at least three names, either within your realms of leadership or in other areas of your life.
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
How would your relationships or projects suffer without the contributions of each of these people? What unique gifts, skills, or perspectives does each one contribute?
The Thang:
Historical Background (Read Nehemiah 7:1-4)
Wall was completed, now had to revive the city itself – bring back people to live inside.
Read Nehemiah 11:1-2
Lots Casting – God selected one-tenth of the people to move back into the city
God also worked in the hearts of the others as well. They volunteered! – “unknowns”
- Built new homes on land covered with tumbled-down structures likely overgrown with weeds and overrun with vermin
Take a moment to imagine the extremely difficult circumstances these volunteers faced as they packed their things and moved their families out of their comfort zones into the rough unknown-permanently. Read Psalm 48:1-3, 8-14. What motivated these people to make a sacrifice?
Think about the behind-the-scenes people you listed earlier. What do you think is the motivation behind their sacrificial service? What characteristics do they have in common with the Israelite volunteers?
Do you serve as a willing unknown in any area of your life (church, work-place, community, or school)? Where? Would you be content if you remained unacknowledged in that role for the rest of your life? Why, or why not?
Read Colossians 3:23-24. How does this passage address our attitude toward the tasks we’ve been given? What should be our motivation? What do you find most challenging about applying this passage?
The Willing Unknowns in Nehemiah 11 (Read Nehemiah 11:10-12)
Group 1 included the people who volunteered to move; Group 2 is the ministry staff! (Not one of them was named.
Read Nehemiah 11:15-16
Group 3 included those who worked outside the place of worship
Read Nehemiah 11:17
Group 4 included those who supported the ministry through prayer
Read Nehemiah 11:22-23
Group 5 included those who served the Lord with singing
As you review the five groups of willing unknowns described in Nehemiah 11, consider some of the unsung accomplishments and daily tasks that you may not usually notice as you focus on more high-profile people and projects. Can you give names of volunteers, support staff, maintenance crewmembers, prayer supporters, or other “behind-the-scenes” servants? If so, list them.
If you don’t know the names of these people, what valuable but low-profile tasks come to mind that you may not have noticed before, but through this lesson have now recognized as important?
What are some examples of similar tasks or acts of service that you provide to others?
What are some examples of similar tasks or acts of service that you provide to others?
Things to Think About (Moleskin!):
Why spend a whole lesson studying a bunch of people nobody ever heard of, whose names we’ll never remember?
Three helpful principles that can encourage us during times of self-doubt:
- Your gift makes you valuable, if not necessarily popular.
- Every labor done in love is remembered by God, never forgotten.
- Our final reward in heaven will be determined on the basis of personal faithfulness, not public applause. [Caution: “reward” is not to be confused with salvation.]
Applying the principles we’ve discussed requires a genuine attitude of humility. Be content with your own quiet work, but also be complimentary of the quiet work of others.
Extra Credit: Spend some time in the week to come meditating on Mark 10:42-45 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-26. What do they say about your significance in God’s kingdom? About the significance of those within your realms of leadership?
Wrap Up:
- Name-o-Rama
- COT
- BOM
- Announcements
Next Week: Lesson 15, Happiness is on the Wall (Nehemiah 12:27-47) – Want to Q it?
Nehemiah 7:1-4 (ESV)
7 Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” 4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.
Nehemiah 11 (ESV)
The Leaders in Jerusalem
11 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten[a] remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. 4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.
7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and his brothers, men of valor, 928.[b] 9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, 12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, 13 and his brothers, heads of fathers’ houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.
15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise,[c] who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172. 20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. 23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s side[d] in all matters concerning the people.
Villages Outside Jerusalem
25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet, 27 in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages, 28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, 29 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. 31 The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, 32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.
Psalm 48:1-3 (ESV)
Zion, the City of Our God
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
48 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.
Psalm 48:8-14 (ESV)
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!
12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
