NehemiaH : Godly Leadership and decision Making

1. NehemiaH: Godly Leadership and decision Making

2. Outline • Setting the stage • Leadership and decision making principles from Nehemiah • Foundations for leadership and decision making • Developing the plan • Executing the plan • The importance of purpose • Personal purpose (mission & vision) • Family purpose (mission & vision) • The Great Adventure Church purpose (mission & vision)

3. Setting the Stage • Jerusalem, new small temple but city walls and gates in ruins • Nehemiah develops plan • Nehemiah gets support from Artaxerxes • Scopes out and resources project • Overcomes obstacles • Completes restoration of city wall and gates in 52 days

4. Definitions • Leadership: showing the way, to direct the course of, guide • Decision Making: selecting a course of action from alternative options

5. We are all Leaders and Decision Makers • Work • Civic organizations • Professional societies • Local church • Elders/deacons • Ministry • Small group • Sunday School • Homes • Life

6. Framing the Issue • We all lead and make decisions • For a Christian, how he/she do leads and makes decisions makes a difference • Nehemiah’s life illustrates how to lead and make decisions in a God honoring manner

7. Nehemiah’s Leadership Factorsfrom Donald Campbell • Established a reasonable and attainable goal • Had sense of mission • Willing to get involved • Rearranged his priorities to accomplish the goal • Patiently waited for God’s timing • Showed respect to his superior • Prayed at critical times • Made his requests with tact and graciousness

8. Campbell cites 21 Leadership Factors (Cont) • Prepared and knew needs in advance • Went through proper channels • Took time to rest, pray and plan • Investigated the situation firsthand • Informed others only after he knew the full scope of the problem • Identified himself as one with the people • Set before them a reasonable/attainable goal • Assured people that God supported the project

9. Campbell cites 21 Leadership Factors (Cont) • Displayed confidence in facing obstacles • Displayed God’s confidence in facing obstacles • Did not argue with opponents • Was not discouraged by opposition • Courageously used the authority of his position

10. Foundations for Leadership and Decision Making • God’s perspective • Prayer • God’s timing

11. Foundations:Ensuring God’s Perspective • Neh 1:4, 2:17 • “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.” Prov 14:12 • Adam and Eve, Israel’s desire for a king, etc. • “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom 12:2

12. Foundations:Prayer and the Word • Neh 1:4-10, 2:4, 4:4, 6:9, 8:1-8 • Staying connected to the infinite God, the source of strength and wisdom • “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 • “…The prayer of a righteous man has great power….”Ja 5:16 • “…for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Cor 1:11 • “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ps 119:105

13. Foundations:God’s Timing • Neh 1:4 and four months later Artaxerxes 2:1-8 • “So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night….” Neh 9:11 • “…at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom 5:6 • “…the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. For there is a time and a way for everything…” Ecc 8:5-6 • “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all….” Ja 1:5

14. Developing the Plan • Mastering the situation • Obtaining support/permission • Creating the actual plan • Resourcing the plan

15. Developing the Plan:Mastering the Situation • “…and I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped…and concerning Jerusalem.” Neh 1:2 • “Then I arose at night…I inspected the walls of Jerusalem and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.” Neh 2:12-13 • Mastering the situation results in the best leadership and decisions. Conversely, a poor understanding often leads to poor decisions. • Take your time and get the facts, consider personally validating the facts

16. Developing the Plan;Obtaining Support/ Permission • “…send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves…that I may rebuild it….let letters be given me to the governors of the province…” Neh 2: 5-7 • Actions without permission can backfire • Get permission from parent, spouse, boss, elder, etc.

17. Developing the Plan:Creating the actual plan • Many people identify lots of problems, far fewer develop the plans required to fix the problems • Nehemiah did not just bemoan the situation, he mastered the facts and developed a plan • Nehemiah had a plan ready so that when the opportunity presented itself, was asked by Artaxerxes, he could make it reality. Neh 2: 1-8 • Plans (solutions to problems) are the basis for meaningful action • Have you created plans to solve your problems?

18. Developing the Plan:Resourcing the Plan • “…and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber….” Neh 2:8 • A plan without proper resources is a failed plan • The plan of salvation was resourced with the blood of Christ. “In Him we have redemption through His blood…” Eph 1:7 • We must ensure proper resources to ensure plan success • Resourcers: Parent, spouse, boss, GAC treasurer, budget

19. Executing the Plan • Assigning Duties • Individual and group tasks • Motivating and encouraging the people • Persisting in spite of opposition • Realizing and celebrating success

20. Executing the Plan:Assigning Duties • Nehemiah divided up the work. You can swallow an elephant one bite at a time • He selected tasks the workers could identify with • Priests repaired the Sheep Gate. Neh 3:1 • People repaired the areas in front of their homes. Neh 3:28

21. Executing the Plan:Individual and Group Tasks • “…The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us. “ Neh 4:19-20 • Application: At the GAC, we each have ministries, but at times, all are needed for corporate service. Answer the “trumpet” when corporate service is required

22. Executing the Plan:Motivating and Encouraging • “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Neh 2:18 • Gave credit to all his key builders. Neh 3 • “…Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome….” Neh 4:14 • David and Jonathan 1 Sam 18:1-4 • Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians Acts 26:13-38 • Don’t forget to motivate and encourage

23. Executing the PlanPersisting In Spite of Opposition • Nehemiah encountered incredible opposition but he persevered • “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Rom 8:31 • Much more on this important topic next week

24. Executing the PlanRealizing and Celebrating Success • “So the wall was finished …in 52 days. When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid…for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Neh 6:15-16 • Celebrated by reading the law, and “eat, drink and make great rejoicing” Neh 6 • There are many examples of celebrating accomplishments. Vital however, to give God the glory

25. Nehemiah’s PurposeMotivated His Actions • Ultimate goal; the vision • Fully restored city of Jerusalem that brings glory to God…walls intact, gates tight, rubble cleaned up, people living by God’s law • Immediate task; the mission • Rebuild the city walls and gates

26. Importance of Purpose • Provides meaning • Inspires and motivates • Results in focus of energy/resources • Aids in efficiency • Results in moving a person/organization to a new level of meaningfulness/usefulness

27. Personal Mission and Vision • The Westminster Catechism: The prime end (purpose) of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever • Apostle Paul: “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21 • Personal mission: Glorify God by becoming more Christ like and influencing others for Christ, while serving on the administration of Emmaus Bible College • Personal vision: To become fully Christ like

28. Family Mission and Vision • Family mission: A strong Christian family, influencing others in the community for Christ. • Family vision: To become known in the community as a bright shining lighthouse providing physical, mental and spiritual support that leads to decisions for Christ.

29. Importance of Purpose • Provides meaning • Inspires and motivates • Results in focus of energy/resources • Aids in efficiency • Results in moving person/organization to a new level of meaningfulness

30. What is the Purpose (Mission and Vision) of the Great Adventure Church? • What are we doing as a local church? • What should we be doing? • How is the GAC supporting members’ growth in the Lord/potential for ministry? • What do you think the Lord wants the GAC to become? • These are mission and vision issues

31. What is the Mission and Vision of the Great Adventure Church? • Example: • Most of us would agree we need to be thinking about a larger/different facility • What type of facility should it be? • The answer will be dictated by the content of our mission and vision statements

32. Planning Process Initiated • Planning committee will keep the church members informed of progress • Formulate draft mission and vision • Develop supporting goals • Lead effort to create specific measurable objectives • Your input is vital…the time for input is now…. not after the plan is completed • Next week, you will receive mailing explaining how to provide your initial input via an online survey

33. Challenge • Study and apply the principles of Christian leadership and decision making as exemplified by Nehemiah • Establish a personal mission and vision • Establish a mission and vision for your family • Join with us in establishing a mission and vision for the Great Adventure Church