Notice - if you are in the Tulsa area click on the events tab above. There is a Dad's Teach the Bible workshop starting in a couple of weeks...
Nehemiah was a leader. It is a common refrain in most organizations, churches included, that we need leaders. I agree. But leaders are not enough. Nehemiah did not build the wall.
Nehemiah 4:6 tells us that the people had a mind to work. They built the wall. Nehemiah did not. Nehemiah gathered the resources, made the assignments, managed the work, directed the people, dealt with opposition, but he did not build the wall. The people did. He enabled them, in a sense equipping them to build by clearing the obstacles and dividing the work in to manageable portions. But he did not build the wall, they did.
The Leadees Do the Work
We need leaders, no question. But we need people with a mind to work. Ephesians 4:11 – 16 tells us that leaders are to equip the saints for the work of service. They are to follow Nehemiah’s lead. They are not to do the work of service. The saints are.
How Is That Working?
Take a look at your church. Is that is what is happening. If not, why not?
How true! Following Christ is not a spectator sport - everyone needs to be involved. I rememember Dr. Howard Hendricks saying something like, "The church is like football - 11 men on the field desperately needing rest, and 70K fans in the stands desperately needing exercise!" What is a body like if nothing works below the head? It's tragic! The human body needs every part working to be effective and up to it's full productive potential. I takes leaders who know how to equip us, and we need to want to be, and put out the effort to be, equipped.
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