Building a Better Future Through Collaboration and Vision

Devotional

Day 1: Breaking Down Big Dreams

In Nehemiah chapter three, the massive task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem was divided into smaller, manageable sections. This approach made the daunting task achievable and allowed for focused effort and measurable progress. By breaking down a large vision into smaller goals, individuals and communities can tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges with clarity and purpose. This principle is applicable to any dream, whether personal or communal, as it encourages a step-by-step approach to achieving significant outcomes. [07:22]

Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV): "So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work."

Reflection: What is one large goal in your life that feels overwhelming? How can you break it down into smaller, actionable steps today?

Day 2: Shared Vision and Ownership

Nehemiah's strategy of involving the people by allowing them to work on sections of the wall near their homes fostered a sense of personal investment and responsibility. When a dream becomes a shared vision, it increases motivation and commitment, as people see how the dream benefits them directly. This principle highlights the importance of collaboration and shared ownership in realizing a vision, as it encourages individuals to contribute their unique strengths and resources towards a common goal. [09:26]

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (ESV): "For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body."

Reflection: Think of a project or goal you are passionate about. How can you involve others to create a shared vision and foster a sense of ownership?

Day 3: Leveraging Natural Relationships

Nehemiah organized the people based on existing relationships, such as family, geography, or profession, which enhanced cooperation and efficiency. By leveraging these natural connections, he facilitated collaboration and strengthened the community's ability to work together effectively. This principle underscores the power of community and the importance of working with those we already have connections with, as it can lead to more harmonious and productive outcomes. [13:58]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Reflection: Who are the people in your life that you naturally connect with? How can you collaborate with them to achieve a common goal?

Day 4: Fostering a Team Spirit

Nehemiah emphasized the importance of working together, encouraging people to recognize they were part of something larger than themselves. By fostering a sense of community and cooperation, he created a supportive environment for achieving shared goals. A team spirit focuses on collaboration rather than competition, which is crucial for success in any endeavor. This principle reminds us of the value of unity and the strength that comes from working together towards a common purpose. [18:20]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to fostering a team spirit in your community or workplace? How can you encourage others to see the bigger picture?

Day 5: Investing in the Willing

Not everyone will support your vision, and that's okay. Nehemiah focused on those who were willing to contribute and invested his time and resources in them. This principle encourages us to prioritize our efforts on those who are committed to the dream, as it leads to more effective and impactful outcomes. By loving everyone but investing in the willing, we can maximize our influence and achieve greater success in our endeavors. [24:46]

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."

Reflection: Who in your life is willing and committed to your shared vision? How can you invest more intentionally in these relationships to further your goals?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound lessons from Nehemiah chapter three, focusing on the principles of building a better future. The pandemic has offered us a unique opportunity to start afresh, and Nehemiah's story provides a blueprint for rebuilding and working together. Nehemiah's project of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision. The chapter, though seemingly a list of names and gates, reveals deep insights into how to mobilize people towards a common goal.

The first principle is to divide the dream into smaller, manageable tasks. Nehemiah broke down the massive task of rebuilding the wall into sections, making it achievable. This approach is crucial for any dream, whether personal or communal. The second principle is to share ownership of the dream. Nehemiah involved the people by allowing them to work on sections of the wall near their homes, fostering a sense of personal investment and responsibility.

Organizing around natural relationships is the third principle. Nehemiah grouped people based on existing relationships, such as family, geography, or profession, which enhanced cooperation and efficiency. Developing a team spirit is the fourth principle, emphasizing cooperation over competition. Nehemiah fostered a sense of community, encouraging people to look to their left and right, recognizing they were part of something larger than themselves.

The fifth principle is to love everyone but invest in the willing. Not everyone will support your dream, and that's okay. Focus on those who are willing to contribute and invest your time and resources in them. Finally, never stop saying thank you. Appreciation raises the value of those around you and fosters a culture of gratitude and encouragement.

These principles are not just for building walls but for building lives, communities, and futures. They remind us that God's work is always done in partnership, and our greatest witness to the world is when we work together in unity.

Key Takeaways

1. Divide the Dream into Manageable Tasks: Breaking down a large vision into smaller, achievable goals is essential for progress. Nehemiah's strategy of dividing the wall into sections made the daunting task of rebuilding manageable and achievable. This principle applies to any dream, whether personal or communal, as it allows for focused effort and measurable progress. [07:22]
2. Share Ownership of the Dream: For a dream to be realized, it must become a shared vision. Nehemiah involved the people by allowing them to work on sections of the wall near their homes, fostering a sense of personal investment and responsibility. Shared ownership increases motivation and commitment, as people see how the dream benefits them directly. [09:26]
3. Organize Around Natural Relationships: Leveraging existing relationships enhances cooperation and efficiency. Nehemiah grouped people based on family, geography, or profession, which facilitated natural collaboration. This principle highlights the importance of community and the power of working with those we already have connections with. [13:58]
4. Develop a Team Spirit: Fostering a sense of community and cooperation is crucial for success. Nehemiah emphasized the importance of working together, encouraging people to recognize they were part of something larger than themselves. A team spirit focuses on collaboration rather than competition, creating a supportive environment for achieving shared goals. [18:20]
5. Love Everyone, Invest in the Willing: Not everyone will support your vision, and that's okay. Focus on those who are willing to contribute and invest your time and resources in them. Jesus modeled this by spending the most time with those who would bear the maximum responsibility. This principle encourages us to prioritize our efforts on those who are committed to the dream. [24:46]
** [24:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Introduction to Building a Better Future
[00:58] - Key Words in Nehemiah Chapter Three
[01:39] - Enlisting Help for Your Dream
[03:00] - The Importance of People Skills
[04:15] - Rebuilding Jerusalem's Wall
[05:33] - Understanding the Gates of Jerusalem
[06:07] - Principles for Working Together
[07:22] - Divide the Dream into Smaller Goals
[09:26] - Share Ownership of the Dream
[13:58] - Organize Around Natural Relationships
[17:39] - Develop a Team Spirit
[23:55] - Love Everyone, Invest in the Willing
[33:05] - Never Stop Saying Thank You
[42:59] - Reflecting on Your Involvement in God's Work

Sermon Clips

"Now, if you wanna know God's way to build anything or rebuild anything, you're gonna wanna study the book of Nehemiah, which is the story of one of the greatest building projects in the history of humanity. It was completed in record time. Now, today, we're gonna look at the third chapter of Nehemiah." [00:00:22]

"Now you remember that in our last study together, I pointed out that to fulfill any dream God puts in your heart. You're gonna have to enlist other people to help you, okay? You can't do it yourself. You'll never reach your dream by yourself. God wired us to need each other, no one ever succeeds on their own." [00:01:47]

"Nehemiah broke down a huge dream into manageable chunks. Now, in the contemporary English version of Nehemiah, the scripture the word section is used 28 times in 32 verses repeatedly it says, 'The next section was built by so and so.' Now what's a section? Well, a definition of section is a smaller part of a whole." [00:07:37]

"Your dream, if it's ever going to be accomplished must become our dream. Other people have to share in the dream for it to happen. You know, in 1980 with no members yet I wrote an open letter to the community sharing a dream of a brand new church that we were going to call Saddleback Church but I never used the personal pronoun, 'I' instead, I used the word 'We.'" [00:08:59]

"Ownership increases motivation. Now, in this case, people began to build the part of the wall behind their own house. People were allowed to work in their area of interest. You know, and they'd go, 'Hey, you know what? This part of the wall protects my house. So I'm gonna do my best at building a good part of the wall.'" [00:12:44]

"If you have a dream, and you're gonna get other people to help you with your dream, you need to create work groups that use relationships that already exist. We see this in verse 13. In Nehemiah 13 Nehemiah says 4:13, I posted them by families, all right. We'll come back to that, but in chapter three, we see a lot of other examples of groupings using existing relationships." [00:13:45]

"Develop a team spirit. If you're gonna reach your dream, you're going to have to get your friends or the people who are working with you whether it's two or five or 10 or whatever, you're gonna have to develop a team spirit. What does that mean? You focus on cooperation, not competition. You emphasize what we're doing is something we're doing together." [00:17:39]

"Love everyone, but invest in the willing. Now this is the strategy of Jesus. I want you to follow me. Jesus loved everybody. There was no person that Jesus didn't love. He loved everybody. He fed the 5,000, okay. He preached to the crowd, but he trained the 70 and he discipled 12 and he mentored three, all right." [00:24:46]

"Nehemiah wasn't discouraged by those who would not help. In fact, in this chapter he just barely mentions their reluctance. And he then keeps on focusing on those who did wanna be a part, that's in verse five of this chapter. In the Nehemiah 3:5, it tells us 'The next section of the wall was rebuilt by the men of Tekoa, okay. That's the good news.'" [00:26:22]

"Never stopped saying thanks. Never stopped saying thank you. Our staff has heard me say this many, many times that the first duty of a leader is to clearly communicate your dream. But the second duty of a leader is to always say thank you. To say thank you. Leave an attitude of gratitude. Live in the spirit of appreciation." [00:33:05]

"Recognize individuals by name. When you see something being done and you think that's a good thing. Don't just say, I want to thank everybody who helped? No, no, no. Be specific. I think it's amazing that Nehemiah in this chapter singles out 71 individuals. There there's 71 Hebrew names in 32 verses. And he singles out 71 people for special appreciation." [00:34:52]

"Which phrase describes your involvement in God's work? Let's just get right down to it right now, which phrase describes your involvement in God's work, no work, some work or enthusiastic work? Let me ask you another one. Another question. Which section of the wall are you building at Saddleback? Which section of the wall are you building in your home church, in your family?" [00:42:59]

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