Building Together: Faith, Commitment, and Community Action

Sometimes, life feels like a chaotic trip to Walmart with the whole family—everyone has a job, but if we’re not working together, the mission falls apart. In Nehemiah 3, we see a radically different picture: God’s people, from every walk of life, stepping up side by side to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. They didn’t wait for someone else to act or argue over details. Instead, they each picked up their brick, found their place, and worked together for a purpose bigger than themselves. This is the kind of collaborative faithfulness God calls us to in our own community—not to rebuild ancient walls, but to rebuild the gospel mission right here, right now.

The story begins with spiritual leaders leading by example, not waiting for instructions but rising up and dedicating their work to the Lord. It’s a reminder that faithfulness isn’t about being flawless, but about surrender and presence. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who loves Jesus, your example matters. Others are watching, and your willingness to step up can inspire a whole generation.

Nehemiah 3 also highlights people serving outside their comfort zones. Goldsmiths and perfumers—folks used to delicate work—grabbed hammers and got their hands dirty. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Obedience often begins where comfort ends, and God uses our availability more than our ability.

Families worked together, too. Shalom, a ruler, brought his daughters to build alongside him, showing that faith is caught as much as it is taught. Our children and spiritual family learn what matters most by watching what we sacrifice for and how we serve.

But collaboration isn’t enough; commitment is required. Some people took on the dirtiest jobs, like repairing the dung gate, serving where it stinks because faithfulness is proven in the thankless places. Others, like Baruch, worked with zeal and holy hustle, giving their all even when no one was watching. The people of Tekoa came back for a second round, finishing what they started even when their leaders wouldn’t help.

Finally, courage is needed, especially when the mission hits close to home. Many rebuilt the wall right outside their own houses, putting themselves and their families on the front lines. Real bravery begins on your block—right where you live, work, and worship. The enemy attacks where the stakes are highest, but God calls us to stand firm, pick up our brick, and build anyway.

Ultimately, none of this is possible until Jesus rebuilds us from the inside out. The gospel is not about fixing ourselves to serve God, but about Jesus stepping into our brokenness, carrying our burdens, and inviting us to join Him in His mission. So, whether you’ve never trusted Christ or you’ve set down your brick, now is the time to step up, show up, and pick up your brick. Together, God will build something eternal.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Collaboration Requires Personal Responsibility True unity isn’t just about being on the same team; it’s about each person stepping up and taking ownership of the mission. When everyone waits for someone else to act, nothing gets done. But when each person picks up their brick, God weaves together a tapestry of faithfulness that accomplishes far more than any one could alone. [17:13]
• 2. God Uses the Willing, Not Just the Qualified Many who rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall were far from professional builders—goldsmiths, perfumers, and families all found their place. God’s call is not limited by our comfort zones or skill sets. He asks for our willingness, and it’s in our obedience—especially when it’s uncomfortable—that He does His greatest work through us. [24:44]
• 3. Faith Is Passed Down Through Presence, Not Just Words Shalom brought his daughters to build with him, modeling that faith is more often caught than taught. Our children and spiritual family learn what matters most by watching what we prioritize and how we serve. Legacy is built not just in what we say, but in what we do together for God’s mission. [27:50]
• 4. Commitment Is Proven in the Thankless and Difficult Places Some rebuilt the dung gate, others worked with zeal on overlooked sections, and some came back to finish what others left undone. Faithfulness is not about seeking recognition, but about showing up where it’s hard, where it stinks, and where no one else wants to go. God sees and honors the quiet, persistent obedience that endures beyond the initial excitement. [34:17]
• 5. Courage Begins at Home and Grows Through Obedience When the mission gets personal—right outside your own house—the risk and responsibility increase. The enemy attacks where the stakes are highest, but real bravery is not the absence of fear; it’s moving forward in faith despite it. God calls us to stand firm, build, and fight for our families, our church, and our community, trusting that He is building something eternal through our obedience. [46:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [17:13] - The Walmart Family Mission: Why Collaboration Matters
• [18:44] - Stepping Up: No More Sticky Notes on Broken Tables
• [22:19] - Leading by Example: The High Priest and the Sheep Gate
• [24:44] - Serving Outside Your Skill Set: Goldsmiths and Perfumers
• [27:50] - Leading with Your Lineage: Shalom and His Daughters
• [30:04] - Raising Up Generations: Faith That’s Caught
• [32:11] - The Test of Commitment: When the Work Gets Hard
• [34:17] - Serving Where It Stinks: The Dung Gate
• [36:08] - Holy Hustle: Baruch’s Zeal
• [39:22] - Finishing What You Start: The People of Tekoa
• [42:37] - A Courageous March: When the Mission Gets Personal
• [45:02] - Bravery Begins on Your Block: Building at Home
• [48:11] - Standing Firm Against the Enemy
• [49:39] - Pick Up Your Brick: God Builds Through the Willing
• [50:28] - The Gospel Rebuilds Us First
• [51:43] - Responding to the Call: Step Up, Show Up, Rebuild Together

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 3 (ESV) — (Read the whole chapter together, or select key verses: 1, 8, 12, 14, 20, 23, 27)

Romans 12:6,11 (ESV) — 6 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
11 “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

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.”

Observation Questions

1. In Nehemiah 3, what kinds of people were involved in rebuilding the wall? What are some specific examples of people working outside their usual roles? ([24:44])
2. According to the sermon, what did the high priest and his fellow priests do before starting their work on the wall? Why is this significant? ([22:19])
3. What are some of the “thankless” or difficult jobs mentioned in Nehemiah 3, and who took them on? ([34:17])
4. How does the passage describe the attitude and effort of Baruch compared to others? ([36:08])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Nehemiah 3 goes out of its way to list so many different people and families by name? What does this say about God’s view of ordinary, everyday faithfulness? ([49:39])
2. The sermon says, “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” How does this idea challenge the way people usually think about serving in the church or community? ([24:44])
3. What does it mean that “faith is caught as much as it is taught”? How might this shape the way parents, mentors, or leaders approach their influence? ([27:50])
4. The people of Tekoa came back for a second round of work, even when their leaders wouldn’t help. What does this reveal about commitment and perseverance in God’s mission? ([40:22])

Application Questions

1. The sermon compared the chaos of a family trip to Walmart with the unity of Nehemiah’s builders. In your own life, where do you see “everyone has a job, but no one’s working together”? How could you help bring more collaboration to your family, work, or church? ([17:13])
2. Are there areas in your life or church where you’ve been waiting for someone else to step up? What’s one “brick” you could pick up this week, even if it’s outside your comfort zone? ([23:35])
3. Think about your own skills and gifts. Is there a place God might be calling you to serve that feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable? What’s holding you back from saying yes? ([24:44])
4. If you have children or spiritual “family,” how are you modeling faith in action for them? What’s one way you could invite them to serve alongside you in the next month? ([27:50])
5. The sermon highlighted people who took on the “dirty jobs” and served where it stinks. Is there a thankless or overlooked area of ministry or service you’ve avoided? What would it look like to show up there with “holy hustle”? ([34:17])
6. When the mission gets personal—right outside your own house or in your closest relationships—how do you respond to risk or opposition? What’s one step of courage you could take this week to stand firm for your faith at home, work, or in your neighborhood? ([46:01])
7. The sermon ended by saying, “You’ll never build what matters most until first, Jesus rebuilds you.” Is there a place in your life where you need to let Jesus do some rebuilding before you can serve others? What’s one way you can invite Him into that process this week? ([50:28])