Saint John Community Church

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our “Lessons in Leadership” series based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

We have learned a lot over the summer about Nehemiah and his leadership.  One thing that set Nehemiah’s leadership apart was the fact that he never expected anything of others that he wasn’t willing to do himself.  In a word, Nehemiah led by example.  He was man of strong character and impeccable integrity with a great burden for the people he served.  He realized that other leaders had not always dealt fairly with them.  Out of reverence for God he didn’t act like that.

 

Nehemiah’s leadership was infectious.  The people were willing to follow his lead and were inspired to pitch in.  They didn’t hesitate to do their part in making sure the wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt, and Nehemiah was the catalyst for that.

 

Another who led by example is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the epitome of all love and service.  He is a worthy leader indeed.  We are called to follow, and in following, find ourselves becoming more like him.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins continues our “Lessons in Leadership” series based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

We’ve heard how Nehemiah handled opposition outside the Jewish people; this week we turn to how he handled opposition within the Jewish people.

 

Sadly, when circumstances are hard, there are people who take advantage of those who are weak. And that’s exactly what happened in Nehemiah 5. The people working on the wall faced hunger, poverty, and oppression. And God doesn’t stand for that. Instead, he calls his children (you and me!) to the trenches to lift up those who are poor, hungry, and oppressed.

 

So how does Nehemiah show us how to do that? Let’s find out together!

Pastor Tom Grieb and Pastor Ashlee Adkins join together to continue our series “Lessons in Leadership,” based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

While the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem was a daunting task, Nehemiah was ready to “get ‘er done.”  He would need others to come around him for that to happen.  There was absolutely no way he could accomplish such a big project without help.  To his credit, Nehemiah sought the help of others.  In fact, it seemed he got everyone involved in one way or the other.

 

Nehemiah 3 provides a long list of those who helped and where they came from.  With every name listed there were also countless others who helped.  People came from all around Judah to get the job done.  Together everyone was able to accomplish what God wanted done.

 

Delegating responsibility is an important trait for any leader.  If things are going to get done on a broad scale, others will need to come alongside us to make that happen.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series “Lessons in Leadership,” based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

On face value you would think that rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem would have been supported by all, particularly since the vision to do it was so clear.  Yet there were critical voices that emerged.  Two were particularly vocal, Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite.  They were from outside the Jewish faith and were opposed to anything that would strengthen Jerusalem’s position.  They were relentless in their criticism and even threatened to attack.  Under Nehemiah’s leadership, however, the Jews were undeterred.   They stayed at their work with one hand with their other hand on the sword.

 

With any big project opposition is sure to arise.  Today there seems to be a difference of opinion on just about everything.  How we deal with that opposition sets us apart.  Our leadership may very well rise or fall on the crucible of conflict.  This week we will consider how Nehemiah handled conflict and by so doing we will gain some valuable lessons in leadership.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series “Lessons in Leadership,” based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

Proverbs 29:18 states that “without a vision, the people perish.”  Vision is critical to getting things accomplished.  Nehemiah offered a clear and compelling vision for the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem.  He also invited people to join him in that vision.  We should not be surprised that thosel involved were able to accomplish a great deal.

 

The vision Nehemiah cast in rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem was a part of a broader preferred future God had for his people.  The rebuilding of the walls was a good first step toward bringing that future to fruition.

 

A leader like Nehemiah challenges us to consider the sort of vision we need to be casting, particularly when it comes to ministering to a troubled and broken world.  Casting a vision of meeting that brokenness in God’s name and with his help will go a long way toward building God’s Kingdom here on earth just as it is in heaven.

Pastor Ashlee Adkins continues our series "Lessons in Leadership," based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

Saint Augustine said, “The truth is like a lion, you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”

 

We are talking about the willingness to ask this Sunday. Being bold in a world of high scrutiny and pressure is not easy. But when we engulf ourselves in God’s truth - the truth of who he is and the truth of his sovereign plan - being bold is as being the lion. It takes care of itself as we move forward in faith.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series, “Lessons in Leadership,” based on the book of Nehemiah. 

 

If anything, Nehemiah was a man of prayer.  Prayer was at the heart of who he was as a leader.  Nehemiah didn’t dare strike out until he had prayed.  He didn’t want to get ahead of what God wanted him to do.  

 

Our passage for this week is Nehemiah 1:5-11.  It is the prayer Nehemiah prayed before approaching King Artaxerxes to gain the king’s permission to return to Jerusalem and re-build the city walls.  That prayer at once recognizes the character of God as One who works to bring about good for those who love him.  It understands the need for forgiveness.  The leader who is contrite wants to make sure his/her heart is right.  The prayer also recognizes the importance of seeking God’s help and how God’s help has a way of bringing about success.  

 

The fact that Nehemiah prayed first, last, and everywhere in between speaks volumes to the type of leader he was. We would do well to do the same. 

Pastor Tom Grieb begins a new series, “Lessons in Leadership,” based on the book of Nehemiah.

 

Leadership makes the difference.  We’ll be talking about that this summer as we consider the leadership of Nehemiah, who was instrumental in re-building the walls around Jerusalem after God’s people returned from exile in Babylon. Nehemiah is a great example of what it means to be a leader.  We find in him the sort of characteristics that can make a real difference when put in play.

 

This week we will be talking about seeing a need and meeting it.  Nehemiah wasn’t content to wait for somebody else to step up.  Let’s face it, there are all sorts of needs around us.  We too need to step up and do what we can to meet them, with God’s help.

Minister of Students Steven Lundy delivers a stand-alone sermon for Pentecost Sunday entitled “Freedom in Fulfillment.”

 

As modern Christians we celebrate Pentecost as the time of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles in the upper room. However, the meaning of Pentecost is much deeper, and the impact is much greater.

 

As we explore the historical beginnings of Pentecost, we see how God continues to work all things towards fulfillment in Christ. This fulfillment challenges us to realize Christ’s promises as it inspires us to make it known and to experience the freedom found in fulfillment.

Pastor Tom Grieb concludes our “Home Construction” series.

 

Throughout this series we've talked about the importance of love in family.  Last week we focused on I Corinthians 13 where Paul listed fifteen characteristics of love in an effort to offer a definition of what love is and isn’t.

 

This week we encounter another of Paul’s lists. This list is found in Colossians 3:12ff.  and offers a number of things that make for healthy relationships.  Paul lists compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  He also adds forgiveness.

 

In the end, Paul makes an appeal to love.  He says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds everything in perfect unity.”  He encourages us to put love into action to the end that we draw closer and closer together.  That translates to every relationship, and particularly those we have in family.