#14
Reconstruction in
the Kingdom
OR
Workin’ and Watchin’
on the City’s Walls
Nehemiah
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
1
#14:
Reconstruction in the Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
Brief Overview of Today’s Story: After Nehemiah discerns God’s outrage for Jerusalem’s disgraceful situation, he is
released first by Antexerxes and God and then by his people to help organize and implement a “restoration strategy.” God
uses Nehemiah as His instrument to galvanize the Jerusalem citizens to overcome opposition to restore the wall, people’s
dignity and kingdom life patterns.
Summary Verse:
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in,
how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned.
Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem,
so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.”
- Nehemiah 2:17
Introduction to Today’s Story and Themes:
After years of living in Babylon, many of the Israeli exiles had simply blended into their captives’ culture; others, like
Daniel and his friends, were unwilling to bow down in worship or accommodation to the gods of this foreign land. In
spite of their stand, they were placed by the king and by God into significant leadership roles in this hostile land and there
they served without compromising their commitment to God.
Years later another such leader rose up: Nehemiah. This trusted body guard and cupbearer of the Persian king found
himself heartbroken at the news of his hometown’s disgrace. His prayer life…his capacity of observation in surveying the
collapsed walls…his ability to delegate and motivate his people in the rebuilding process…his tact and tenacity with both
his enemies and rulers in high places…all these God-given skills would surface and be used by Nehemiah for the mission
of rebuilding the broken walls and resuscitating the broken spirits in Jerusalem. God in His wisdom knew that these team
members could be mobilized into action if effective leadership was provided; thus He called Nehemiah.
Our own world is also filled with broken hearts, dilapidated walls and sagging social systems. Nehemiah provides for
us as well a glimpse into God’s vision for His church and civic leadership. God has always cared for the whole person
and the whole community; all of us are in a sense “social workers.” Because God’s salvation includes the transformation
of societal systems, every job and vocation plays an integral role in God’s kingdom reconstruction project. The work of
each team member, despite all the obstacles, can contribute toward the “rebuilding of the walls.” Leaders positioned in
strategic places in our culture often help create the “tipping point” that swings open the doors to God’s transformation in
our world.
God’s kingdom for each of us begins with a personal encounter with the Living God that includes forgiveness of sin.
God then wants to launch each of us into participating with Him in His great rescue plan to bless others. All social
structures and their communities are ultimately designed to become on earth what they are in heaven: the New Jerusalem
that brings hope to all of its inhabitants. Since God’s salvation involves His leaders skillfully navigating the systems and
institutions of the city, we must also know how power is stewarded in and through these bureaucratic systems. There is
much we can learn by looking closely at the subtle touch and unique skill of collaboration modeled by Nehemiah. His
story of thoughtful, persistent rebuilding invites the Church to re-imagine the role we and our city leaders might play in
seeking the common good of our communities.
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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LEANING INTO KINGDOM THEMES
POSSIBLE THEMES:
1. LEADERSHIP: The gift and ability to effectively motivate, move and mentor others toward a vision of overcoming
internal and external obstacles.
2. Collaboration: The art of working with others to produce or create something superior to that from a solo effort.
3. Power: In social institutions, power is the ability to influence or control the behavior of people toward a desired end.
RELATED PRACTICES:
1. Collaboration: Developing an effective game plan based on a wise assessment of the needs and implemented in
alliance with others who work for the common good.
2. Mapping our city: Taking the time to research and record the who, what, where of your city’s pain and hope – both
from the perspective of its past and current story.
MORE ON LEADERSHIP
1. A REAL LIFE EXERCISE:
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
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Introduction - The way things really are: As a group or otherwise, pick a person you serve OR a vulnerable
population in your community who have valid reasons to distrust leaders and bureaucratic efforts to “help”
them.
Describe several realities of their daily existence that make it hard for them to believe that institutional leaders
will use their power to bring real change to the city and the people they claim to serve.
What mistakes do the leaders in these institutions make which often prevent them from serving their citizens?
Does maintaining the status quo sometimes get in the way of them demonstrating care and concern?
What does their situation and experience have to teach us? How do we face similar struggles?
Implications - The way things could become: Considering what we have learned and experienced in today’s
story, choose, do or delegate from the following:
 What changes do you imagine if God was in charge, especially of government, business, social
services, education and law?
 Imagine further if we God’s people had positions of leadership in our city’s institutions, and
could partner with God to impact our city, just like Nehemiah did in Jerusalem.
 What is one implication and next step that is surfacing here for you or your team to join God’s
efforts to demonstrate effective leadership that results in demonstrable care for their welfare?
 What resources would be available to you to carry this out, both from within your team and from
the population you are serving?
2. OUR CULTURE AND MY SERVING CONTEXT
 Of all the leadership practices Nehemiah demonstrated, which one or two stand out most to you as most relevant
and yet contrary to the cultural way of leading? Elaborate.
 What one or two traits of Nehemiah’s leadership are currently BEST modeled to you and/or also practiced by
you?
 What one or two traits of Nehemiah’s leadership do you hope and pray will become part of your DNA?
3. LIFE STORY QUESTIONS (Past and Present)
 Who were the leaders you can remember impacting you most as you grew up in your home, school, church or
your community? Which of the leadership traits modeled by Nehemiah did they display or not display?
 In your family line, who were the best leaders and why? What made them effective leaders?
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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SETTING UP THE STORY: An Overview of Nehemiah
Introduction
The three books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther form the closing section of Old Testament history. They give us
the story of the Jews’ return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem, and the reestablishment of
Jewish national life in their homeland. Nehemiah focuses on the rebuilding of the walls. The walls were very important
for protecting the city from enemies. Without a wall, the Jews would face constant enemy attack and would eventually be
forced to assimilate into the culture of their neighbors. A fortified wall was a great step to make Jerusalem a truly Jewish
city, keeping it safe from invaders and providing a means to control those entering and leaving.
Nehemiah was the governor and Ezra the priest. They worked together to nurture a citizenry that submitted to
Yahweh’s rule. Malachi was the prophet during this period (457-432 BC).
When King Cyrus of Persia came into power in 536 BC after defeating Babylon, one of his first acts as king was
to let the Jews return to their homeland after 72 years of captivity. For almost 100 years, the Jews made little progress in
rebuilding the city of Jerusalem except for the temple. Nehemiah entered Jerusalem 13 years after Ezra’s arrival, as a civil
governor with authority from the Persian king to rebuild the walls and restore Jerusalem as a fortified city. Nehemiah was
a man of prayer, patriotism, action, courage, and perseverance. He did not act without prayer, and he did not pray without
acting.
Chapter by Chapter
When Nehemiah, cupbearer of the Persian King Artaxerxes, hears a report from those who had escaped exile and
returned to Jerusalem, he is discouraged. The holy city that had been destroyed is still in disarray and ruins and under the
rule of neighboring nations. Nehemiah prays that the city will be restored to its former prominence as the center of a holy
nation. (1)
Nehemiah bravely asks the king to release him to Judah where many of his people were living so he could begin
the rebuilding process. The king approves Nehemiah’s departure and he begins his journey to Jerusalem. After a thorough
inspection of the city’s destroyed walls, Nehemiah declares that the rebuilding should start immediately. Amongst taunts
from enemies on all sides, the people begin the daunting process of reconstruction. (2)
Israel’s enemies, whose leaders and people occupied and enslaved the Jewish population in Jerusalem, continued
to ridicule them. The Jews prayed to their God for His protection and continued the building project (they were living out
the Russian proverb “Pray to God but continue to row toward the shore”). Once again their enemies threatened to attack,
but the people persisted in prayer and continued to build. Nehemiah posted half of the workers with swords to guard the
city while the remainder continued to build. Those that built worked with one hand while holding a sword with the other.
Nehemiah reminded the people that the Lord would protect them while doing this good work. (3 & 4)
The people began to complain that they lacked food and money. Nehemiah rebuked the government for exacting
such a heavy burden of taxation on its citizens. The government and the oppressors agreed to give back every piece of
land and/or slave to its rightful owner. (5)
Though Judah’s enemies tried many times to foil the rebuilding of the wall, the wall was completed in 52 days. It
was then that the enemies acknowledged that these people had been helped by their God. (6)
The rebuilding of the walls instilled in God’s chosen people the community spirit that had been destroyed when
their city had been ransacked. They were once again safe from enemy attack and cultural assimilation. When the wall was
completed, the people were able to make decisions out of strength, not from the defenseless position they faced prior to
the wall’s completion.
As the people settled into their new city life within the walls, Ezra, the priest, read publicly the Law of Moses to
them. The people celebrated and feasted. They also confessed their sins to the Lord and once again promised that they
would not again neglect the house of their God. (7-10)
New residents settled in Judah and Jerusalem. The leaders as well as one out of every ten people in the
countryside were required to live in Jerusalem; in a sense, they were a tithe to the holy city. The others would live in their
own towns outside of Jerusalem’s walls. (11) The dedication of the wall was a great celebration with singing and dancing.
Purification services were performed by the priests and portions of grain were set aside for the Priests and the Levites.
(12)
After the dedication, Nehemiah returned to the service of King Antaxerxes. When he returned to Jerusalem a
second time, Nehemiah discovered that the people had begun to work on the Sabbath and marry foreign wives. Angered
and frustrated, he purified all the priests from the influence of everything foreign, and continued faithfully to ask the Lord
for favor upon the people. (13) “Remember me with favor, O my God.” (13:31)
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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Nehemiah
Outline
Ch. 1-13
Details on what Nehemiah does
and what the people do
in Jerusalem’s transformation
(Simple Outline)
Lessons on leadership for the
holistic transformation of a
city
I. Chapter 1:1-11
Title for this
section:
Nehemiah in
Persia hears
about and cries
out for his people.
II. Chapter 2:110
Title for this
section:
III. Chapter 2:1120
Title for this
section:
1. Nehemiah hears a detailed report from a fellow
Jew about his homeland/Jerusalem.
2. Nehemiah feels incredible grief and compassion
for his people.
3. Nehemiah demonstrates his compassion visibly
by weeping, fasting and mourning.
4. He then expresses it audibly through prayer,
first praising, then confessing corporately their
sin, and then asking for favor from God as he
prepares to step out in faith.
1. INFORMATION: Leaders at the
beginning of a work should begin
with careful listening to what is
taking place outside of their own
protected experience.
2. COMPASSION: Leadership is
rooted in a leader’s compassion and
burden for those he will serve.
3. INTERCESSION: A leader stands
in the gap on behalf of those he
serves, yet identifies with them as
his own people.
1. Nehemiah continues to faithfully fulfill his job
(vocation)
2. Although Nehemiah was afraid, he did not let
that stop him from a)Visibly expressing his
emotions or b)Articulating his desires
3. Nehemiah continues to pray
4. Nehemiah boldly answers the king, presents a
plan, and requests resources (prior planning?)
5. Opposition is already present
1. Nehemiah makes an initial assessment of the
situation: intentionally, privately, patiently
2. Then Nehemiah shares a vision with key
stakeholders (16-18)
3. Key stakeholders take ownership and begin the
work
4. Opposition becomes more vocal
IV. Chapter 3
Title for this
section:
1. Nehemiah distributes the work, strategically
placing people near to where they live and have
a vested interest
2. Everyone gets involved, many near the location
in the city where they live and have a personal
connection
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
5
Nehemiah
Outline
Ch. 1-13
V. Chapter 4
Title for this
section:
VI. Chapter 5
Title for this
section:
Details on what Nehemiah does
and what the people do
in Jerusalem’s transformation
(Simple Outline)
Lessons on leadership for the
holistic transformation of a
city
1. Nehemiah deals with the taunts of enemies who
are seeking to discredit, discourage, deceive,
and destroy the people and the work.
2. Nehemiah deals with doubts/discouragement
3. Nehemiah prays; also points people back to the
vision and future plans
4. People protect themselves/work with swords/
protect each other.
1. Nehemiah deals with internal oppression by
a)Listening to the story/examining the situation,
b)Responding with strong emotion (anger),
c)Calling a meeting and addressing the issue
head-on, d)Presenting a solution
2. Nehemiah demands and obtains both horizontal
restitution (usury dropped, land returned) and
vertical righteousness (fear of God)
3. Nehemiah presents himself as an example of
righteousness, generosity, and faithfulness
4. Nehemiah holds the listeners responsible to
their commitments (12-13)
VII. Chapter 6
1. Nehemiah stands firm as he faces more
Title for this
section:
schemes, lies, opposition
2. Nehemiah is tempted to flee the city and hide
3. Nehemiah continues to pray; asks God to
ultimately deal with his enemies
4. Project completed: Walls finished!
VIII. Chapter 7
1. Nehemiah assigns people to the (new) tasks now
Title for this
section
needed: gate makers, singers, Levites.
2. Nehemiah chooses a trustworthy leader
3. People continue to own and be invested in their
work/neighborhood
4. A list is compiled of exiles who had returned
first from Exile; this was used to decide how to
repopulate Jerusalem.
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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Nehemiah
Outline
Ch. 1-13
IX. Ch. 8-9:37
Title for this
section:
Details on what Nehemiah does
and what the people do
in Jerusalem’s transformation
(Simple Outline)
Lessons on leadership for the
holistic transformation of a
city
1. Ezra gathers the people to hear the Law and
interact with God’s word (listening, praise,
reverence, worship)
2. The Levites explain the Law to the people
3. Nehemiah and the leaders facilitate celebration
and obedience to the Law
4. The people make booths, re-enacting the OT
story of redemption; celebrate with joy, confess
their sins, praise God for salvation, remember
God’s grace/their history through prayer
X. Ch. 9:38-10:39
Title for this
section:
XI. Chapter 11:112:26
1. People covenant together to keep all the law
(Sabbath, intermarriage, temple care and
taxes/tithes)
2. Covenant witnessed by leaders/key
stakeholders; they commit to obey as well
Title for this
section:
1. Nehemiah gets a “tithe” from his leaders to
voluntarily move into the city (list of them here
from each tribe)
2. Nehemiah carefully records a list of the people
who move and resettle
3. Many people trust God’s sovereign call/plan
and move to Jerusalem
XII. Ch. 12:27-47
1. Nehemiah leads the people in dedicating the
Title for this
section:
wall when it’s done
2. Nehemiah carefully plans an event which
a)Celebrates what God has done/keeps the focus
on Him, b)Allows the people to acknowledge
their accomplishment, c)Involves everyone –
from the city to the villages, d)Remembers the
financial responsibility of God’s people (44-47)
XIII. Chapter 13
1. Nehemiah reads the law again, observes the
Title for this
section:
2. Nehemiah returns to Babylon, also goes back to
people responding with obedience
Jerusalem to “check up on things”
3. Nehemiah deals with several kinds of sin
surfacing among the people
4. Nehemiah takes justice into his own hands
(good or bad?); focuses on his own
actions/accomplishments
5. People show signs of returning to patterns of
disobedience when left to their own devices.
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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LISTENING TO THE STORY: The following few pages are to be used during the gathering
“Jesus, our Word of Life, use the Feelings, Actions, Thinking, and Speaking (FATS) of the story’s characters to help us
listen to this passage from the Bible with fresh ears. Open our hearts to authentically explore the questions below, the
lesson’s theme, and the implications for our own lives and to those we serve in our community. Spirit, speak to both our
perceptions and misperceptions, to life as it is and as it could be here on earth."
1. THE GOD QUESTION: Share single words or short phrases to summarize some important realities of what
God was like as God related to the different characters of this story.
2. KINGDOM RELATIONSHIPS: Share single words or short phrases to summarize some important ways that
the story’s characters related, or were supposed to relate to:
God:
Other people in the story:
The created world:
3. THE BIGGER STORY FIT
A parallel passage or story:
Name one way this parallel passage is similar, and one way it is different from today’s story, and consider what
that might add to the nature of what we have learned today. (See Q#1-2 above.)
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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LIVING INTO THE STORY: Choose from the options below an activity to complete after the gathering. Note:
Be prepared to briefly share in the next class about what you chose to do.
1: REFLECT – in writing (3 parts, and can begin in the class experience)

AUDIENCE SELECTION: Identify and then write the name of the person to whom you will write your
reflection.

WRITING: Identify and then elaborate on one idea, image, theme or character that was particularly relevant to
you in this story/lesson. Write freely and without self critique. Write in a way that is meaningful to you and also
understandable to your chosen audience.(Additional resource: Linking God’s Story to Mine)

SHARING OPTIONS: Email to the class, share with your mentor, send to the letter’s recipient, or to a friend.
2: READ – what others have said

GO TO THE WEBSITE: Explore the “Featured Readings” or other resources (articles, poems, quotes, stories,
etc.) available there. Recommended: Click HERE to read the selection from Theirs is the Kingdom, by Robert
Lupton, associated with this lesson.

FIND: Go online or to another source to find an article, blog, sermon, or video related to the story or the theme.
Consider sharing it with the class.
3: RESPOND – put faith in action

OBEYING GOD’S VOICE: Trusting that God has spoken to your heart during this week’s lesson, listen and
then commit now to doing a specific action for a person(s) this coming week. Write down the specifics: What,
when, where, etc. (Resource: any part of this lesson and/or ideas from the facilitator).

CREATE: Design a poem, song, artwork, photo, talk outline, small group discussion, or a ministry strategy that
connects to or flows out of today’s lesson, theme or case study.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IDEA: Interview a leader in your community who has significantly
mobilized volunteers and effectively helped accomplish projects on behalf of the city.
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
9
Quotes for Inserting into the Final lessons:
“You can take from me all my banks. . . you can take from me all my money. . . you can take from me all my techniques,
but if you leave me my people I will build it all again.”
Andrew Carnegie
“Give me one hundred people who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they
be clergymen or laymen: such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.”
John Wesley
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls is one who has no control over his spirit.”
Prov. 25:28
“There is an anonymous story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. Their story goes like
this: There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have
done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought
Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody
when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.”
Anonymous
“If you say you are a leader and no one is following you, you are merely on a walk.”
Mao Tse-tung
“If this world is going to be reached, I am convinced that it must be done by men and women of average talent. After all,
there are comparatively few people in the world who have great talents.”
DL Moody
© 2012 John Lewis. All Rights Reserved.
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