Leadership 101: Part 8

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived

“All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate.”  Nehemiah 8:1

I attend a very large church in the Chicago area. In 1995, we celebrated our 20th anniversary by renting out the United Center in downtown Chicago. This arena is home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks and seats 23,500 people. We filled the place to capacity as we celebrated God’s incredible blessing on our church.

As we entered the stadium that evening, each person was given a tiny penlight. The highlight of the evening occurred when the lights were turned off, and people were asked to turn on their penlight if they had accepted Jesus Christ through the ministry of our church. I will never forget the thousands of tiny pinpricks of light that filled the arena. It was definitely a “Yeah God” moment.

Context:
The people assembled for a time of spiritual renewal as the Word of God was read publicly for the first time in many years.  They wept as they heard the words of the Law. But their tears turned to joy as they celebrated the goodness of God.

Leadership Lessons:

A leader builds a strong community.

  • “All the people” and “the whole company” occur 10 times in this chapter.
  • Here are some characteristics of this new community:

– Common Purpose: To worship God

– Experience: They listened attentively from daybreak to noon

– Bible-Centered: The Word was read and explained

– Inclusive: Men, women and older children participated

A leader builds an effective team.

  • Nehemiah is mentioned only once in this chapter in a supporting role.
  • The team functioned based on their God-ordained roles.

– Ezra, priest and scribe: Read Law and led the people in worship

– 13 leaders: Stood on platform as witnesses

– 13 Levites: Read the Law and explained it to the people

Eliashib, a worldly priest1, was not included on the team.

A leader promotes God-honoring worship.

  • Ezra opened the Law and all the people stood up.
  • He praised God, and all the people lifted their hands and said “Amen! Amen!”
  • They bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces on the ground.
  • All the people wept as they listened to the words of the Law.

A leader promotes joyful celebration.

  • The leaders told the people that they shouldn’t weep on a sacred day; instead, they should celebrate.
  • So the people went off to eat, drink and celebrate with great joy.

A leader promotes willing obedience.

  • The next day the people discovered that in the Law God had commanded them to live in booths during the Feast of the Tabernacles.
  • So they went out and brought back branches, built booths and lived in them.

Prayer:
“Lord, It’s such an awesome responsibility to lead. Sometimes I wonder why You chose me for the role.  I admit that I am unworthy for the position, but I serve because I know that You have put me there.  Help me serve well.  Amen.”

Endnotes:

1 Nehemiah 13:4-5,7b

© 2013 Designed to Serve®

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.