Then I said to them, “ You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. ~ Nehemiah 2:17, 18 (ESV)

READING: Nehemiah 2:17, 18

Nehemiah exemplified two of DCPI’s Twelve Principles of Dynamic Church Planting:

1. THE BOSS PRINCIPLE – Christ is Lord of church planting, and He has a vision for your new church.

5. THE TEAM LEADER PRINCIPLE – The church planting pastor is most effective as part of a team on which he serves as the visionary leader.

Having assessed the community, Nehemiah cast the vision God had given to him back in Persia. He spoke of the great need (“Jerusalem lies in ruins”) and painted a picture of a godly and glorious future (“that we may no longer suffer derision”).

He spoke of how God had already guided him and blessed him: “I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good.”

God used Nehemiah to build a team of people ready to serve and sacrifice alongside him: “Let us rise up and build.”

Nehemiah’s task was different than ours, but his God is the same! We can trust Him to empower the vision He has given, and to raise up the teammates to fulfill it.

Lord, May Your vision so fill my life that it captures the hearts of those You bring into my life to help fulfill it. Amen.

Jim Carpenter