The story of Nehemiah takes place about 160 years after Jerusalem was destroyed and the Israelites were exiled. When the people of Israel returned to their homeland, they found their city in ruins. When Nehemiah heard about it, he was devastated. At the same time, he was inspired to start a movement so that the people of God could, once again, have a home.
Nehemiah is an important example of God’s redemptive work, not just because the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, but also because it reminds us that, even when we don’t see it, God is working in and through His people to bring about restoration.
Many figures in the Old Testament can seem almost mythical – Moses parted the Red Sea, David defeated Goliath, and Elijah called fire down from Heaven. We believe these stories are true, but it can be hard to imitate those things today.
Nehemiah, on the other hand, wasn’t a prophet, priest, or king. He was an exile and a servant, but He was a great leader. He reminds us that, just because we haven’t called fire down from heaven, God can still use us as leaders to accomplish His will and advance His Kingdom.
In today’s article, we will explore five principles of leadership from the life of Nehemiah that modern day discipleship leaders can apply to their own lives.
You can watch this summary of Nehemiah from the Bible Project, or skip below to get started.
Principle 1: Pray For Everything
When Nehemiah heard about the broken walls in Jerusalem, it broke his heart. His first response was to pray about it, and he was determined to approach the King to seek help.
In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah approached Artaxerxes of Persia (who, at the time, was the most powerful man on the planet). Although he was the King’s cupbearer and had a positive relationship, Nehemiah was still afraid. He was about to ask the King for something that could seem disloyal, even treasonous.
Not only did he ask for extended time away from his duties, but he also asked for resources to help with the rebuild. Even worse, he desired to rebuild Jerusalem, a city that, historically, stood against kings like Artaxerxes. If he caught the King on a bad day, his life could be forfeit.
We know that Nehemiah prayed before the conversation, but it’s important to notice that he also prays right in the middle of the conversation. Nehemiah 2:4-5 (ESV) says,
“Then the king said to me, ‘what are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.’”
Nehemiah did not depend on his own abilities or position, but rather the work of God’s Spirit. He prayed consistently, even as he spoke to the King. The result? The King gave his full blessing because “the good hand of my God was upon me (Nehemiah 2:8).”
This has practical implications for us throughout life and especially as discipleship leaders. Hoping someone sees the truth in a new way? Pray that God would guide your words and open their hearts. Need to have a challenging accountability conversation? Pray that God will help them listen and you can reach common understanding. Confessing your own sin or seeking forgiveness? Pray that God would bring peace to the conversation.
As a discipleship leader, you don’t simply need to pray once at the start of a group or the night before. You can Pray throughout the day, pray on your way to the group, pray during the discipleship meeting, and pray to give thanks after the group is finished.
Prayer reminds us that we need God to be at work in our discipleship groups. You may be an incredibly logical thinker or communicator or discussion facilitator, but ultimately, God is the one who does the work.
Like Nehemiah, the more you pray, the more effective you will be as a discipleship leader. God can make far greater things happen than you can imagine, and prayer is a vital aspect of this.