God can use anyone to accomplish His redemptive work

5 Timeless Principles of Discipleship from Nehemiah

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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.

Pray for everything - Nehemiah discipleship principle

Principle 2: Couple Prayer with Action

In Nehemiah 4, the people of Israel have started rebuilding the walls, but they meet some serious opposition. Tobiah and Sanballat were two locals who had built success around exploiting the Israelites, and they had no interest in seeing the people rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

They started by insulting the people, but when that failed, Tobiah and Sanballat threatened the people with military action. Nehemiah had a great response to this in verse 9, and there is much we can learn from it: “We prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” 

The rest of the chapter goes into more detail about the guard. Many “labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other (verse 17).” They did not stop building the wall, but they took the necessary steps to protect themselves. It was a strategic plan, with every possibility accounted for. Most importantly, they never lost sight of the fact that God would fight for them (verse 20).

Many believers face this question when dealing with a difficult situation. Should I focus on prayer? Or action? The answer, as Nehemiah shows us, is both. 

How does this apply to discipleship leaders today? As we discussed already – discipleship leaders should pray for their group often. 

But they also need to prepare for their discussions and use effective tools that will help ensure their groups lead to spiritual transformation and maturity. There are far too many discipleship programs in the world that start with great intentions, but when the leaders are not those programs often collapse.

One helpful discipleship  tool that we have seen help produce fruit is TEAMS, which stands for Truth, Equipping, Accountability, Mission, and Supplication. Like the sword and the guard that Nehemiah instituted, TEAMS provides a strategic plan for facilitating spiritual growth.

Principle 3: Serve your People

As the governor and good friend of the actual king of the world, Nehemiah received a large food allowance each month. In Nehemiah 5 we learn that each day, they prepared for him “one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine and abundance.” 

This was an impressive feast, but Nehemiah didn’t let it get to his head. He didn’t hog the buffet line for himself. He recognized how hard the people worked, and so he shared his food with everyone. Instead of claiming what was rightfully his, he shared it with his people. This, of course, was not normal. But it is the mark of a good leader. 

Nehemiah 5:15 says, “The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.” 

This language of “lording it over the people” appears elsewhere in the Bible. In the Gospels, Jesus caught his disciples discussing who would be the greatest. He responds to them in Luke 22:25-27 (ESV): 

“And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”’

This thinking was radical during the time of Christ, and remains radical today. Leaders were supposed to be served by their followers, not the other way around! 

And yet, Jesus chose to serve his people by giving up his glorious position in Heaven, coming to Earth, experiencing sickness and hunger, washing our feet, and dying on the cross for his people.

This behavior is similar to what we saw Nehemiah do throughout the rebuilding of the walls. He gave up his food for others, he didn’t charge interest or claim land, and while he delegated to many, he never excluded himself from the work. He got his hands dirty and worked alongside others to build and defend the walls. As Nehemiah 5:16 says, “I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

All leadership roles, even one that oversees a small discipleship group, come with a certain amount of power. Weak leaders use that power to make themselves feel strong or important, but strong leaders use their power to serve and lift up their members.

If you want to be a great discipleship leader, then be a leader who serves.

Principle 4: Teach

When the walls were finished, Nehemiah made a clear statement about who would be the center of their culture. Nehemiah 8:1 says, “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.”

The people now had a place to gather, they had a home. Together, thanks to Nehemiah and Ezra’s leadership, they gathered to hear from the Word of God. The city leaders knew that God’s law needed to be central to everything they did. Otherwise, they could find themselves being sent into exile again.

Not only did the leaders read the law, in 8:7-8 they also “helped the people to understand the Law…they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” The Bible can be confusing and difficult to understand at times, so they made an effort to teach it clearly so their people knew the truth.

As a discipleship leader, it is important to educate and teach the members of your group. Great leaders teach at every opportunity, discipling their people to someday become leaders who are equipped to make and train disciples themselves.

If you want to teach the truth, then you must regularly study the Word of God yourself. Leading a discipleship group doesn’t require you to have a seminary degree or PhD in ancient Greek, but it does require you to regularly meditate on God’s Word. As you fill your heart and mind with God’s truth, it will naturally overflow to those around you.

If you’re a leader who teaches and equips others, you won’t make yourself redundant or replaceable. Instead, you’ll inspire the next generation of discipleship leaders and create an enduring legacy.

Principle 5: Take Time to Celebrate

Our modern world can be very task-oriented. We focus so hard on getting things done, but rarely take the time to celebrate the things that we have accomplished and the ways we have grown.

Nehemiah doesn’t make this mistake. And in both chapter 8 and chapter 12, we get to witness multiple celebrations. Through God’s help, they had rebuilt their walls! Instead of moving straight to the next project, Nehemiah called the people to celebrate.

In Nehemiah 8:10, Nehemiah said to the people, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

While reading the book of the law, they discovered the feast of booths. God had commanded his people to celebrate this feast so that they would remember His work in their salvation, particularly His provision during their 40 years in the desert. The feast was like a nationwide, week-long tailgate/camping trip. Everyone got together, set up their own temporary homes, and feasted together. 

Celebrating at a feast - Nehemiah discipleship principles

The celebration in Nehemiah 12 was extravagant. There was a massive chorus, and they sang so loud that “the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43b). This was more than a party, it was a historic act of worship.

When you remember what God has done for you and in your discipleship group, it should be easy to praise Him. There are a couple applications here for modern-day discipleship groups.

First, remember that you cultivate what you celebrate. This isn’t always about big parties, it is often about celebrating the little things. Congratulate a group member for memorizing their verse, encourage someone who shared their faith with a co-worker, or text someone to thank them for their group participation.

Second, discipleship groups aren’t just about getting through the curriculum – you should take some time to intentionally celebrate. Host a BBQ in your backyard to kick-off the new year, go to a sporting event together, host a Christmas party with spouses, worship together on Sunday, or plan a trip together to celebrate the end of your discipleship year. There are countless opportunities here, but taking time to celebrate the group will build a stronger community and remind people about the important things God has done.

Conclusion

The story of Nehemiah is ancient, but it contains many helpful leadership lessons for us today. If you want to grow as a leader in your church, discipleship group, or your community then take some time to read the entire book. 

Launching a discipleship ministry at your church may seem like a daunting task, but if God can help Nehemiah lead the people to rebuild a broken city, then He can certainly help you launch a discipleship movement. Remember, God loves to use His people to accomplish His redemptive work.

And of course, if you want specific training, then checkout our discipleship training course. Not only will we help give you the tools you need to launch a discipleship community in your own church, but we will also provide a community to support you.

 

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