Teamwork 101
Nehemiah 3:1-32
Intro: Calhoun was a favorite ball carrier of the local fans but on this particular day the quarterback was not giving him the ball.
As the game wore on and the home team was getting behind the fans began to chant, “Give the ball to Calhoun. Give the ball to Calhoun.” They were ignored.
It was the third down and the fans began to get louder and louder, “Give the ball to Calhoun.” The frustrated quarterback walked out of the huddle and motioned for silence from the crowd. He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “CALHOUN DON’T WANT THE BALL!”
. Without teamwork, it’s hard to accomplish much .
. Everyone must be willing to participate.
. That’s how successful organizations get things accomplished, through teamwork.
. There’s an old saying that say’s “there is no I in team.
. This means that everybody is important and no one is more important than anyone else.
. According to dictionary .com, teamwork is:
. Cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause.
. Other definitions include:
. " Teamwork means that we share a common ideal, Embrace a common goal. Regardless of our differences, we strive shoulder to shoulder, Confident in one another’s faith, trust, and commitment. In the end, teamwork can be summed up in five short words....
“We believe in each other."
" Teamwork is the FUEL that allows Common People To Produce Uncommon Results!"
"True teamwork is a two way street: Reaching out to help colleagues And also being open and receptive to help when it’s offered"
. As I was preparing for this sermon I ran across an amazing tidbit about teamwork that I want to share with you. It’s an amazing fact about honey bees.
.During the spring and summer on a warm day about half the bees in a hive stay inside beating their wings while the other half go out to gather pollen and nectar. They do this to cool the hive. They keep the inside of the hive about 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the temperature outside. They rotate between staying in the hive one day and the next day they are the gatherers and the others are the ones that air condition the hive. An amazing illustration of teamwork.
. We are back in Nehemiah this morning and guess what the sermon is about?
. Teamwork, that is right.
. Let’s review for a minute
. If you remember, Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the king Artaxerxes. He was the ruler of Persia.
. One of his brothers came to visit him and told him of the condition of the walls in Jerusalem that left the inhabitants vulnerable to attack.
. God placed on his heart to go back and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.
. He asked the king for permission and materials. The king granted these requests and Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem.
. When he got back, he quietly surveyed the situation and started the project.
. Our scripture this morning shows us the teamwork that is involved when God gives you a monumental task. We talked about this monumental task two weeks ago.
. As you first read this chapter, it seems real boring. Kind of like reading all the begats found over in Genesis or all the numbers found over in the book of Numbers. You who have read and studied the Bible know what I’m talking about.
. As I was studying for this sermon I saw where one writer called it “a colorless memorandum of assignments”
. It can get difficult to muddle through and keep your attention.
. I am going to be merciful to you this morning and we’re not going to read all 32 verses but we are going to read enough to understand what was going on and what God has to say to us this morning.
. Nehemiah 3:1
. 1Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel.
. verses 3&4
. 3The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.
4Meremoth son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz repaired the next section of wall. Beside him were Meshullam son of Berekiah and grandson of Meshezabel, and then Zadok son of Baana.
. verses 8&9
. 8Next was Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a goldsmith by trade, who also worked on the wall. Beyond him was Hananiah, a manufacturer of perfumes. They left out a section of Jerusalem as they built the Broad Wall.
9Rephaiah son of Hur, the leader of half the district of Jerusalem, was next to them on the wall.
. Verse 12
. 12Shallum son of Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section. He was the leader of the other half of the district of Jerusalem.
. 14The Dung Gate was repaired by Mal-kijah son of Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem district. He rebuilt it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.
. 15The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.16Next to him …
. 17Next to him, repairs were made by a group of Levites working under the supervision of Rehum son of Bani. Then came Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah, who supervised the building of the wall on behalf of his own district.18Next down the line …
. If we were to continue reading we would see this same pattern continued throughout the chapter.
. What we see is a pattern of teamwork.
. I want to take a few minutes this morning and make some observations about the teamwork that we see here.
. We studied three lessons ago in the Gospel Project that all scripture is inspired by God and good for teaching.
. I believe that one of the lessons that God wants us to see in this scripture is the concept of everyone working toward a common goal in order to further His kingdom here on this earth.
. The first observation is that Teamwork Starts With Leadership.
. Leaders must lead by example if they expect others to come along side them and work toward the goal.
. I have some excerpts from the verses we looked at earlier.
. Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate…,9Rephaiah son of Hur, the leader of half the district of Jerusalem,
. Shallum the leader of the other half of the district…, Recab, the leader of the Beth-hakkerem district…, Hashabiah, the leader of half the district of Keilah…
. We could go on and we would see examples of the leadership coming along side everyone else to accomplish the task that had been set before them.
. Those that had been given the role of leadership within the Hebrew community were willing to work with the Hebrew people.
. You know they could have said wait a minute Nehemiah. We were here long before you got here. We are in charge around here. What we say is what happens around here.
. They didn’t though. They saw that the goal was for the good of all and that it was God ordained through Nehemiah.
. They led the people through their example.
. Many years later, Jesus modeled this type of leadership for us.
. You can find this recorded in John 13.
. This is one of my favorite stories in the bible.
. It was in a small room on the top floor of a house in Jerusalem.
. All of the team was there. The twelve men that Jesus had chosen to spread the Good News to the world.
. The custom of the day was to wash the feet of anyone who came into your house. This task was given to the lowliest of the slaves. This was the most degrading task around.
. Jesus got up and took His cloak off and tied a towel around himself. He poured water into a basin and went around to his disciples and knelt down and washed their feet.
. After He was finished He asked them if they understood what He had just done. He said this is the example I want you to follow as you lead people to me.
. He wanted his team to go and tell the world about him. About his message of forgiveness of sin and love for all mankind.
. He knew that His team would follow the leader as they say.
. If they were to show the world the love of Jesus, they had to serve them first.
. Teamwork started with Jesus.
. Teamwork starts with the ones that God has put into the role of leader.
. As we continue to move forward in our mission to encourage and develop those we meet into committed followers of Jesus; our leaders must step up and lead the team.
. I’m not just talking about myself or the leadership team we have in our church.
. SS teachers, committee chairs, youth and children’s leaders, God has placed you in a role of leadership. In order for our team to be successful, you must be part of the team.
. Teamwork starts with Leadership.
. Another observation is that Team Includes Everyone.
. If you read through all of this chapter you will see another common theme.
. The phrase next to him or after him or next or after them is used 28 times
. This was teamwork on steroids.
. They didn’t walk around trying to find there niche.
. Some folks have a hard time trying to find their niche.
. Listen to one guy’s job history and see if you relate.
. My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn’t concentrate.
. Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn’t hack it, so they gave me the axe.
. After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn’t suited for it. Mainly because it was a so-so job.
. Next I tried working in a muffler factory but that was exhausting.
. I wanted to be a barber, but I just couldn’t cut it.
. I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I just couldn’t cut the mustard.
. I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn’t have any patients.
. I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn’t live on my net income.
. I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.
. Next, I found being an electrician interesting, but the work was shocking.
. After many years of trying to find steady work I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it.
.I heard another guy say, "I like work -- it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours."
. When it comes to the work of the Lord, there is no place for sitting on the couch and watching.
. Folks there is a place for everyone on the team.
. The Hebrew people brought a multitude of skills and personalities to the task.
. As you read through, you find the high priest, regular priests, supervisors, stone masons, armorers, merchants, farmers, goldsmiths, perfume makers for heavens sake.
. You know, with this being a construction project you would think that there would have been only men.
. Look at verse 12 here.
. 12Shallum son of Hallohesh and his daughters repaired the next section.
. This guy brought his daughters out to work.
. This wasn’t a bring your daughter to work day. They were there to work.
. Everyone was part of the team.
. It doesn’t matter what the project is, we need everyone to be involved.
. As we strive to be faithful to our mission statement here at “the creek” we need everyone.
. We have carpenters and painters and sheetrockers.
. Accountants and school teachers and people who work in the legal profession.
. We have firefighters and para-medics and government workers.
. People who work in the medical field and truck drivers.
. When it comes to diversity, we could be the poster child.
. Just like Nehemiah needed everyone to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, we need everyone to build this church for our savior Jesus Christ.
. To be a place of safety for the lost.
. A place of refuge for all to come and hear and worship God.
. A home base for us to come and recharge and fellowship with other believers.
. Folks if we want to accomplish anything for God, it will take teamwork.
. Teamwork includes everyone.
. The last observation is that They Knew Who They Were Working For.
. Look here at verse one again.
. 1Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it…
. They started the work and dedicated it .
. The King James says they consecrated the work.
. Consecrate literally means “to associate with the sacred”
. They dedicated their work to God.
. That was the first thing they did.
. They realized that they were in essence, working for God.
. As I close this morning, do you know who you are working for.
. We must make sure in planning and implementing our mission and vision that we consecrate the work.
. Any success we have will be for the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
. He is the one we serve.
. Can you truly say that you serve Jesus this morning?
. In order to serve Him, you must know Him.
. Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to have a relationship with Him that you must be “born again”
. Have you experienced this new birth.
. Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources:
The Holy Bible, NLT
Working Well With Others, Brian Bill
Teamwork Needed, Marilyn Murphree
