LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

WRITING ASSIGNMENT 4

MODULE 5

A PAPER SUBMITTED TO

DR RODNEY ANDERSON

FOR DSMN 500

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE MASTERS OF DIVINITY DEGREE

BY

TODD HINE

16 FEBRUARY 2012

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2

GOD’S JOB DESIGN.....................................................................................................................2

SCIPTURE ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................3

NEHEMIAH4

CONCLUSION6

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION

In the life of a church there can only be one status of three when taking into consideration

the actions of the church: It is not moving at all, it is moving but with no recognizable effects, or

its not only moving but is also having a significant effect in the lives of believers and non-

believers alike. God’s action plan for the church is the third option. That He wants His children

to not only be in a state of movement, but He also wants them to have an impact that changes the

world. Action, however, does not take place in a vacuum. God’s people exist within various

environments, and the ideas that drive a church are carried by the congregation as they live and

move through all other aspects of their personal lives.

GOD’S JOB DESIGN

Virtually mirrored after the design of Israel recorded within the pages of Numbers 1-5,

the military structure likewise follows the division of forces into specific functions. According to

rank, experience, and job classification, each individual member of the military not only holds a

responsibility but also a degree of accountability along the individual’s chain of command.

Delegation allows for the proper function of not only the military, but the nation of Israel.1

Only initially did Israel not compare to the military as a civilian encampment. It wasn’t

until entrance into the land of Canaan that Joshua led the Israelites as an Army. However, even

within tribal distinctions, the division of labor among the tribes filtered down to each household

whereupon each was responsible for something and to someone. God’s purpose in this entirely

rests on the environment He wanted to create to ensure the needs of His mission for the nation

would come to fruition. God’s purpose for such organization: to be a blessing to all nations.

1 LaSor, William S., Hubbard, David A., and Frederick W. Bush. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form and Background of the Old Testament. Pg 103.

SCRIPTURE ANALYSIS

Moses, the leader of the twelve tribes of Israel while they wandered in the wilderness,

conducted himself in a fashion by which when it came time for the nation to enter the Promised

Land, he knew they would be successful even if it would be without his presence among them.

Moses, at one time, labored so heavily to be corrected by his father-in-law for doing one very

important act: Moses lived with his people. True, he did so as a function of his position as leader

of the nation. Nonetheless, he knew his people and they knew him.2

Recommended references found within the New Testament that provide a beneficial

source of Godly wisdom include Mark 3:14, Acts 4:13, and 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and 2:6 – 10.

These scripture references put forth similar if not equal principles of discipleship. Jesus spent

time with His people. He knew them and they knew Him. He trained them, and sent them out to

do the duties He called them to fulfill. Like Moses, no trickery was used, only the power and

presence of God in his life, just as in Christ’s life and just as in the lives of those that followed

them. Taking this notion one step deeper to its originating source, just like the nation of Israel,

God chooses us still today just as Jesus chose His disciples.

In similar fashion both Moses and Jesus took those that the world would find to be less

than important, less than valuable, less than desirable and taught them appropriately. In the

world’s eyes, they were as such until the exposure to their leaders shown through and gave

witness to the awesome reflection of both. In the New Testament passages the vision carried

forth both that found Paul the Apostle worthy as well. Through his life and testimony, the church

flourished in any and all environments, the first true discipleship program.

2 Ibid., 107

NEHEMIAH

An effective reference to understanding God’s intentions in organizing His people for

movement and mission accomplishment can be found in the book of Nehemiah. Principles to put

into practice to effectively organize and motivate people to accomplish seemingly impossible

tasks can be found. Beginning with the leader, just like we have seen with Moses working to

make the changes within the nation of Israel and just as can be seen in the life of Jesus teaching

and building up the disciples, Nehemiah stands out as a leader exemplifying God’s ability to

work through individuals to accomplish the effective move of His people.

The principles presented here can be observed without laboring through the entire book.

These are God’s principles that He wants us to see as an example of organizing His people. First,

we see the Nehemiah observed the need and once he fully recognized the need, he made a

personal matter. Leaders of God’s people, in order to effectively minister, must have situational

awareness of the situation and make it something of value internally. Without a personally vested

interest the project faces a constant threat of disintegration. 3

What occurs in the heart of the leader is critically important. Yet the internal must

eventually give way to the external and actually put into action. The next step in God’s design

for action is planning. God honors it, and though Nehemiah demonstrates tact for planning, a

powerful New Testament scripture supports it as well. Jesus spoke of those wanting to build a

tower in Luke 14:28 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction

of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” For,

Jesus said, that if you begin and do not finish, you will become a mockery to those watching.

3 Swindoll, Charles R. Hand Me Another Brick pg 31.

With a solid plan to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah set out to execute.

At this point what he needed most was workers. Nehemiah approached the Israelites with three

elements needed to rally support of the nation: purpose, direction, and motivation. Their purpose

was to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that would once again protect them from their surrounding

enemies who had already come out of their hiding places to harass them. He gave them direction

through the implementation of his plan. He delegated duties according to each skill and task and

put them forth to work on respectively assigned sections. The best part of all was the motivation

he provided.

People can be motivated in two forms: extrinsically and intrinsically.4 Extrinsic

motivation is parallel to bribery or paying off someone to do something. Often times the quality

only meets the standard of the worker, not the hirer. Nehemiah appealed to the more beneficial

form of motivation. He appealed to the Israelite’s intrinsic desire to see the wall built.

Historically, the wall around the city not only provided a defense but symbolized the strength of

the nation. To the Israelites, having the wall around Jerusalem after having been in captivity for

generations meant being whole again. The nation went to work for Nehemiah immediately.

One more concept needs to be examined briefly while considering all that Nehemiah

accomplished. Like him, we often times think about building a tower. We count the cost,

mobilized help, and begin to go to work. But along the line, trouble will come, and it should

never be a surprise. Times of trouble take on many different perspectives and theological ideals.

What matter to God is how leaders and workers respond to those times. Nehemiah faced troubles

of all sorts, and while internally even discouragement came, what remained was his resolve to

see to completion the wall of Jerusalem. The goal always remained in sight.

4 Ibid., 58

When it comes to organizing people for any mission including the designing of a

discipleship program, trouble has a way of weeding out those who do not carry the vision.

Trouble will see to it that those that falter will not hinder the completion of the project. In this

light trouble seems to be a benefit. It removes the dross and purifies all involved, just as gold is

refined in the fire. Gold responds by becoming more radiant and desirable. In Nehemiah’s day,

the wall saw completion and the nation celebrated in God’s victorious accomplishments. In our

lives, trouble helps us become more like Christ.

CONCLUSION

God’s pattern of organizing people can clearly be seen throughout scripture. These

principles remain for us today. As God’s church and the bride of Christ, our mission is not

physical walls but is instead for the tearing down of walls and barriers that oppose anything

against Christ and the knowledge of Him. Our mission is a team mission, designed to be

executed as a group effort through the lives of individuals.

His church, though separated by various degrees of doctrinal disagreement nonetheless

should remain focused on the Great Commission. Careful planning on the part of leaders whose

heart is passionate for the call enforced by the laborers though few will reap a harvest. God’s

design is not arbitrary nor is it haphazard in nature. His will is for us to remain steadfast and

stable, purposeful, and motivated by our love for Him.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryant, James W. & Brunson, Mac. The New Guidebook for Pastors. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2007.

Hertig, Paul. “The Great Commission Revisited: The Role of God’s Reign in Discple Making” Missionary 29, no 3 Jul 2001), 343-353.

LaSor, William S., Hubbard, David A., and Frederick W. Bush. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form and Background of the Old Testament. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996.

Mitchell, Michael R. Leading, Teaching, and Making Disciples. Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010.

Swindoll, Charles R. Hand Me Another Brick. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990.

Watkins, Clare. “Organizing The People of God: Social-Science Theories Of Organization In Ecclesiology”, Theological Studies. 52 (1991) 689-711.