Pointers on the Lesson H omer A. K ent , T h .M. Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon outlines of the International Sunday School Les sons, copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. to change his clothes. This sort of a spirit that “must” see to a successful conclusion the commission given by God is one of the great essentials of real leadership. Christian Leadership Issues in the Glorification of God (Neh. 6:15, 16) The kind of leadership Nehemiah ex erted led to such a quick completion of a great task that the enemies of God could not help but see His handiwork. Doubtless it brought forth praise from the lips of God’s children. These things of long ago were written down for our learning. We all as Christians are called to leadership of one kind or another. Let us seek the same qualities of leader ship possessed by God’s servant, Nehe miah. Helps for the Children Working Together (Nehemiah 4:6-9, 15-20) Memory Verse: “The people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6). Fourteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem, one of God’s servants, Nehe miah, led a group of people to Jerusa lem to rebuild the city walls and to re store law and order in the land. As the men worked together to rebuild the walls around their beloved city, some sneered at them and others, opposed them in various ways. The workers refused to become discouraged or to cease their work. Each man was given a certain task and each remained faithful, “for the people had a mind to work.” Even when enemies tried to fight with them, the workers prayed for God’s help and some of them aided the building by acting as guards day and night. Half of the men worked while the other half guarded them. Some of the men worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other! One man was the trumpeter. In case of danger, he blew an alarm that caused all of the builders to gather at one place. Surely these men had an excuse to become discouraged and to quit their work! Their brave leader, Nehemiah, kept encouraging them by saying, “ Our God shall fight for us.” Christians today frequently become downhearted in God’s work. Strife among church members, laziness, and selfish ness prevent God’s children from work ing together for Him. Christians who prayerfully and lovingly work together for their Lord may expect to be success ful in His service even though some may oppose their work. Like God’s people in Jerusalem, they may know that their God is working with them and that vic tory will surely be theirs. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
May 2, 1948 WHAT MAKES A REAL LEADER? Neh. 4:1-6, 13, 14, 21-23; 6:15, 16
the wall was completed. In like manner Christian service should be erected. Christian Leadership Exhibits Courage Amidst Discouragement (Neh. 4:13,14) One of the most difficult trials for a leader to withstand is that of discour agement among his own people. That is what Nehemiah faced at Jerusalem. Certain Jews who were living among the Samaritans came to him telling of the plans of the opposition to attack the city. They minimized the chances of the Jews to withstand such powerful foes. But all this did not cause Nehemiah to lose his courage. He kept on working. He prepared his people for any emer gency by arming them (v. 13). But, most important of all, he bade them put their confidence in the Lord and be re lieved of all fears. “Remember the Lord” was to be their battle-cry. During the recent World War, many a soldier was spurred on to more valiant efforts by the reflection, “ Remember Pearl Harbor!” So in Nehemiah’s day the remembrance of God’s strength was responsible for victory. Today, let every Christian have some such inspiring watchword as this: “ Remember Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:8). Christian Leadership Manifests Per sistence (Neh. 4:21-23) Nehemiah felt the responsibility of his task. He must finish it quickly. There was no time to waste. Not only did he inspire his subjects to work with him, but he also worked himself contin uously. With his guard he was an exam ple in persistence to all the rest. So concerned was he to get the task ac complished that he scarcely found time ROBERT HARKNESS • presents: Two Correspondence Courses 1. EVANGELISTIC HYMN PLAYING For Those Who Can Already Play Hymns and Gospel Songs EIGHTY Musically-Illustrated lessons. TWELVE Musical subjects taught. Nearly FIVE THOUSAND Students have enrolled. 2. BEGINNERS HYMN PLAYING COURSE For Piano For Those Who Cannot Play a Note but Wish to Learn to Play Hymns and Gospel Songs FIFTY Musically-Illustrated le sso n s. Original HARKNESS Keyboard Charts. Children study un der home supervision. Send for FREE details. Indicate which Course interests you. ROBERT HARKNESS 20 Ni Raymond Ave., Room 10 Pasadena 1, Calif.
Pointers on the Lesson No better character than Nehemiah could have been chosen by the lesson committee to provide a living answer to the question that heads this week’s les son, namely, What makes a great lead er? At a time when the cause of Israel was at very low ebb, this man under took to lead his people in a glorious project. He became burdened to go back to the city of Jerusalem for the purpose of restoring it to some of its former grandeur. He renounced a lucrative po sition in order to fulfill his desire. He felt it to be the call of God and with such a conviction he inspired others to join him in the undertaking. He over came every difficulty in the way and be came an example to others who needed to know what are the necessary qualifi cations for successful leadership. What then makes a real leader in the things of God? Let the passages of our Scrip ture lesson provide the answer. The work of God provoked contempt and ridicule on the part of its enemies. Sanballat, the Samaritan, and Tobiah, the Ammonite, began to mock: “What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice . . . Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall” (w . 2, 3). In view of this opposi tion, note what Nehemiah did. He did not curse his enemies, nor did he fight them. He talked to the Lord about them. The result was amazing. By prayer and work, W h ere P ra y e r Prevails Train for needed Christian service at this growing Bible School—“ built wtih prayfer.” The good climate and mountain scenery of the famed Columbia River are an added inspira tion. Accredited courses. FREE tuition, strong faculty, devoted student' body. Ask for catalog. Interesting Monthly Sent ■’ Free for a Year to All Inquirers M u l t n o m a h School of the B I B L E Willard M. Aldrich, Th.D., President B. B. Sutcliffe, D.D. John G. Mitchell, D.D. Chairman of Trustee Board Vice-President 703 N.E. Multnomah St., Portland 12, Ore. Real Christian Leadership Demands Prayer (Neh. 4:1-6)
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