INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Review of Previous Lesson (5 Minutes)
- What did you do during the week with regards to sharing the good news?
- How many souls did you witness to in the previous week?
Main Text: Nehemiah 3:1-5.
Memory Verse: The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. – Nehemiah 3:5b.
Introduction
The vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem brought various families and categories of people to work together. However, the Nobles of Tekoa were identified as persons who refused to work. Like the nobles of Tekoa, some people are indifferent to community transformation initiatives by the Church. Such persons withhold their skills, goodwill, resources and efforts from initiatives intended for the common good of people. What factors account for this behavior? How can such persons be made to come on board?
Our discussion today will help find solutions to this setback in the community transformation agenda of the Church.
Questions for Discussion
- Identify the categories of people who got involved in the rebuilding of the wall? Verse 1-5.
- What motivated them to get involved in the rebuilding project?
- In your view, why did the Men of Tekoa work while their nobles refused to work?
- How can the behavior of the nobles of Tekoa be avoided in the Environmental Care Campaign (ECC) and other community transformation initiatives by the Church?
- What is the best way to bring such ‘nobles’ on board?
Conclusion
The passage provides a picture of the division of labor that led to the rebuilding of the walls in fifty-two days. The priests, children and various families were involved in rebuilding the wall. Though the people of Tekoa participated in the work, their nobles did not submit to the supervisors. These nobles thus lost a great chance to be part of the history of this enviable feat. Perhaps, they thought that this task was below their honor and therefore did not submit to the supervisors. Some people are not enthused about the community transformation initiatives of the Church because, they consider them to be the responsibility of government and district assemblies. No one should stand aloof.
Everyone should get involved and contribute their quota. However, we should not cast insinuations on people who refuse to do so. Rather they should be encouraged to participate in the church’s community transformation initiatives.