1. #6 Discouragement: cause and cure Nehemiah 4: 9-23 “Hand Me Another Brick”

2. Outline 1.A story. 2.Last Week Review 3.Today’s introduction o Group activities 4.The 4 causes of discouragement 5.The 5 cures of discouragement 6.Conclusion and Action

3. A Story

4. Review

5. Evidence of Nehemiah’s Wall Science on NBC NewsScience on NBC News 11/29/2007 The Wall of Nehemiah Found Photo shows pieces of pottery discovered in a Tower believed to be built around Nehemiah’s time. Science on NBC NewsScience on NBC News 11/29/2007 The Wall of Nehemiah Found Photo shows pieces of pottery discovered in a Tower believed to be built around Nehemiah’s time.

6. The simple project met Stiff Oppositions

7. When the wall was half built, the discouragement finally brought their work to a standstill. o What caused the problem of discouragement? o How did Nehemiah cure it? Introduction Half Time is Usually the Tough Time

8. Group Activity (10 minutes) 1.Provide one or two events that caused you to feel that things got out of control. 1.______________________________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________________________ 3.______________________________________________________________ 2.Was the discouragement more task-oriented or people-oriented? 3.After the class, discuss how to cure these discouragements.

9. Examples 1. Provide one or two events that caused you to feel that things got out of control. My team has been leading a big change to secure the access in Qualcomm cell phone chips. Half way through this high risk project, the repeated criticism began to discourage members of our team. Some critics have recently accused us that we should have: 1. Followed better communication process. 2. Kept the old way of secure cell phone chips. 2. Was the discouragement more task-oriented or people-oriented? 1. Mostly people-oriented: some team members began to have cold feet. Some people are born nay-sayers. 2. Some are task oriented: I made some errors. 3. How to cure the above discouragements? o Any suggestions?

10. Causes of Discouragement 1/2 Causes of Discouragement 1/2 1. Lose of energy. (10a) The builders are too tired to carry on. 2. Lose of vision (10b) there is much rubbish. 3. Lose of faith (10c) … And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall. (10c) … And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.

11. Cause of Discouragement 2/2 4. Lose of Security 11 Our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,”

12. Time of Crisis Calls for Leadership The Wall Project is in Crisis: Events ran out of control. The entire team were discouraged to a standstill. How would Nehemiah handle or overcome the crisis?

13. Cure of Discouragement 1/5 1.Unite the people with common and worthy cause 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.

15. Cure of Discouragement 2/5 2.Direct attention to the Lord

16. Cure of Discouragement 3/5 3.Encourage them to maintain a Balance 16 From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. 17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. 16 From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. 17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

17. Cure of Discouragement 4/5 4.Provide a rally point as team 19 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah’s leadership: Decisiveness. He set up a system where half the men worked while the other half stood guard. Furthermore, he set up a communication system — “the sound of the trumpet” would alert people that there was trouble. Then they could concentrate on their work, without looking over their shoulders all the time.

18. Cure of Discouragement 5/5 5.Occupy them with mutual services 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” 1. Nehemiah created a protective buddy system. 2. People begin to bond into strong trusting relationships.

19. Conclusion and AI During time of discouragement, try these ideas: 1.Focus your eyes upon God and upon our goal. 2.Maintain balance. 3.Return to a rallying point. 4.Reenergize through serving each other. Action Item: Apply one or more of the above ideas this week when you feel discouraged. Apply one or more of the above ideas this week when you feel discouraged.

20. Action Examples 1.Provide one or two events that caused you to feel that things got out of control. 1.My team has been leading a big change to secure Qualcomm cell phone chips. Half way through this high risk project, the repeated criticism began to chisel away at our confidence. 2.Some critics have recently accused us that we should have: 1.Followed better communication process. 2.Kept the old way of secure cell phone chips. 2.Was the discouragement more task-oriented or people-oriented? 1.Mostly people-oriented: some team members began to have cold feet. 2.Some are task oriented: we made some technical and management errors. 3.How to cure the above discouragements? 1.Build a “trumpet system” as rallying points for better communication. 2.Invest in serving and bonding with partners so they trust us in our new ways.