“And the People Had a Mind to Work” — Summary

• Illustration: Saudi Arabia’s NEOM “Line”—an enormous, glass-walled, car-less city—shows we have the tech and tools for massive projects.
• Point: Whether NEOM succeeds or fails will hinge on politics and money—not tools. Likewise, God’s work doesn’t fail for lack of divine resources; it stalls when God’s people won’t work.

• Setting: Nehemiah in exile hears Jerusalem’s walls are ruined, prays, and is sent to rebuild.
• Big Idea: God restores His people when they set their hearts and hands to the work.
• Key verse: Nehemiah 4:6 (ESV) — “So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

• Nehemiah 1:3–4 (ESV): “…The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire. As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

• Nehemiah, the trusted cupbearer, appears sad; the king asks what he wants.
• Nehemiah 2:4 (ESV): “Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven.”
• Nehemiah “shoots the moon”: asks for time off, timber, letters—and God grants it.

• “The problem is too big.”
  • Jerusalem’s wall ~2.5 miles around, up to ~40 ft tall, ~8 ft thick—no machinery—yet God supplied what they needed.
• “It’s been this way too long.”
  • The ruins had sat ~13–14 years; the right time to act was now.
• “It’s too dangerous.”
  • Enemies threatened attack mid-build. Nehemiah armed workers and posted guards.
  • Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV): “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
• “I’m not skilled enough.”
  • Chapter 3 lists perfumer, goldsmith, merchants, priests, rulers—not masons. God used ordinary people to do extraordinary work.
• “I’m above that work.”
  • Nehemiah 3:5 (ESV): “…the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.”
  • Jesus washed feet—no one is “too good” for kingdom work.
• “My part is too small to matter.”
  • Nehemiah 3:23 (ESV): “After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house…”
  • Small sections add up; every “drop in the bucket” counts.

• Leaders exist to equip everyone for ministry, not to do it all themselves.
  • Ephesians 4:11–12 (ESV): “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
• When each part works, the body grows in love and maturity (Eph 4:13–16).

• Adopt Nehemiah’s reflex: pray → plan → ask boldly → get to work.
• Own your section of the wall: start “opposite your house”—serve where you are.
• Refuse fear and pride: serve humbly; trust God amid risk.
• Work together: like draft horses that pull more together than alone—our combined effort multiplies.

• Ask: What is my section of the wall this week?
• Pray Nehemiah’s prayer, take the next faithful step, and join the work—because “the people had a mind to work” (Neh 4:6, ESV).