Rebuild P3: The starting point

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The spaghetti structure

Why do certain groups add up to be better than the sum of their parts, while other groups add up to be less?

The culture Code: The engineer and designer, Peter Spilman, held a competition to build the tallest structure in different locations: Stanford, University of California, University Tokyo and several other places. Teams of 4 members were challenged to build the tallest structure using:

20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti

1 yard of transparent tape

1 yard of string

And 1 standard size marshmallow

The task had to be completed by putting the marshmallow at the top of the structure

Some group consisted of business students and the other of kinder gardeners.

The effective group:

Didn’t talk much at all

They stood very close to one another

Weren’t smooth and organized

They started building and grabbing materials from one another following no plan or strategy

Trying a bunch of things together

Myth: Skilled individuals will produce skilled performance

Reality: In dozen of trials kinder gardeners defeated business school students, and lawyers

Kindergartens produced structures that stood 26” tall

Business school student produced structures that stood less than 10” tall

Teams of lawyers produced towers that stood up 15”

And towers of CEO’s 22”

We focus on what we can see: individual skill

What matter is the interactions

Business school students are engaged in what psychologists call status management (all about dealing with status rather than navegating the uncertainty of the problem)

Not competing for status. Stand shoulder to shoulder. Work energetically together. Experiment. Take risks and check out outcomes that guide them toward effective solutions.

KG succeed not bc they are smarter but bc they work in a smarter way

Rebuild together!

We were meant to live together and reflect the unity of the Trinity! No task form God can be accomplished by one person alone. If revival will happen on campus, we will need every person to step up and do its part.

Start by restoring worship flow!

The Sheep Wall was the first location that was rebuilt that was mentioned in Scriptures. This was the palce where sheep that were to be offered in worship were taken care of.

Choose the story of our life:

Nehemiah 3:5 NIV

The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

The men of Tekoa were not deterred by the passivity of their leaders. Even though their leaders, or noble men, would not put their shoulders to the work of the repair, the moral of this clan was untouched. In fact, these men, the men of Tekoa understood that their work would bring a greater benefit to their community. They not only rebuilt one the sections facing north, but went on and rebuilt a section toward the south east end of town. They put aside their personal gain and comfort and put on the hard work needed. They had all the reason to say, we already did our part, but they were willing to go the extra mile for the sake of their community. Are you the kind of person who would go the extra mile for the sake of others with no personal gain?

Nehemiah 3:27 NASB95

After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.

No effort goes unnoticed:

Nehemiah 3:20 NIV

Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

Romans 12:10–15 NIV

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Build to make it last:

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 NIV

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Make no room for discouragement:

Outsiders:

Nehemiah 4:1–5 NIV

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

The insiders:

Nehemiah 4:10–12 NIV

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

Unity overcomes discouragement

The Tipping point:

A change of mind! Remind your people and your enemy God fights for us

Nehemiah 4:14 NASB95

When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “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 houses.”

Nehemiah 4:15 NIV

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

The key word for this sermon is consistency! Come back to do what you know God has asked you to do and let him bring out the results.

All working with one mind and one accord

Nehemiah 4:16–18 NASB95

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. 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. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.

Nehemiah did not celebrate himself

What is missing in this passage? Nehemiah’s name.

Nehemiah provided the resources needed for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem but above that, he provided the opportunity for everyone of them to gain dignity.

Nehemiah honored those who were invested and built a sense of belonging

I want to be like Nehemiah. I want to keep my eyes open to see what God is doing in the lives of others and take the time to celebrate God in their lives. I dream of the day when the Gathering will become a place where we tell the feats of others. The place where we get to celebrate God is moving in the life of another person without us having to be it. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we became the place where peolpe come to be encouraged and to hear positive talk. If we saw a FB or an Instagram post bragging about one another?

Romans 16:1–16 NIV

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.