Each Person Matters, Everyone Is Needed
VBC Albuquerque · Jul 28, 2024
The sermon explores the message that each individual matters and everyone is needed within the Church, based on Nehemiah's story of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Through the participation of 42 people in 47 working groups laboring together, the sermon demonstrates that no one in the faith community is unimportant or unnecessary.
The first section introduces the story of Nehemiah, a great spiritual leader, when he hears about the difficult circumstances of the Jewish people after exile and the destruction of the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah does not merely sit in sympathy; instead, he takes action and initiates a project to rebuild the city walls. He calls the people: "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we may no longer be in disgrace." This call is not mere words but evidence of God's power at work, empowering the people to act boldly and willingly.
The second section develops the point that this building project was not the work of a single individual or small group, but a cooperative effort of the entire community. Nehemiah 3 records details of 42 named individuals in 47 different working groups, each responsible for a section of the wall that stretched 2.5 miles long. These individuals were not famous or powerful figures, but ordinary people: priests, residents of Jericho, and the daughters of an administrator. They worked "beside each other, next to each other, after each other," without distinction of gender, rank, status, or occupation. The sermon emphasizes that on average each group was responsible for approximately 250 feet of the wall, though this number varied among groups.
The third section applies the message to the practical life of the Church through scriptures about the body of Christ. Using 1 Corinthians 12:12 and 12:18, the sermon explains that the Holy Spirit has arranged the members of the body according to God's design, and each member plays an important role. Just as the wall could not be built without every single part, the Church cannot fulfill its mission if any member is left behind or considered unimportant. The sermon concludes with Isaiah 49:14-16, reminding that even though individuals may feel forgotten or overlooked, God always remembers and cares. Each person is held in the palm of God's hand.
The sermon also shows that Nehemiah's people did not only work on construction but adapted to changing circumstances, working and defending simultaneously. This reflects the flexible spirit and determination of a united community. The central message is that each individual, regardless of position or ability, has an irreplaceable role in God's great work.