We left Nehemiah challenging the people of Jerusalem to get the wall built. They agreed, and the work begins:

The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests were up and at it: They went to work on the Sheep Gate; they repaired it and hung its doors, continuing on as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho worked alongside them; and next to them, Zaccur son of Imri. (Nehemiah 3.1, 2, MSG)

With our theme of secular/sacred, laity/clergy, note that the wall was built by untrained wall builders! Read Nehemiah 3 and look at the professions: not a builder among them, as far as we know: priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, government officials, Levites.

It’s amazing what can get done with just the resources you have. Jesus had a pretty motley crew if you look closely…and they changed the world.

 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13, NLT, emphasis mine)