Text-Driven Preaching

Bible Reading

Introduce James

We were helped tremendously last week in our Wellness WKND

We are looking at some more sermons on that topic, based upon the expressed need in addition to some other topics we will address this year

There is value in topical sermon series. This series has allowed us to discuss different values that really matter to our church.

List 10 Vision Values / Slides

Verse-by-Verse, sequential study will remain the bulk of our diet together.

After Easter we will start a 12-13 week series in the Book of James

We want to avoid the pitfall of custom tailoring Christianity to fit our preferences, and what appeals to us.

We could get a very man-centered picture of Christianity, as opposed to what happens when the Word does the work and we walk through the Word together.

Our prayer when we meet is.. [Slide]

“The Spirit of God will work through the Word of God, in the lives of the people of God.”

Have you ever been at a church that had you stand for the reading of the Bible

Look down at v.6 you will see a word that you will repeat twice when we get to it.

Nehemiah 8:1–8 (KJV)

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Sermon Introduction

The story of Nehemiah starts with a cub bearer with a holy discontent for the condition of his hometown.

Ch. 1 Nehemiah hears from his brother the condition of hometown and goes to God in prayer.

Ch. 2 Nehemiah had found favor with the kind of Babylon and secured permission and resources to return to Jerusalem

Ch. 3 the rebuilding begins - the project will only last 52 days - “next to him” is repeated often

Ch. 4 External opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah criticizing their work - conspired to stop the work - workers with a sword on their side.

Ch. 5 Internal opposition. The people are tired and hungry. Mortgages begin to default. They start selling their kids into slavery.

Ch. 6 Sanaballat and Tobiah know the work is about done and slander Nehemiah saying “everyone believes you want to be king.” and tries to bait him into a conversation in the house of God. Nehemiah basically says “the innocent have no need to hide”

Ch 7 is a list a modern writer might put in appendix; list of exiles who has already returned to Jerusalem

Inspired tribute to the 2%ers who had left the comfort of Babylon

Similar to a list of soldiers who died in battle / this is 100 years after 1st exiles returned

Nehemiah knew the current generation needed the resolve of the last.

Nehemiah was doing so much more than building a wall.

Now we are at Ch 8 this is called a “holy day”

Ezra, a scribe-priest is reintroduced.

He had arrived 14 years earlier. He had been teaching people the Word of God

Nehemiah builds a pulpit for his co-laborer. v.4

Through Ezra's work, we see a vivid example of how God renews his people with his Word.

Develop a reverence for the Word of God

Daily respond to the truth of God’s Word

Determine to rightly apply God’s Word

Develop a reverence for the Word of God

Nehemiah 1:3 “3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

Nehemiah knew the renewal he hoped for required more than rebuilt walls—the people had to become a Bible-centered people.

The Word of God did not have its rightful place among them

Chapter 7, which is a detailed chapter on organizational structure

Well-ordered

Well-defended

Well-governed

The wall reconstruction project had been completed and the people had moved into their own dwellings.

It is not enough to have a well-constructed city if there is little or no life on the inside.

“Many a church is like an impressive machine I once read about. It had hundreds of wheels, cogs, gears, pulleys, bells, and lights, which all moved or lit up at the touch of a button. When someone asked, "What does it do?" the inventor replied, "Oh it doesn't do anything, but doesn't it run nicely?"- Charles Swindoll

Nehemiah didn’t want to put a wall back. He wanted to exalt the Word of God among the people. He wanted to help build a community centered on the Word of God.

1. Preparation was made for the preaching of the Word

Nehemiah 8:1 “1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.”

We are not the Jewish community, 1000 years after Moses and 400 before Jesus, nor am I a priest or scribe. But you should expect when I come up here that I “bring the book.” / Young people when you are in a position to need to find a church. Look for a place that “brings the book.”

It is the book the Lord commanded. v.1

It is the law of God’s people v.2

Priests were scattered around the congregation to help people understand the law. v.7

Ill. Being with Das at Capital Bible Church in New Delhi when he saw everyone get their Bibles and prepare for the sermon

The teaching from the Bible was central to their meeting.

Nehemiah 8:4 “4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose;

Ezra stood upon the pulpit. The Word is elevated.

Ezra opens the Word and everyone stands. v.5

They stood in attention for 6 hours. v.6

Different context today, but we are to show the same reverence for the Word. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

This is why I like the Bible Reading in our services to be a separate event before the special.

We show honor to the Word as they did in this passage by standing up.

Students arrive here at 8:30 am and we pray “Father help us remove the distractions from this place so your Word will be heard.”

2. Preparation was made by the teacher

Ezra Prepared his heart for the work. Ezra 7:10 “10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

This is a spiritual endeavor.

The church set men aside in Acts 6 to help protect the sacredness of the ministry of the Word

Ezra knew his responsibility to help them understand. Nehemiah 8:8 “8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Men and women understood what they heard. v.2

Others walked among them helping them understand. v.7

Biblical exposition—teaching the Bible in a way where it is clearly presented to God's people.

This is the work Paul told Timothy to do. 1 Timothy 4:13 “13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

Preach the Word, not about it, around it, about it, or just holding it. 2 Timothy 4:2 “2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

This is what we have asked of every Bible teacher in this church.

3. Preparation was made by those who would be active listeners

Nehemiah 8:6 “6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

They asked for the Book v.1

Their ears were attentive to the Book v.2

They stood when it was opened. v.5

They lifted their hands, bowed heads, and worshipped. v.6

Strong case for personal Bible Study

Why is this largely neglected when we have more access than ever before and fewer denomination and false Christian religions preventing personal study?

Liberal theology or apathy about letting the Bibel shape our lives.

Biblical criticism saying the Bible can’t be trusted.

Option I had not considered until recently.

"Our culture tells us that apart from technical professional stuff, only a smattering of knowledge about anything is needed to see us through, so that it would be rather naive for a Christian to spend much time learning details of any sort about Christianity. But the truth is that as the desire to learn what God has revealed in Scripture, so that we may serve him by response to his Word, is Spirit-given and enlivening, so a lack of willingness to do so is Spirit-quenching and deadening." - J.I. Packer, A Passion For Faithfulness

Daily respond to the truth of God’s Word

What is the first response to the 6 hour Bible study?

Nehemiah 8:9 “9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”

Not brought out by a sensational preacher but simple exposition.

They are grieved by the gap between who they should be and who they have become.

As we saw 2 Timothy 3:16 the Word is profitable for correction.

Conviction and confession are part of the normal rhythm of our Christian lives.

Look 24 days ahead at the start of ch. 9

A good recipe for believers, read the Word together, make a confession of sins to God and worship in truth.

Nehemiah 9:3 “3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.”

What did they confess. Nehemiah 9:33 “33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:”

Nehemiah and Ezra and the Levites knew that, on this occasion, the people should not mourn or weep

Nehemiah 8:9 “9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”

Each time they say that, they make it the reason why the people should stop weeping:

“This day is holy unto the Lord, mourn not or weep” 8:9

“This day is holy unto our Lord, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” 8:10

Again, “This day is holy, neither be ye grieved” 8:11

They had understood something correctly back in verse 8, but evidently not everything.

They were weeping in response to this understanding. But in verse 12 they stopped weeping and rejoiced “because they had understood what was declared to them.”

This is not a weeping for joy. This is a weeping for failure.

They were grieved over having disobeyed God for so long.

That is a proper response to the holiness of God but it is not, if the weeping lingers too long.

A holy response to the holiness of the merciful God of Israel is not simply weeping.

God was giving them another opportunity to repent, turn, and walk with Him

What do they propose as an alternative to this weeping and grieving?

Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready” 8:10&12

Nehemiah 8:10 “10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The “joy of the Lord” is the rejoicing that replaces the grieving.

Time of the calendar year was the Feast of Tabernacles

They were a historically imperfect people, but God had made a way for them to be forgiven!

It was a time of celebration!

Even though tradition did not tell them to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (it had not been done since the days of Joshua), they relied on God’s word, not on tradition.

The Feast of Tabernacles was all about remembering how God had blessed and provided for Israel in the wilderness during the Exodus.

They had found joy in receiving grace!

Transitional Statement: We will see their response to the Word in a very real way as they gather supplies for the Feast of Tabernacles

Determine to rightly apply God’s Word

Back to main verse: Nehemiah 8:8 “8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Application is where the battle is won.

Matthew 4:5–7 “5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

Jesus did not debate Satan’s translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

The understanding of Scripture is shown in the application.

The fathers returned he second day to have better understand God’s Word. v.13

They had found something. Nehemiah 8:14 “14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:” / look back at 8:2 to check your calendar

All that they were to do was explained in Leviticus 23

They went out to the hills around Jerusalem and cut down branches v.15

The beautiful sequence

God uses Ezra and the other teachers to help the congregation understand the Scriptures.

The people emotionally responded to the Word with mourning (and then joy).

The people responded to the Word with obedience.

And what resulted?

Nehemiah 8:17 “17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.”