Learning About Jesus in His Word

Get a Grip on the Word of God

I want to start off today with an experiment.

I need a volunteer who like Chick-Fil-A to come up on stage with me.

Take the gift card from me while I use an increasing number of fingers to grip onto the card.

It is easy to snatch it away with one finger, but it becomes increasingly more difficult with more fingers.

Our youth group and Young Adults ministry have been going through a study on the foundations of our faith and this analogy of a “five-finger grip” on the Bible stuck with me.

The book breaks down 5 ways we engage with God’s Word that helps us get a grip on the bible in our lives.

Hear God’s Word in sermons and teaching.

Read Scripture regularly.

Study to dig deep and discover meaning.

Memorize verses for ready recall and heart transformation.

Meditate on its truth for lasting impact.

If we are honest, how much of a grip do you have on the Word of God.

For many Christians, what we are doing right now, might be the only finger we have on the bible.

Perhaps you spend some time each week reading the bible, so you might have a couple of fingers on it.

With such a weak grip, no wonder we struggle with direction, battle with sin, are overwhelmed with anxiety, and feel the pressure to give in or give up to the temptations all around us.

The song “Dusty Bibles” by Josiah Queen powerfully points this reality out:

Hey, I've been fine I've been struggling to find some peace of mind It's the problem of our nation and in our generation We're too busy and can't find the time

Are we busy, or is it all a lie?

We got dust on our Bibles, brand-new iPhones No wonder why we feel this way We walk with our eyes closed, blind leading blind folks And I'm done with those idols and dusty Bibles

We are walking through our 4 L Mission statement as a church over the next few weeks.

Our 4Ls are a concise summary of the core rhythms of a healthy church and the life of a growing disciple of Jesus.

We started with the context of our mission, LIVING for Jesus in Community.

Today we are going to focus on the CONTENT of our Mission.

LEARNING to follow Jesus in His WORD (the Bible).

So let’s turn to Nehemiah and see an example of how the Word of God can shape and reform us as we “get a grip” on it.

Context

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah happen within the same time period.

Back in the late 600s BC, after a succession of kings had been unfaithful to God and led the people astray in Jerusalem, God allowed the Babylonian empire to take over and destroy the city and then bring most of the Israelites to captivity in Babylon (the story of Daniel).

After 70 or so years, Babylon is conquered by Persia and the King of Persia grants permission for the Jewish people to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple.

The first 6 chapters of Ezra tell of first people going back into Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple.

60 years pass and then in Ezra 7, we are introduced to the Priest Ezra, who leads the second big group of refugees back into Jerusalem.

For 12 years, Ezra pastors the people, instructing, teaching, and correcting them through the Word.

Until Nehemiah brings the third group in and the two join forces in Nehemiah 8 and that’s where I want to pick up the story.

STAND IN HONOR OF THE READING OF THE WORD

Nehemiah 8:1–6 CSB

1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding.

Nehemiah 8:1–6 CSB

3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Nehemiah 8:1–6 CSB

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

What LEARNING Looks Like

1) A community GATHERED around the Word. (Nehemiah 8:1-6)

It had been almost 100 years since the people had came back to Jerusalem.

They have rebuilt the temple, rebuilt the wall around the city, and began to settle in their homes.

But their spiritual life was still in need of restoration.

Ezra had been teaching and pastoring the people, and, we are told in Ezra 7:10 that it was his mission to study, obey, and teach the Word of God to the people when he came to Jerusalem.

Ezra 7:10 CSB

10 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

The first day of the seventh month was New Years Day for them.

The people gathered in the square and they asked for Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses with him.

There was a hunger for the Word of God among the people.

From daybreak until noon, about 5 hours, the people stood and “listened attentively” to the Word.

Ezra stood on a wooden platform, much like this one, and as he opened the book, the people stood in honor of the Word.

It says also that Ezra “blessed the Lord”, meaning, in a since, that He preached to the people from the Word, proclaiming God’s greatness to the people and drawing them into worship.

And, it says, the people raised their hands and said “Amen” to the words Ezra was saying.

There is something to that response we can all learn from.

Maybe it feels old school to yell “amen” during a service, but an acknowledgment of God’s truth, a way for us to receive it and affirm it, in our hearts and in the hearts of others.

You are participating in the sermon.

The people then knelt low and worshiped with their “faces to the ground”.

There is a unique power in the people of God coming together to hear the Word of God read and preached by a Man of God.

We think what we are doing here is a new invention, but it has been a part of us for 2500 years.

And for 2500+ years, we have seen how the Word of God transforms individuals and communities in ways ONLY IT CAN.

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What we are doing here, gathered in this room today, matters.

It isn’t an obligation, it is treasured appointment with God and His people.

We come here to listen, learn, and be equipped to see the world through eyes opened to what is real, with hears opened to what is true.

To hear God’s voice above all the other voices we hear throughout our week.

This isn’t about feeling guilty about not being here on Sunday. Guilt is a horrible motivator.

It is a plea to see Sundays as a vital, non-negotiable part of your week, so that you can begin to grip the Word of God through hearing, reading, and studying in the context of community.

But it shouldn’t stop there.

Nehemiah 8:7–12 CSB

7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

Nehemiah 8:7–12 CSB

9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:7–12 CSB

11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

2) A desire to DIG DEEPER in the Word. (Nehemiah 8:7-12)

The Levites split the group into smaller groups.

And they read the Word and explain the law to the people.

Ezra and Nehemiah might have created the first small group ministry.

As much as what we do on Sundays is vital to help us grow up in our faith, it is far from sufficient to nurture our faith completely.

Small groups mirror the Levites' ministry:

They “moved among the people” to help interpret God’s Word personally and relationally

Our small groups help us as believers to learn in community, ask questions, and growing deeper in understanding.

It is in these groups that the people “were weeping as the heard the Word of the Law.” (vs 9)

There was conviction that drew them to repentance.

And it is in these groups that the people celebrated together all that they had heard (vs 12)

There was an eagerness to hear and read the Word, and then to know what it means for them.

And this happens best in the context of community.

Small groups (life Groups) give us an opportunity to ask questions, to hear the truth of God’s Word in a more direct and person way, to hear and express our struggles, and receive instruction, encouragement, and prayer guided by the Word.

“Getting a grip” on the Word of God is more than just a Sunday morning thing.

It is personal engagement and engagement together in community.

Nehemiah 8:13–18 CSB

13 On the second day, the family heads of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before the scribe Ezra to study the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month.

Nehemiah 8:13–18 CSB

15 So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.” 16 The people went out, brought back branches, and made shelters for themselves on each of their rooftops and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Ephraim Gate.

Nehemiah 8:13–18 CSB

17 The whole community that had returned from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy. 18 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

3) A joyful RESPONSIVENESS to the Word. (Nehemiah 8:13-18)

Notice what happens in verse 13: the family heads, who had gathered in the square for 5 hours the day before, came back to Ezra desiring to dig deeper.

And they found something they had not seen before. The Feast of Tabernacles.

In Deut 16 and Lev 23, God instituted the 7 day feast as a way of remembering His care and provision for the people while the wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

It seems the people hadn’t celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles for a long time.

So reading about it, they responded without delay, and began to put things together.

It is one thing to hear the word, even to read the Word.

It is another to take what we hear and what we read and let it change and transform us through faith and joyful obedience.

Nehemiah 8:18 CSB

18 Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

They let God’s Word instruct them, guide them, convict them, lead them, and shape them as they submitted to what it said.

There wasn’t just an eagerness to hear, but an eagerness to live out the Word.

The real impact of God’s Word is active obedience and joyful submission.

When we engage with God’s Word, it changes us, or at least it ought to.

When we truly understand what God is saying, the natural result is joyful obedience—doing what He says because we trust and delight in Him.

The Bible does not just inform us, it transforms us, shaping believers to become more like Jesus in every way.

Grasp the Word like your life depends on it...because it does.

Grasp the Word

Hear it

come to church, listen to sermons, join a life group.

Read it

Read the bible daily, for at least 10-15 min.

Find a reading plan and carve out time to read.

Study it

On your own AND in a group.

Get a study bible, invest in a bible commentary, read books.

There are non-Christians who know the bible better than most Christians.

Get hungry for the Word of God. (Jer 15:16)

Jeremiah 15:16 CSB

16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, Lord God of Armies.

Memorize it

Psalm 119:11 ESV

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Jesus says John 14:26

John 14:26 CSB

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

When we store the Word in our hearts, we are giving the Holy Spirit the content to help us remember in moments we need it.

Memorizing is intimidating, but the value far outweighs the cost.

Meditate on it

Not like a Buddhist. We are emptying out mind, we are filling out mind with the Word of God.

Thinking about a passage, praying through a passage, and dwelling on a passage for a period of time.

Instead of just reading quickly and moving on, you “chew on” the words, ask God to help you understand, and let the truth settle in your heart.

It’s a way to connect with God, listen to Him, and grow closer to Him by focusing your mind and heart on His Word.

The people in Nehemiah experienced transformation because they grabbed hold of Scripture with both hands and all five fingers

Challenge: “Will you resolve, like Ezra, to know, obey, and teach God’s Word?

Will you gather, like Israel, to hear, understand, and respond with joy?”

Closing practical step: Pick one “finger” to focus on this week—perhaps starting with reading a chapter daily, joining a Life group, memorizing a verse, or meditating on a passage.

Pray