The Principles of Reformation

Aim: To be a revived and reformed church—refreshed by the gospel.

Doctrine: Reformation principles always sweetly ''reunite'' Christ and His church, as God synthesizes His scripture with a living and gracious elucidation of it.

Exegesis: The pastors'/elders' role in the church's reformation: they are to explain God's Word (in a gospel context) (vv. 7-8); they are to apply God's Word (with gospel joy) (vv. 9-10); they are to unleash God's Word (in gospel freedom) (vv. 11-12).

Further application: How the church may again benefit from the principles of reformation: by always finding Christ in the Holy Book, we will always possess hope and life (even in this world).

Key verse: v. 8 ''So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.''