The Joy of Practical Obedience

Aim: To be a faith-filled, obedient, and hence joyful church.

Doctrine: The church experiences joy as we discover further how our faith-driven love can please God. We find this information in the scriptures as they are ''unpacked'' by Christ's ministers.

Exegesis: Guiding principles for the church's joy in obedience: God would have us know why we do what we do (vv. 13-15); God would have us enjoy wholeness in our devotion to Him (vv. 16-17); God would have us progress from glory to glory (in Christ) (v. 18).

Further application: How the church is to apply this (Nehemiah) text today: let us understand the word of God (generally), and the Feast of Booths (as an example), as always pointing us to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key verse: v. 17 ''So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.''