Monday, May 7, 2012

Joy [Nehemiah 8:13-18]


Sermon Discussion Questions
  • Ryan talked about the "unspoken" rules his family had when watching a ball game and the way in which following those rules sought to kindle appreciation and joy of the game.  Do you ever think of God's laws as seeking to kindle joy?  Why or why not?  What do you think about God using feasts in order to teach, shape, and kindle joy in his people?
  • Which do you lean more towards-being mistakenly strict (binding the conscience beyond the Word of God) or being mistakenly lax?  What is the balance we are to seek?  Where and how do we see this balance in the text?
  • What do you think about the mandate to feast and party?  Should this change the way we interact with one another?
  • What was the purpose of the booths?  Discuss what role the booths played in both glorifying the Lord and maximizing joy in the people.  How were the booths serving as a "re-representation" of the Exodus?
  • Even in your moments of greatest joy, do you find yourself still longing for something more?  Why is this?  Discuss what it looks like to pursue a holy discontentment.  

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