SUMMARY: Bestseller
OVERVIEW: Ezra read and preached from God’s word. The people stood out of respect and worshipped God through praise and obedience.
BIG IDEA: God’s word gives life.
KEY VERSE: Nehemiah 8:5–6 (Nehemiah reports)
Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
Read my word. Enjoy it and love it. Let it breathe life into your heart and soul. Let it comfort and encourage you. Let it instruct and guide you. It is for you, but it’s also for your community of faith. Gather with other believers to hear my word. When you listen to it together, you can live it out together. You can worship me as one and confess your sins to one another.
My word is for all, so invite others to listen and obey. But don’t just read it. Do everything possible to make it clear. Provide meaning and answer questions. Illustrate it and help others know that my word is alive. My Spirit will prepare you and the listeners, but put energy and effort into ensuring my people understand so they can obey my word. My word is living and active, and I want people to respond to it in the same way.
NEXT STEP
God’s word is a gift and your life source. Read it. Enjoy it. Obey it.
LYRIC VIDEO