An Attitude of Gratitude: Part 2 – Walls and Bridges

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
The talk will be available clicking here from 10am on Sunday 20th March.
 
Once you have listened, here are some questions to consider:
 
Readings:

Nehemiah chapter 8 verses 1 to 12

All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.



Prayer & Reflection
 
Lord God, thank you for the bible which defines your will and our identity and purpose. Your laws and guidance help us to build the spiritual walls needed to resist the evil in this world.

Please forgive us whenever we take the bible for granted and show ingratitude for the word that you have given us, we are truly sorry.

Lord God, we ask that you fill us with your spirit so that we have a similar reaction to hearing or reading the bible that the Israelites had when they heard Ezra reading your word in Jerusalem; filled with praise and gratitude!
And we ask that having built and secured our spiritual walls, you would help us to build bridges into our community by sharing the light of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In his precious and powerful name we pray.

Amen.



Questions to Consider
1) Do you consider your bible to be your ‘life handbook’? How often to you read it? Would reading it more help you? Why don’t you read it more?
2) Are you grateful for the bible? How do you show your gratitude?
3) What is your response to the proposition that the church in general needs ‘spiritual walls’? Whether your answer is that it does or doesn’t, why do you think that?
4) If you think that ‘spiritual walls’ are necessary, do think that these have been breached in recent years? If yes, in what way?
5) It is sometimes stated that ‘the church needs to be more relevant’ What do you think people mean by that? What could the church do to be more relevant? How will we know when we are relevant enough?
6) Do you think that part of the mission of the church is to build bridges into the community? (Ref. Matthew 28:19) If yes, how can we do that more effectively?
7) Do you think that people who are not Christians are clear about what the Christian Church stands for? If no, what might change that?
8) Following on from 6), do you think that Christians are clear about their identity and mission? If no, how can we change that?