First Things, First

Aim: To put first things, first, by loving Christ supremely.

Doctrine: There is a natural order of life in the church (kingdom) of Christ. This starts with the regulated worship of God, and it envelops covenant family and culture norms.

Exegesis: Why putting first things, first is important: because nothing matters if God is not worshipped (on His terms) (v. 1); because nothing prospers if other churchmen are not endued with responsibility (v. 2); because nothing endures if the church is not diligent (in safeguarding the gospel) (v. 3).

Further application: How to maintain a first things, first worldview: initially, by recognizing how hard this is to do; and then, by remembering what Jesus did for us, His church.

Key verse: v. 1 ''Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed...''