The Father's Joy in Us

Sermon: Nehemiah 12:27-13:1

Introduction:

Notice 3 things about the joy in Nehemiah 12.
I. It is a joy that recognizes past contributions.
A. The list of names in the first half of the chapter--

II. It is a joy tied to God in 2 ways.
A. Joy in what God has done.

B. A joy that God gives to His people.

III. There is joyful proclamation in 2 ways.
A. In being God’s holy city—set apart for God.

B. Joy before the watching world.

Application:

“Believers have talked about the subject (worship) a great deal; few would argue that the debate has necessarily inspired better worship.  One of the most pressing issues which needs to be at the heart of contemporary discussion is not what pleases us in worship but what most honours God.  All too often the subject is discussed from highly subjective perspectives, and that is not particularly helpful.  We have different, even divergent, preferences, and without help from Scripture cannot confidently assert what pleases God the most in worship.  The purpose of worship is not to provide us with an exultant feeling inside.  Euphoric worship may vary little from the inspiration and delight which a person experiences on hearing a Brahms or an Elgar symphony.  In other words, the value of worship patterns cannot be determined on merely subjective grounds, that is, whether we find it helpful.  What is ‘helpful’ to us, may not even be acceptable to God.”
      - R. Brown, The Message of Nehemiah, p. 206