Preparing for the Lord's Day
Rebuilding the Kingdom
Trumpets are meant to be loud. And for good reason. They are an instrument that is designed to announce and communicate. When you hear a trumpet, you pay attention. Growing up on military bases I remember the fast-paced morning reveille as the flag was raised and the low sonorous evening taps as the flag was lowered. The trumpet would announce when the day began and when it was over. In Biblical times the trumpet was used in a similar fashion. It was used to announce, communicate, and call for people’s attention. Trumpets were used during battles for issuing signals and for making or breaking camp. The prophet Ezekiel tells us that a watchman would blow the trumpet to warn the people of a coming invasion. In Joshua, we read that on the seventh day of marching around the city of Jericho the priests blew the trumpets the people shouted and the walls came tumbling down. And we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 that when the Lord Jesus returns he will,
descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
When the trumpet sounds, the people are called to listen and respond to what is being announced. In our text for this Sunday God’s Word acts as the trumpet. Like a trumpet call, the Word of God is an announcement to which we must pay attention. It is a proclamation that we must understand. The Word of God is a declaration that we must respond to in faith and obedience. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Nehemiah 8, Luke 24:44-45, Romans 6:23, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 2:5, and Westminster Shorter Catechism #90.
As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “To God Be the Glory,” the Acclamation of Praise, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” and the Hymn of Response “Love Divine, All Love Excelling.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: Nehemiah 8
Title: Transformed by the Word
- Every Christian Must Receive the Word with Reverence (vv. 1-6)
- Every Christian Must Receive the Word with Understanding (vv. 7-8)
- Every Christian Must Receive the Word with Faith (v. 9)
- Every Christian Must Receive the Word with Obedience (vv. 10-18)