The Grove 10 Years – Week 3

Key Points

A culture committed to biblical preaching is cultivated not only by the preacher but by a people who desire the Word, are attentive to it, and respond to it.

1. 01 The Word of God is the only truth that changes lives, so the preacher is responsible to be faithful while the Holy Spirit does the work of life change.
2. 02 We desire it: in Nehemiah 8 the people themselves asked Ezra to bring the Book, and a preaching culture begins with a people who hunger for Scripture.
3. 03 We are attentive to it: men, women, and children stood attentive from early morning until midday, and how we handle the Word shows how much we value it.
4. 04 We respond to it: the people said "Amen, amen," lifted their hands, bowed low, wept, and worshiped — all with no music present at all.
5. 05 Responding at The Grove looks like staying for the closing song, coming for prayer, processing the Word together, surrendering to conviction, and rejoicing in the truth.

Discussion Questions

1. 01 The people in Nehemiah 8 were the ones who asked for the Book to be brought out. What does your weekly schedule reveal about how much you actually desire the Word of God, rather than simply feeling that you should?
2. 02 The crowd stood attentive from early morning until midday. What specific distractions have you allowed to compete with your attention to Scripture, and what discipline would it take to undo that conditioning?
3. 03 Ezra's people responded with "Amen, amen," lifted hands, bowing low, and weeping — without any music at all. How comfortable are you with that kind of response, and what do you think shapes your answer?
4. 04 The message named five ways to respond: staying for the closing song, coming for prayer, processing the Word with others, surrendering to conviction, and rejoicing in the truth. Which one is hardest for you, and why?
5. 05 What has God spoken through His Word that requires a response from you — something to confess, repent of, obey, forgive, or change?