• Nehemiah 8:1-12
• Romans 1:16 - We should have reverence and respect for the word of God and take the time to read and study it because it has the power of God behind it and because we need to obey it in order to be saved.
• Ezra 3:1-4- The people stood up and showed respect during the reading of the law and then immediately obeyed what was written.
  • Ezra 3:4 or it could simply be hyperbolic language.

• Acts 10
• He did not assume that he had already done enough.
  • Acts 10:1-6
  • Cornelius was a good man. He was religious and prayed continually. He was not content with his service to God - he wanted to do more if he could.
  • Religious complacency is often one of the first hurdles faced in trying to convert people.
  • Matthew 7:21 - Doctrine matters. We must do the will of the Father.
  • I John 1:6-7
  • Acts 11:13-14
• He was humble enough to obey.
  • Acts 10:5 - For Cornelius, getting corrected by Peter and the angel was not an issue.
  • Acts 22:16 - Are we humble enough to obey when we read passages like this?
• He had a desire to learn more truth.
  • Acts 10:24-27 - Cornelius shows a sincere desire to learn more truth.

• I Peter 2:13 - Like all verses, this one must be harmonized with other verses on the subject. We know from other passages that God’s law takes precedence over man’s law. We cannot submit to government laws that go against God’s law.
• I Peter 2:16 - Some people claim that God’s grace is greater than their ability to sin, which means that their sins will not condemn them. This is false and is exactly what this verse teaches against. Just because God offers us forgiveness does not mean that we can do whatever we want and just ask for forgiveness later.

• We must work to be positive influences within the church. We have to find what we can do to help and take the initiative. We also need to make sure we live righteously in the world and be good examples to those around us.
• In Acts 6, the apostles were overburdened, so trusted men were appointed to share the work. We must share the work in the same way today so that a few people don’t end up having to do everything.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - The value of companionship.

Topic 3: Respecting God’s Law

• Nehemiah 8:1-12- Ezra the scribe reads the law before the people.
  • Notice that the people asked Ezra to read the book of the law!
  • The people stood up when Ezra opened the book. They listened attentively while he read.
• Jeremiah 36:23 - Terrible disrespect is shown to the word of God.

• The saved man is the unit of the local church as well as the universal church.
• Church universal:
  • General relationship (between man and Christ)
  • No organization
  • Independent function
  • No collective oversight
• Church local
  • Special relationship
  • Togetherness
  • A joined fellowship
  • An overseen fellowship
  • Only authorized structure
• The church
  • Universal
    • Membership: Lord adds
    • Fellowship: vertical
    • Discipline: Christ removes
    • Duration: eternal
    • Function: independent
    • Oversight: independent
  • Local
    • Membership: man joins
    • Fellowship: horizontal
    • Discipline: church removes
    • Duration: time, death
    • Function: joint action
    • Oversight: elders
• Let us be content to do God’s work in God’s way!