Paul continues to address the Corinthians' pride regarding who they have received their understanding of who Jesus is and what He taught by giving them a sober reminder that they don't know as much as they think they do. Their immaturity was demonstrated by believing they had all the knowledge they needed. He calls them to return to reality by appreciating how much more they need to learn and appreciate about the simplest of truths that it will take an eternity to fully appreciate.

1. Maturity is a healthy understanding of how much more you need to know.

2. A Mystery from God isn't something hidden and unknown, but something continuing to be revealed.

3. The Holy Spirit is the only reason we are aware of our need for Jesus. We also need Him to grow closer to Him.

Nehemiah 9 is the longest prayer recorded in scripture. Due to the fact it was biblically informed and essentially summarizes the first 7 books of the Old Testament, it serves as a reminder to us of what an informed and practical prayer life looks like.

1. Prayer should be to an audience of One.

2. God's Word should inform you of the God you're talking to in prayer.

3. God is more capable of keeping His promises than we are in making them.

This is the one chapter in the Bible that is fully dedicated to Isaac, the son of Abraham. During his life we see that he had a sin that came up in his life that was experienced by his father too. God showed up and reveled to Isaac not to flee during a famine but to stay in the Promised land. The land of Canaan. It made no sense, but God assured Isaac that he would be taken care of if he trusted God. Isaac obeys and then proceeds to lie to the king of the Philistines and in turn puts his wife, Rebekah, in a compromising position. God shows great mercy in the life of Isaac in blessing Isaac with numerous wells with water. There is a beautiful heart of Isaac to restore the water wells that his dad had built. In the greater Biblical narratives, we are shows that Isaac indeed is the promised line of Abraham that will produce the redeemer for mankind. We also are reminded that Jesus is our greatest example of how to live. Jesus also in a groom that will never hurt or forsake us. Jesus lastly is our living water that restores and brings times of refreshing in our lives!

Nehemiah gathered with Ezra and the Priests for the first time they got to observe the Feast of Tabernacles since their return from exile. What made the difference between the times before and this moment in history was that they saw it as a joy and enjoyed remembering their history and future.

1. Thankfulness is the willingness to recognize something as good.

2. We do ourselves and our relationships more favors by reminding ourselves of what we have to be thankful for.

3. Our past, present, and future are all centered around our relationship with Jesus.

Paul challenges the Corinthian mindset that they are superior to each other because of the teachers they have for themselves. Using his own example to them, he reminds them the message is more important than the messenger. That message can be eloquent or simple, but it's foundational to start and end all conversations with people about Jesus to actually talk about Jesus.

1. You don't have to know everything to tell someone good reasons to believe Jesus rose from the dead.

2. We all have a story of how God changed our lives. Sharing it effectively should be second nature.

3. The Resurrection of Jesus is the primary argument to the truth of the Bible.

Nehemiah and Ezra host the first public reading of God's Word in Jerusalem since their return from Babylon. It was an emotional experience, but also one that needed to be appreciated as something to celebrate.

1. Gathering with God's people should be an opportunity to share His heart with each other.

2. A legitimate Bible study includes edification, exhortation, and comfort.

3. Joy is the emotional reaction to hope fulfilled.

Paul focuses the Corinthian church from who they are learning about Jesus from back onto what Jesus has actually done for them all.

1. The world's rejection of Jesus isn't rational. It is passionate.

2. The Christian life should center on appreciating what Jesus has done for them.

3. What you do with the cross of Jesus Christ makes all the difference in eternity.

Nehemiah is led by the Lord to record a census of those who were still a part of the work after the time of Ezra upon completion of the wall. In this record, we see the kind of issues God is most interested in.

1. God cares about people individually.

2. God's Word has been reliably preserved and we can verify this archaeologically.

3. The heart we bring to the work of God is just as important as the work itself.

Naomi is a biblical model of motherhood done right. She wasn't perfect. She wasn't a miracle worker. Her kids didn't all turn out great. She simply hung in there and maintained a consistent model of the heart of God. And God used that to bless the entire world in ways she would never know this side of eternity.

1. God's correction is seeking our restoration, not our destruction. 

2. Suffering proves character. It doesn't always build it.

3. God's work leaves us with little to regret if we see it through to the end.

Paul's letter moves from the negative aspects of what doesn't honor the Father into a practical description of what the Father is like according to the example of Jesus.

1. The Christian life is based on the example of Jesus.

2. Jesus' priorities were centered around showing the world what the Father is like.

3. We honor the Father by following Jesus' example of the Father's character.