We gather to hear God’s Word preached because when we understand God’s Word we will have joy.

Our present experience of our joy in Christ is sustained when we gather to worship.

God is the source of our joy. Our God is to be worshipped because He is the Mighty Creator and the Merciful Redeemer.

Seeing the extent of God's mercy to us will encourage us to persevere in faith.

We must see the mystery of Israel’s salvation so that God will be praised and we will not be proud.

We must not become proud or unbelieving. God has one olive tree (one people) made up of Jewish and Gentile branches connected by grace through faith in Christ (the fulfillment of the nourishing root of the promise to the Jewish patriarchs).

Israel, olive tree, Israel's future

God does not reject His people. He chooses by grace to save an elect remnant.