Three movements:

Returning | Rebuilding | Renewal

Ezra 1-6 | Ezra 7-10

Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua. lead the return and rebuilding of the Temple. Ezra leads a return and restoration of Torah and temple.

Nehemiah 1-7

Nehemiah leads a return and rebuilding of the city walls

Nehemiah 8-9 | 10-13

Covenant Renewal and Revival.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle,

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

And there was very great rejoicing. ¹⁸ And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

Big Idea: Nehemiah highlights what it looks like living under God’s word and the JOY in obeying the scriptures.

Self Feeders | 1^st Handers.

Exegesis

Theology

Life

Self Feeders | 1^st Handers.

Really Read

Really Know

Really Live

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

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• God’s people happily act accordingly.

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• God’s people experience joy in obedience.

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

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• God revealing Himself through His word is the lens for our lives.

Nehemiah 8:1-12

¹ And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel….

³ And he read from it…And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law….

⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

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• God revealing Himself through His word is the lens for our lives.

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• We make decisions to see whether that lens is what we look through in our life or not.

Who sits on the throne of our heart?

God through His word

LIFE

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Who sits on the throne of our heart?

God through His word

I am my own authority

LIFE

God through His word

LIFE

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

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• God’s people happily act accordingly.

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Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle,

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle,

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

• God’s people happily act accordingly.

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• The correlation between God’s direction and our action.

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HEAR THE WORD/DO THE WORD

HEAR THE WORD/DO THE WORD

OPTION 1: God says it, so we do it (I save myself by obeying the laws of my religion).

HEAR THE WORD/DO THE WORD

OPTION 1: God says it, so we do it (I save myself by obeying the laws of my religion).

OPTION 2: God says it, we meditate on it until we feel it, then we do it (you may possibly be waiting a long time).

HEAR THE WORD/DO THE WORD

OPTION 1: God says it, so we do it (I save myself by obeying the laws of my religion).

OPTION 2: God says it, we meditate on it until we feel it, then we do it.

OPTION 3: God says it. We move forward out of the affection for the Glory of God and do it OR we confess a lack of affection, pray for affection, and move forward in faith.

Nehemiah 8:1-12

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words…

Nehemiah 8:1-12

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words…

Nehemiah 8:1-12

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words…

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

• God’s people happily act accordingly.

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• The correlation between God’s direction and our action.

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• Our ongoing spiritual transformation is lived from the inside, out.

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The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Truth + Experience

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Facts + Feeling

The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Truth + Experience

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Facts + Feeling

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

The Dashboard Lights of Faith.

• God’s people pursue God through His word.

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• God’s people happily act accordingly.

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• God’s people experience joy in obedience.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”¹⁶ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

And there was very great rejoicing. ¹⁸ And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

And there was very great rejoicing. ¹⁸ And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

• God’s people experience joy in obedience.

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• Nehemiah starts with the big lens.

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The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Joy/grieving obey

LAW of God (Torah)

Nehemiah 8:1-12

¹ And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses

³ And he read from it…And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 

⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, 

⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God,

Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle,

The Faith Process

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Head Heart Behaviors

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LAW Joy/grieving obey

Who sits on the throne of our heart?

God through His word

I am my own authority

LIFE

God through His word

LIFE

• God’s people experience joy in obedience.

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• Nehemiah starts with the big lens.

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• Nehemiah uses the small lens for a specific situation.

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Nehemiah 8:13-18

¹³ On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. ¹⁴ And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵ and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle,

What is the feast of Booths?

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Head Heart Behaviors

The Feasts of Israel – Leviticus 23

Passover

Unleavened Bread

First Fruits

Pentecost

Trumpets

Atonement

Tabernacles

Leviticus 23:5

Leviticus 23:6-8

Leviticus 23:9-14

Leviticus 23:15-22

Leviticus 23: 23-25

Leviticus 23:26-32

Leviticus 23:33-43

The Feasts of Israel Leviticus 23

Passover – Leviticus 23:5

Unleavened Bread – Leviticus 23:6-8

First Fruits – Leviticus 23:9-14

Feast of Weeks or Pentecost – Leviticus 23:15-22

SPRING:

Jewish Calendar

Passover

Unleavened Bread

First Fruits

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Pentecost

First Month – 14^th Day (Friday)

First Month – 15^th Day (Sabbath)

First Month – 16^th Day (Sunday)

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Third Month – 6^th Day – 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits

The Feasts of Israel Leviticus 23

Trumpets – Leviticus 23:23-25

Day of Atonement – Leviticus 23:26-32

Tabernacles/Booths – Leviticus 23:33-43

FALL:

Jewish Calendar

Trumpets

Day of Atonement

Tabernacles/Booths

Seventh Month – 1^st Day

Seventh Month – 10^th Day

Seventh Month – 15^th Day

The Feasts of Purim and Hanukkah

During the course of Jewish history, two more feasts were added.

• Hanukkah (8 days in December) is a celebration of the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the defilement of the Temple by the Greeks, in 165 B.C. It is also known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication (I Maccabees 4:52).

• Feast of Purim (March 16-17) celebrates the survival of the Jews who were marked for death by their Persian rulers in Esther.

What is the feast of Booths?

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Rescued from Egypt

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God’s provision

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Feast of Booths

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Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43

Leveticus 23:33-36,39-43

³³ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ³⁴ “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. ³⁵ On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. ³⁶ For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work. ³⁹ “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day

Leveticus 23:33-36,39-43

shall be a solemn rest. ⁴⁰ And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lordyour God seven days. ⁴¹ You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. ⁴² You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, ⁴³ that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

What is the feast of Booths?

• The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles was a time of celebration as the Israelites rejoiced in God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness.
• During the days of the feast all native Israelites were “to dwell in booths” to remind them that God delivered them out of the “land of Egypt” and to look forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin.

What is the feast of Booths?

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Rescued from Egypt

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Rejoice in God’s provision

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Feast of Booths

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• Creator vs Created.
• Supernatural provision and protection.
• desperate dependent.

Who sits on the throne of our heart?

God through His word

I am my own authority

LIFE

God through His word

LIFE

What is the feast of Booths?

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Head Heart Behaviors

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Rescued from Egypt

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God’s provision

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Feast of Booths

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• Creator vs Created.
• Supernatural provision and protection.
• desperate dependent.

What is the feast of Booths?

THEIR TOWN:

• God provided for His people and protected them for the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land.

OUR TOWN:

• God protects/provides for us as we go through life in the wilderness of this world while our hearts long for eternity.
• He preserves us as we await Jesus’ return and the redemption of our bodies.

• God’s people experience joy in obedience.

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• Nehemiah starts with the big lens.

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• Nehemiah uses the small lens for a specific situation.

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• We have a variety of ways can experience joy in obedience.

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James 1:2-4

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What is the feast of Booths?

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Head Heart Behaviors

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God’s purposes in challenges

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ExperiencingJoy in suffering

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Reflect HEAD/HEART in our demeanor, actions, and decisions.

James 1:2-4

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

MONDAY Matters:

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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• Hear the word (FIGHT FOR YOUR JOY) do the word.

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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• Hear the word (FIGHT FOR YOUR JOY) do the word.
• Anxiousness.

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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• Hear the word (FIGHT FOR YOUR JOY) do the word.
• Anxiousness.
• Provision.

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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• Hear the word (FIGHT FOR YOUR JOY) do the word.
• Anxiousness.
• Provision.
• Joy in the midst of Challenges.

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MONDAY Matters:

• Pray, “God what are you inviting me into today”?
• Invitation into disruption.

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• Hear the word (FIGHT FOR YOUR JOY) do the word.

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• Increasingly live as LIVING PROOF of a Loving God to a watching world (PRAY/WATCH/STEP).

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