Spiritual growth happens in a fairly predictable way: read, teach, ask, explain. First, someone reads the Bible. Second, someone does their best to teach the Bible. Third, listeners admit what they don’t understand about the Bible. Finally, someone explains the Bible so listeners can understand.

That’s what happened in Nehemiah 8 at a church service to celebrate the rebuilding of Jerusalem. First, “[Ezra the priest] read [the Law] aloud from daybreak till noon.” Second, “the Levites … instructed the people in the Law.” Third, “all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law,” an emotional admission that they didn’t truly grasp God’s forgiveness for their sins. Finally, “the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for this is a holy day’” (selected verses).

The result? “Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (verse 12). There is “great joy” for those who understand the Word of God.

This means that key habits for your spiritual growth include turning your ear to someone who teaches the Bible and admitting it when you fail to get it. The people of Israel wept due to their ignorance. You might need to ask a longtime Christian an honest question or email your pastor if the sermon went over your head.

Those can be embarrassing moments, but they are what God will use to send you home to celebrate with great joy.