Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

As we continue in our time of worship this morning, we’re going to be studying from God’s Word in Hebrews 2:10-18 if you want to begin making your way there in your copy of God’s Word as we look at what the Champion of His Church has done!

Why do our hearts love a heroic story of someone stepping up and helping turn the tide in a battle or in the middle of corruption?

That plucks our heart strings and moves us often times because we recognize the need for those types of people in our lives today as well.

Perhaps we remember a real-life hero that we know who did something remarkable for someone else at the expense of themselves.

If you look at the movies that routinely make billions of dollars at the box office they might have different characters, but the plots are similar as there is a hero who wins the day.

If you look at best-selling books, the characters and authors might change, but the theme of a hero is often present throughout.

If you look at top news articles, often times the ones that are viewed and shared the most are whenever someone steps up and saves someone else and becomes the hero of the story even though that’s not what they were trying to become.

The same thing is true in our Bible’s.

Think about it this morning, what is your favorite Bible story?

At the Missouri Baptist Convention the bookstore always has dozens of amazing children’s books and Lindsey and I grabbed several for Gabriel… but what’s always fascinated me about most Christian children’s books is the amount of Old Testament stories in them and the relative lack of New Testament stories.

Why do you think that is the case?

Why did Veggietales almost exclusively stick to Old Testament stories?

Because of this love for a hero.

If you look at surveys of people’s favorite Bible stories you discover that people love a hero.

People flock to Noah and the Ark, Moses parting the Red Sea, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and Jonah and the Whale/or fish depending on what team you’re on!

Don’t tell me Christians are immune to loving hero stories, we human too!

But as we begin to study Scripture, especially in Hebrews, we’re reminded that the Bible has many stories that are all apart of 1 massive story of redemption.

Who is the true hero in the true story of David and Goliath?

It’s not David and it’s not you or me… It’s Jesus who gives David strength to do what He does and who slays the giant of sin and death that you or I could never kill on our own.

Jesus is not just an ordinary hero, though.

Jesus is the undisputed champion.

If you like sports there are all sorts of debates about who the greatest of all time is.

Who is the GOAT of basketball, baseball, quarterback?

You have an opinion, your grandfather probably has a different opinion and your grandchild will probably have a different opinion because we like different things and appreciate different talents.

Here’s the thing about Jesus.

He’s the undisputed GOAT.

He’s the champion who doesn’t fail.

He’s the Savior who suffers and succeeds.

He’s the warrior who wins.

He’s the priest who perfects sinners.

He’s the Son of God who gave His life on Calvary and doesn’t bask in His glory and victory… instead he shares that victory with His brothers and sisters even though we did absolutely nothing to deserve it.

Let’s remember what He has done for us today

Jesus was tempted.

Jesus experienced suffering.

Jesus won the victory for His followers.

He is the champion for His people - let’s ask Him to open our eyes and hearts to see the truth of His Word and apply it faithfully to our lives this day.

Jesus: The Source of Salvation (10-13)

In our world that craves excitement, entertainment and experiences, there are times where we pause and wonder what exactly are we doing?

What do we do whenever we worship Jesus?

What do we do whenever we gather at church on Sunday or Wednesday?

Why do we take the time to gather and worship?

Ultimately, we come to church not primarily for ourselves… we don’t come because it’s just what we’ve always done… truly, the reason that we worship is because of Who Jesus is and because of what Jesus has done.

I heard a story from an individual who visited a church on mother’s day and the pastor preached on the joys of motherhood.

Mom’s, is motherhood a joy?

It can be incredibly challenging at times, but we know that life and family are a gift from the Lord.

This individual is listening through this message and he affirms the truth that motherhood is a joy but no where in this message was there a mention of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Friends, if we ever gather for corporate worship and you don’t hear or see Jesus, shame on that pastor - I promise you at FBC Salem, the person at this pulpit will proclaim Jesus.

Because if we come to church and we have fun, sing some cool songs, have a wonderful experience but we don’t see Jesus, we haven’t truly worshipped.

If you look at your Bible and fail to see Jesus, you need to go back and read it again.

It’s always been about Jesus and it will always be about Jesus and everything that we do individually and as a church must be to glorify Jesus!

Why is Jesus such a big deal?

Why must we always proclaim Jesus at this church?

Why is Hebrews all about Jesus?

It isn’t because Jesus makes us feel better about ourselves.

It isn’t because Jesus makes us smarter or wealthier or happier.

It isn’t to unlock our best life now or any of those bumper sticker theology slogans.

Ultimately, the reason we faithfully proclaim Jesus is because He alone saves sinners!

Last week we were reminded that Jesus was God’s Plan A all along and that He came to suffer death in order to save dead sinners.

Isn’t it hard to wrap your mind around God suffering?

We often talk about God creating all things and how He knows all things and how He is in control over all things - we talk often about the deity of Jesus Christ and we occasionally mention the humanity of Jesus Christ.

We’ll talk about how Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem and died on the cross, but we often fail to truly understand that He suffered just like you and I suffer.

In fact, many people today have the same problem that people in the Roman world had, they cannot grasp the idea of a perfect God suffering.

In our minds we’re tempted to think that if we obey perfectly, we won’t suffer!

This is what the Old Testament Law demonstrated, if you obey, you’ll be blessed but if you disobey you’ll have a consequence.

We think the same today - if I just obey God’s Word then I won’t suffer.

What is the problem with this logic, though?

You and I never can obey perfectly.

We all deserve a consequence.

Therefore, God had to do something… God had to take our suffering upon Himself and this is what our text reminds us of today.

In order to bring many sons and daughters to glory, Jesus had to suffer.

This doesn’t mean that Jesus wasn’t already perfect and that through suffering He became perfect… Jesus was perfect and never once failed.

Instead this is in reference to His work as a priest.

He worked perfectly and trusted fully in God even though it means His death.

Through this sacrifice on the cross, Jesus serves as the pioneer, author, founder, or captain of our faith.

The Greek word for that word in verse 10 is “Archegon” and it was used in Greek Mythology to describe Hercules as a champion.

The idea here is that through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, He becomes the champion of all who repent of their sins and place their faith in Him as Lord and Savior.

Again, we love a good champion.

Sometimes, though, champions are a little embarrassed of their teammates.

You’ve never met someone like that, have you?

Someone who acts one way when its just you and them but a completely different way around others because they want to look popular or cool in the eyes of others?

This is all too common in the world of politics, but it must not become the norm in the church because Jesus wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed to call us His brothers and sisters.

If Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us His family members, why are we ashamed to call others ours?

There are some things in life worth being ashamed and embarrassed about.

Whenever I was 3 my parents went out to eat with some friends at a restaurant in Springfield and I had to go to the bathroom and my dad said that he’d take me.

Now I guess I really had to go because I was moving pretty quick and opened the door and my dad was following and we made our way to the bathroom.

After a few moments, though, my dad heard a strange noise and we came to the realization that in my urgency to go to the bathroom, I had gone into the women’s restroom and this was before you might be able to get away with something like that in a larger city!

My dad said, “Joel, I know that we always tell you to wash your hands after going to the restroom, but we’re not going to do that this time.”

I’ve never lived that embarrassing story down and I’m sure that you have an embarrassing story or two of your own! Being ashamed, though, is so much deeper than simply being embarrassed.

Take Peter denying Jesus 3 times before His crucifixion, the feeling that he had is one of being ashamed.

Whenever we fall short and we know that fell woefully short!

Yet, even in the midst of our sin and shame, there is hope and encouragement for the Christian because the Savior of the Universe is not ashamed to call you His brother or sister!

Hold onto that truth in the midst of your uncertainty and frustration.

Jesus wins the victory for His family and congregation.

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8 find their true fulfillment in Jesus as He wins this “for the children that God gave Him” as John 6 tells us.

He is the sinless Savior who dies for sinners and is not ashamed to call you His own - what a joy that this is the Jesus of Scripture!

Jesus: The Redeemer of Rebels (14-16)

Hebrews continues to share with us what exactly Jesus saved us from.

Have you ever wondered that question?

We talk often about how we are saved and how Jesus is the Savior, but what exactly are we saved from?