Church Ministry Matters

Intro

Text - Hebrews 6.9-12

Hebrews 6:9–12 NKJV

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Background

The context

the author was speaking against the immaturity of the saints he was addressing

they were supposed to be teachers already

they needed to be reminded again of the elementary principles of Christ

they were high risk when it came to falling away

The text

on the other hand, although they were slow in knrowth in knowledge, the author found them to be passionate in service

“we are confident of better things concerning you...”

you have ministered to the saints in the name of Christ

you must show the same diligence (in your service) towards your salvation

you must not become sluggish in gaining full assurance of yor hope to the end

The Main Point

Christians should be as passionate in service as they are in their salvation, and vice versa.

those who are eager to be assured of their salvation will also be eager to minister

Those who are eager to minister/serve as doing so because they have been assured of their salvation!

Passion for Christian service should flow from one’s assurance of salvation.

we serve because we have been saved

we serve because we love and honor the name of Christ

we serve because we are following a pattern for Christian living that is fitting for the heirs of the promises of God.

Sermon Points

We serve because we have been saved

salvation first, before service

Romans 6:17–18 NKJV

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 NKJV

9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Hebrews 9:14 NKJV

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

we serve out of love

1 John 4:19 NKJV

19 We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19 NASB95

19 We love, because He first loved us.

1 John 4:20–21 NKJV

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

love is demonstrated in service

Galatians 5:13 NKJV

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

We serve because we love and honor the name of Christ

next to worship, service is the second best way of honoring the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

we follow His life - he came to serve

Mark 10:43 NKJV

43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

We serve because this is the life that is fitting for the heirs of God’s promises

those who inherit the promise are faithful and patient

Hebrews 6:12 NKJV

12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

those who inherit the promises “endure”

Hebrews 10:36 NKJV

36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

those who inherit the promise “dwell together”

Hebrews 11:9 NKJV

9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

Conclusion

God has appointed us all to a fruitful life

John 15:16 NKJV

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

FRUITFULNESS is demonstrated and fulfilled through Christian SERVICE/MINISTRY

Colossians 1:9–10 NKJV

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.