The Persistence of the Church - Hebrews 10:19-25

INTRO

10AM

This next week I am heading to connect with my A29 Pastors Cohort.

Y’all got to meet some of my friends in June.

First time we got together:

Stories of family drifting from the church

In a meeting I love Jesus, I am trying to be a good person, who cares if I am there consistently or not.

This has become all too normal.

In the shadow of the pandemic gathering with the people of God has become less normative for believers.

In fact looking at it this week pew research estimates that around only 30-40% of professing Christians attend religious services regularly.

In fact the idea of what is considered normal is shifting too.

Regular attendance is considered to be attending at least once a month by many.

That is 12 times a year.

With stats like that it can feel like why persist?

What’s the point? Why keep going?

We are in a series called the dearest place – taken from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon

“Still, imperfect as it is, [the church] is the dearest place on earth to us… It is not an institution for perfect people, but a sanctuary for sinners saved by grace, who, though they are saved, are still sinners and need all the help they can derive from the sympathy and guidance of their fellow believers. The Church is the nursery for God’s weak children where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep—the home for Christ’s family.” _ Charles Spurgeon

Today I want to cast vision for why we should persist. Why we should continue week in and week out to gather together as the family of Christ to make much of Jesus.

My hope is that the Lord would capture your heart to want to make much of Jesus with the people of God.

Here is our big idea today.

Big Idea: The Persistence of the church is built on our shared confidence in Christ.

We are going to see how Hebrews calls us to an amazing confidence in Jesus and how the confidence is amplified in the people of God.

So let’s go to our passage and see first

I. What God Has Done (v.19-21)

Hebrews 10:19–21 (ESV)

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Look what God has done:

This passage encapsulates the profound work Jesus has accomplished for us.

We have assurance!

Several years ago one of the astronauts who walked on the moon was interviewed and asked, “What do you think about as you stood on the moon and looked back at the earth?”

The astronaut replied, “I remembered how the spacecraft was built by the lowest bidder.”

We as Christians can rejoice that the work of salvation did not go to the “lowest bidder” but was performed by an infinite God.

There will never be a deficiency in his work. Our salvation is as sure as the architect of that salvation, Almighty God

We read, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus”.

This isn’t about stepping into an earthly temple but entering into the holy presence of heaven with boldness.

This assurance comes because Jesus has opened a way "by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh” (v. 20).

In the temple there was a substantial curtain acting as a barrier between humanity and God.

When Jesus was crucified this curtain was torn in two (Matthew 27:51).

This was no mere accident; it signified the removal of separation between God and man.

Now, we can come directly into God's presence.

What does this mean for us?

We can approach God, confidently, knowing He hears and loves us.

We can confess sins, not in fear of retribution but with hope of grace.

Jesus provides a "new and living way" to God. "New" signifies a new covenant, and "living" points to our resurrected Savior.

Unlike animal sacrifices which stay dead, Jesus rose and now intercedes on our behalf.

Hebrews 10:21 states, He's “a great priest over the house of God”.

Here, God’s house isn’t a structure but His gathered people.

If we look at Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4:20-23 He emphasized that true worship wouldn't be about a specific place but in spirit and truth.

Today, because of Jesus, anyone from anywhere can draw near to God.

We are given an invitation:

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Unlike the believers of the Old Covenant who might have hesitated, we can approach with full assurance.

This isn’t arrogance but a trust in Jesus' sacrifice.

Our confidence isn’t based on our worth but on Jesus’ redemptive act.

Thus, when we approach God, it's with humility and acknowledgment of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf.

This passage speaks about the condition of our heart.

Through Christ, we approach God "with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (v. 22 ESV) because our hearts have been purified.

As the Old Testament rituals had priests sprinkling blood for purification, in Christ, our hearts are made pure.

In the same vein, like the ceremonial washings of old, in Christ, we’re made clean in God’s sight.

The promise of the Old Testament has been realized.

We're under a new covenant, possess a clean conscience, and have a renewed heart, which allows us to confidently and humbly draw near to God.

Look what God has done.

Now what do we do?

2. What We Do (v. 22-25)

Hebrews 10:22–25 (ESV)

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We Draw Near With Confidence

We Worship with Confidence

We Hold Fast

We Stir Up One Another

We Continue to Gather

We Draw Near With Confidence

Hebrews 10:22: “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Drawing near with confidence is about boldly approaching the throne of grace because of our faith in Christ's finished work.

It's not a misplaced confidence in our own merit, but a recognition that Christ has paved the way for us.

This is an invitation to seek God actively, knowing we are accepted because of Christ.

Set aside a dedicated time each day this week to come before God in prayer.

Approach Him with all your worries, doubts, and joys, remembering that because of Jesus, you have the full confidence to do so.

Reflect on any barriers you feel in this approach and actively work to dismantle them, resting in Christ's finished work.

We Worship with Confidence

Imagine you are preparing to climb a challenging mountain, one that's known for its treacherous paths and sheer cliffs.

This is a climb that no one has ever completed alone.

You are aware of your physical limitations, the mistakes you might make, the lack of experience you might have.

To face this mountain on your own would be foolish.

Your chances of reaching the top would be almost non-existent.

Then, imagine that the world's most experienced mountain climber, known for scaling the most dangerous peaks without a single misstep, offers to be your personal guide.

He knows every path, every rock, and every challenge this mountain holds. He has ropes, harnesses, and all the necessary equipment.

More than that, he knows how to use them flawlessly.

If you slip, he catches you.

If you take a wrong turn, he guides you back to the right path. He's faced every possible challenge this mountain can offer and has overcome them all.

In this scenario, does your confidence come from your own ability to scale the mountain?

No. While you'll still exert effort, your real confidence comes from the expertise and perfection of your guide.

Similarly, in our spiritual journey, we are faced with the mountain of life's challenges and our own imperfections.

On our own, we are destined to falter.

But with Christ as our guide, who lived a perfect life and offers His perfection on our behalf, our confidence is not in our own abilities but in His.

We trust Him to guide us, correct us when we stray, and help us overcome challenges we couldn't face alone.

In our worship, our confidence doesn't come from our perfection but from Christ, our perfect advocate and guide.

We can worship openly and genuinely, unashamed, because of Him.

The next time we sing here is what I want you to fight to do: focus on the character of God and His promises.

Challenge yourself to let go of any reservations or self-consciousness.

We Hold Fast

Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

In a world of changing values and fleeting trends, holding fast to our confession is essential.

This isn't about mere stubbornness but about recognizing the unwavering nature of God's promises.

In the midst of life's storms, it's the anchor that keeps us grounded.

It reminds us that no matter the external pressures, God remains faithful, and therefore, our hope in Him should remain unshaken.

(memorize scripture…what you recall)

We Stir Up One Another

Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

It's not enough to merely focus on our individual spiritual journeys.

The Christian life is communal.

There was a church member who had previously been attending services regularly, who suddenly stopped coming to church.

After some weeks, the Pastor decided to visit the absent member.

It was a chilly evening, and the minister found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair by the fireplace, and waited.

The minister made himself comfortable and said nothing.

In grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the fireplace.

Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow, but then its fire was no more and it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greetings. But as the minister rose to leave, the host said, “Thank you so much for your visit—and especially for your fiery sermon. I’ll be at church next Sunday.”

We're called to encourage, challenge, and motivate each other.

Like embers in a fire, when gathered, we burn brighter and hotter.

Separated, our fervor can quickly wane.

We're a community that pushes each other towards love and action, never settling for complacency.

We Continue to Gather

Hebrews 10:25: “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

The gathering of believers isn't just a routine; it's a lifeline.

In our gatherings, we find strength, encouragement, correction, and love.

Imagine a lone pine tree, vulnerable to strong winds and erosion. Now, picture a dense pine forest where trees' roots intertwine, giving each tree strength and support.

In harsh conditions, these interconnected trees protect and bolster each other.

Individual believers can feel the pressures of life intensely when isolated.

But when gathered, like the pines, their shared faith intertwines, offering mutual strength and support.

In these gatherings, believers find the tangible love and strength of God, leaving fortified and ready to face the world's challenges.

There are a ton of ways to encounter God's word in our modern world, there's something irreplaceable about the face-to-face fellowship of believers.

It's in these moments that we are often reminded of God's tangible love, as expressed through His people, and are fortified to face another week in the world.

With all these challenges in what we are called to do, here is the point I want to lang on this morning: Why We Should Persist.

We need to answer the question, why do we keep going?

3. Why We Should Persist (v. 24-25)

Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

We see what God has done, we see what we do in response.

But here is the question I wanna ask, why keep doing it?

Why do we keep going?

Why persist.

vs 23.

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

God is faithful but we are forgetful

Hannah encouraged and reminded me recently when I was struggling:

Isaiah 26:3–4 (ESV)

You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Why do this? Because He is faithful.

Because he is worth it.

The Problem.

We have devalued our faith.

We’ve devalued church.

We’ve devalued the gathering.

Calendar is king

Kids sports and activity schedules are king

This societal shift has led to an unfortunate outcome: isolation.

When the act of community becomes secondary, we're left feeling alone, convincing ourselves in our solitude that "no one cares about me."

Let me ask is our faith genuine?

Francois Fenelon was the court preacher for King Louis the 14th of France in the 17th century.

One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher.

King Louis demanded, “What does this mean?”

Fenelon replied, “I had published that you would not come to church today, in order that your Majesty might see who serves God in truth and who flatters the king

“The point is not that attending church makes you a Christian. The point is that attending church is what Christians do. It demonstrates that the Spirit of Christ is in us, and therefore we desire to be with Christ's people.” Jonathan Leeman

In my own life, the power of the church community became evident during personal tragedies.

Many of you have heard me talk about 2017 and our loss how the church loved us.

Tragically we experienced the same thing last December.

The way you surrounded and loved on us.

It was overwhelming.

Meals, gifts, prayer, encouragement.

We found out we were supposed to have a girl. We named her lily rose.

We recieved a beautiful letter, with a lily.

We were so shocked and blessed by the thoughtfulness and God’s kindness through his people.

Friend I know we have a lot going on in our lives.

But what if we viewed the church as a family?

What if we saw the Sunday gathering as significant.

What if we planned around it, instead of it being the first thing to fall off?

“Staying home to ‘watch church’ is like staying home from a friend’s wedding to watch the ceremony virtually. And keeping your wedding gift with you. Your presence and solidarity and love and hugs and eye contact and singing are needed. It’s not just about passively receiving something. It’s about being an embodied part of the celebration. The whole event is diminished by your absence. And you have a gift to give.” Dane Ortlund

What if instead of coming to church expecting much we came saying, who would you have me pour into? Who should I stir up lord?

(Those Sundays add up. Like bedtimes, etc.)

What if we persisted.

Gathering week-in-week out to see Jesus be made much of?

Imagine the transformation, the sheer outpouring of joy, if we gathered weekly with this renewed purpose—to exalt Him.

I think we’d see heaven on earth.

Application Questions:

Do I genuinely embrace the reality that I can approach God with confidence because of Jesus?

How can I better contribute and connect with my church community?

Do I view my church as family, and what's hindering this perspective?

Have distractions shifted my focus from God and my church community? How can I refocus?