Spurring One Another on Towards Love and Good Deeds

READING OF THE WORD

Hebrews 10:24 NASB 2020

and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,

Ephesians 2:10 NASB 2020

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

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Loving God, as we gather together today, open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Let Your Spirit guide us and give us understanding. May Your truth transform us, and may we rediscover the joy of community and Your presence. Speak to us now, Lord, and help us live out Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

GETTING STARTED

Today there will be congregations all over our nation who gather to take part in a National Back to Church Sunday initiative. It is an intentional effort to reach out and invite our friends and neighbors to come see what church is all about. So, first, I would like to say thank you for joining us this morning. We understand that for some of you, this might be your first time in a church ever, or perhaps it's been a while since you last attended. You might have certain expectations or feel a bit anxious about what today will be like. I would like to put your mind at ease: we are absolutely thrilled to have you here.

Our purpose is not to judge, lecture, or ask you for money. We are here to welcome you with open arms, introduce you to Jesus, and share the hope and love that His church brings to the world. Today, we want you to feel at home. Whether you're just curious, seeking answers, or looking for a community, you belong here.

For centuries, God has used groups of people, just like us, who have followed Him and dedicated themselves to being a part of His Kingdom in order to reach out in service to the world. The Church has played a significant role in society and contributed to some of the most amazing developments the world has ever seen. From education, to healthcare, food banks, to homeless shelters, the Church has been at the forefront of human rights activism and social justice initiatives. Without a doubt, God has been on the move through a mosaic of unique and diverse people within churches, both big and small. Only God could mesh so many together to orchestrate in harmony the church.

The church is like an orchestra. Each musician plays a different instrument, but all follow the conductor’s lead to create beautiful harmony. In the same way, God orchestrates the church, using each person’s unique gifts to fulfill His purpose. Alone, we may sound incomplete, but together, under God's direction, we become a powerful symphony that glorifies Him and serves others. Just as no instrument can play the whole piece alone, no one believer can fulfill God’s plan without the rest of the body of Christ.

God needs you on the team. We need you on the team to create a beautiful melody for the world to hear.

POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB 2020

and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

The book of Hebrews was written by an unknown author as a letter to encourage the early Christians to remain dedicated to their faith in Jesus. They were facing persecution and false teaching that were threatening to cause them to abandon the convictions and the Church. But the author knew that it was paramount that their readers would stay strong because the growing Church was destined to be the hope of the world. So, they write this in chapter 10.

We are given two challenges:

To spur on one another

Provoking one another to press on so we ensure that we don’t neglect the gathering of the Church for the work of God.

To motivate one another

To live out the faith:

In our relationship with Jesus

In our service to others.

Each one has to do their part, even if it seems insignificant for the Kingdom of God.

God takes the insignificant and makes it significant and powerful.

THE CHURCH SERVES BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE, NOT TO EARN IT

Jesus did not just tell us to serve others in love, he demonstrated it for us. The Bible tells us that it was God’s love and grace that motivated Him to give Jesus to Earth (John 3:16) in the first place. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are all examples of the kind of love God has for each and every one of us. Paul writes about this in a passage in the book of Ephesians as well. This is one of my favorite passages of scripture because it is Paul’s way of reminding us that we all have a part to play as a part of the Church.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB 2020

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

It is by God’s grace that we have been saved.

It is the free gift of God, no strings attached.

We must put our faith in God for our works to bear fruit.

Our works do not save us but show our faith in action.

God calls us to serve.

Works without faith is dead.

God has a masterful and beautiful plan for the church.

We are given a special purpose and plan.

We are God’s masterpiece.

We are created in his image.

His plans for us are beyond our wildest dreams.

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB 2020

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God’s plans for us:

Prosperity

God wants to bless us.

A beautiful future

He wants us to live life to the fullest.

To give us hope

Hope that will not disappoint.

Hope that will be magnified in the Church.

God plan was for all things to stay within his plan.

Sin tarnished his plan & he set up the law and spoke to his people through the prophets, pointing to something greater.

Jesus comes to earth as one of us, to live, suffer, die, and rise again to new life.

The Holy Spirit decends to dwell in us and founds the church to love, serve and point others to Jesus.

One day, all will be well when God restores all things to newness of life and he will live in our presence forever.

This is God’s masterful plan. This is God’s love story to us. It is the Good News when all we hear is bad and discouraging news.

LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS SHOW OUR CONNECTION TO CHRIST

All of this is why it is so important for you and me to get back to church. This is why it is so important for the Church to be full of people who are eager to serve their communities by love and good deeds. It is because ultimately, our service to the world is the way that we can show others that we love Jesus… and the church is where we encourage one another, spur one another onward to the love and good deeds we’ve been created for.

This is a claim that Jesus made himself in the Gospels. Toward the end of His ministry, He wanted to give a final charge to His followers. Here is what He said.

John 13:35 NASB 2020

By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

People don’t know us by our church attendance.

People don’t know us by the number of Bible verses we have memorized.

People don’t know us by what we give in the offering plate.

The world will know that people in the Church are disciples, followers, students of Jesus is by the way they love.

If I was arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

What does love look like?

Meeting practical needs

Forgiving someone

A smile or hello in Walmart

How can you love others? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in loving others.

Remember the source of love: Jesus hanging on a cross, giving his life for us so that we could have life. He switched places with us.

"Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor, act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." (C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity”)

So, let us not grow tired of gathering together. The church is where we find encouragement, hope, and instruction for how to live as followers of Christ.

TO SUM IT UP: Being a part of the church means that I am a part of God’s good work in the world. I can make a difference by the way that I love others.

WRAPPING IT UP

For those of you who are here with us today for the first time, or the first time in a long time, I want to say again that we are so grateful you came to join us today on National Back to Church Sunday. I pray that you would leave here knowing that you too are uniquely designed and created by almighty God for good works in this life. He has a plan and a purpose for you and I would like to be the first to say that we would love to see you back again next week as we continue our teaching in being a people of God’s grace.

You were not meant to walk this journey of faith alone; this is why on the first Pentecost Day, the Holy Spirit descended to found the Church. He is with us always and we are to be with one another; encouraging each other, walking with each other through the mountaintops and valleys of life, to pick you up when you fall and help you to shake off the dust to press on. This church is about loving God and loving and serving others.

Let's pray together.

PRAYER FOLLOWING MESSAGE

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the truth and wisdom of Your Word. As we reflect on the message today, may it take root in our hearts and shape the way we live. Help us not only to be hearers of Your Word but doers, too. Guide us to continually seek You and draw us back to this community, where we can grow together in faith and fellowship. Strengthen our commitment to come to church, where we find support, encouragement, and the joy of worshiping You together. Fill us with Your Spirit, and may we leave this place ready to serve You in all we do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

BENEDICTION

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. As you go from this place, may you walk in His peace, live in His love, and share His light with the world. And may you return to this community, strengthened by His Spirit, to worship and serve Him together. Go in the grace and joy of the Lord, now and always. Amen.