Meant for More: Meant to Belong (3)

Have students pray before we start.

It has been such an awesome time being here, worshipping with yall. God is on the move here at Southwest Christian Academy. What a blessing it has been to look at this week what it means to know that we are meant for more. It is so awesome that in all the things that God has made. All the stuff that He created, He knew that the world needs you. And even more so, He wants to be in relationship with you and me.

Monday we talked about how we don’t have to be paralyzed by fear. How God wants us to take a bold leap, to be willing to do whatever it takes for others to have an encounter with God. We saw how a group of friends did that for one of their friends who was a paralytic. We saw how they were so willing to do whatever it takes that they tore a part of the roof of the house where Jesus was just so that their friend can have an encounter with Jesus. We shared about how so many of us have been paralyzed by fear.

We learned that there is a better way. That there is a way that we no longer have to be paralyzed by fear of stepping out in faith. That way is through Jesus. Who believes in us. Who sees us for who we really are and loves us just the same. But we have to be willing like the friends in this story, like the paralytic, we have to be willing to let go of our fear, breaking free of being paralyzed and trust in Him. And as hard as that is, it is one of the most freeing things we can experience. We are no longer who we once were. We are no longer living in the pain of being paralyzed by our fears, our sins, our past. We are set free!

Yesterday we learned how God begins a good work in us. That when He calls us to do something, that He is the one doing the work and He invites us to join Him. Not only does God begin a good work in us, but He sees it through. Until Jesus comes back, God will always see us through. The thing that He is calling us to do, He will see us through.

This not only affects us, but it leads to a legacy of future believers and how they respond to what God is wanting to do in their lives. It even leaves a legacy for those who are not followers of Jesus to see how God worked in us. And because of that, they will put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

With preparing through this week, praying about the direction of what God wants me to share with yall, I talked to you yesterday about how God redirected me. And I feel like it is because what we have talked about so far has led to what I’m going to talk today. So often we talk about God calling us to do something and we focus on it being just us and God. And while that is what it means to have a relationship with God, there’s more to it than that. The truth is that we are not meant to do life alone. We are meant to do life together. And when we do life together, we become stronger to following after God because we aren’t doing it alone. If you get nothing else today, get this: being part of a Christian community provides strength, encouragement, and accountability that helps each believer live our their faith boldly and joyfully. We are to do life together, whether that is in a church community, with our friends, or even here at school. It matters in our faith walk how we treat others.

In the book of Hebrews, we learn about what it means to show our faith to step out in faith and be bold. In Hebrews 11, we have what is called the Hall of Faith, where we see all of these great but imperfect people of the faith live out what it means to obey God. What it means to step out in faith and do something bold. But a few verses before that, is where our passage is today. The writer, who we don’t know who wrote, starts the chapter talking about the need for Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. How in the past, the only way for people to come to God was through Sacrifice. And even then it was only by way of someone else who would be a go between with God and them. How even in worship, that they were separated from God by a curtain. But when Jesus died, that all changed. That because of His sacrifice, we no longer have to sacrifice - all we are to do is believe.

He then goes on in the passage that our passage is in talking about how we are to live out our faith focusing on living for God. That becasue of Christ’s sacrifice, we have direct access to God. And that we get to boldly do it together. And this is where our passage picks up this morning. In Hebrews 10:23-25 it says:

Hebrews 10:23–25

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

1. Hold Fast to Hope

Hebrews 10:23

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”

What is to me kinda interesting is that Scripture here says “Let us” not you. Us. We live in a world that is so very self focused. From commercials to music to everything, there’s like this unhealthy focus on self. How it is all about you.

But with our faith, we are not meant to go at it alone. You and I, if we are followers of Christ are to do life together in community. That’s why Scripture says “Let us.” You and I as believers need each other. While we stregthen our faith through pray, study, and worship, we also stregthen our faith in community together. By sharing each other’s care and concerns. Sharing each other’s burdens.

You are not meant to live a life of faith in Christ alone. If you are trying to do that, you will fail because you are trying to do it on your own. You need community. You need other believers lifting you up. Encouraging you on. That’s why Scripture says for us to hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering. Not just you and I, although that is what we are to do as individuals.

This may sound hard for some of you. Those of you who pride yourself in being all on your own. Maybe because you’ve been hurt. I get it. Life is uncertain. And people are not perfect. So for you this idea to find strength in other believers is hard. Maybe it is because you have never accepted Christ to begin with. What I can promise you this, if you’ve never trusted in Jesus, I want to challenge you to do so. Maybe you’ve put trust in things and people and they’ve let you down. Maybe its stuff. And you realize that those things are not enough. That’s because that isn’t the foundation that you should base your life on - it is Jesus.

And one of the amazing things is that we get to do faith together. Holding on together to Christ. To the truth that we serve a God who loves us. Because of what Jesus did. And that Jesus never abandons His people. He becomes the anchor for us.

2. Heartfelt Encouragement

Hebrews 10:24

“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,”

When we are following God together in community, it inspires us. To be more Christ like in our actions and in our obedience. You and I are called to support each other. To lift each other up. Did you know that there is something powerful about when we as believers gather together in community. Whether it is in a church setting, here at school, or with godly friends. I believe that it is because Christ’s presence is felt most deeply when believers come together, enhancing the bond among them and providing a glimpse of the unity found in the body of Christ.

Now while this passage is talking about church community, being in community as believers also comes down to friend groups. So you might be here and your like I’m part of an amazing church. And that’s awesome. But let me ask you about your friends.

Because friendship with other Believers is also what it means to be in community. So if your friends that you hang around with are not good friends, then maybe today is the day that you make a change in who your friends are. Paul understood this and wrote in 1 Corinthians that:

1 Corinthians 15:33

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.””

A good community of other Believers will inspire. They will help you to grow in your faith. Lifting you up and not tearing you down. That’s why the writer says to consider each other to provoke love and good works. A good community of believers, whether that is in a church setting or in a friendship, will help you grow. That’s why Proverbs says:

Proverbs 27:17

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”

Good friendships like being a part of a good church community matter. So if your friend group is doing more tearing down and less builing up, then its time for a change.

3. Habit of Gathering Together

Hebrews 10:25

“not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

Good friendships matter being just like being in a community of faith. We need to be lifting others up. We were never created to do life alone. The church we attend matters. The friends we share life with matter. The writer was said this because the writer knew of believers who quit meeting together. They were being attacked for their faith and so they either went into hiding or they just quit all together.

And while we may not live under threat of violence for our faith, you live in a world that none of us who are older can even begin to grasp. You need to be lifting each other up. You as a student body should be in the habit of building each other. You should be encouraging one another. Praying for each other, loving each other. And not making fun of.

FOR YOUTH

THE BIG TAKEAWAY TONIGHT IS THIS: being part of a Christian community provides strength, encouragement, and accountability that helps each believer live our their faith boldly and joyfully.

FOR SCA

Maybe for some of you, you are here and you have torn others down. You have not built up, but you have torn down. Or you just exclude people. You have your group that you hang out with and that’s it. How can we expect God to move in our lives if we are unwilling to step out beyond our walls and love others in this room? God has done some awesome things so far in this room this week, but there’s more to be done. Maybe you are here this morning, and you realize that you haven’t been the friend that you should have been to someone in this room. Maybe you’ve just been ugly and hateful to someone here. Today can be the day that healing can happen.

Why does this matter? Did you notice what the writer said at the end? He said as you see the day approaching. Yall it matters because one day, this will all be over. Like I’ve said before, Jesus is coming back. And everyday it gets closer. And we live in a world that is constantly watching us. We cannot show a God who is loving if we are not willing to show that love to each other. We need to love each other the way that Christ loves us.

As, the musicians come, just like last time - this is for you to respond to God. Maybe you are here this morning and you realize that with everything we’ve learned about this week, you realize that you have never accepted Jesus. And today you want to. I want to encourage you during our invitation time to go and talk with one of the teachers here.

Maybe for you, you’re a believer and you just need to recommit your life to the Lord. Today can be the day for change.

Maybe for you, you need to go to someone in this room and apologize for how you’ve treated them. Maybe you just need to go to someone and ask them how you can pray from them. This is a perfect opportunity for you to trust in God leading you to do something that He is inviting you to do.