Getting past the basics!

Background of Hebrews 5:11-14

Since we humans live in this visible world while God is invisible to us, we often focus our attention on our immediate circumstances. The immediate circumstance of the Book of Hebrews was persecution.

Many of these believers, like us today, have never seen Jesus while He was ministering on earth. They, like us believe in our Lord, God manifested in the flesh, the Lamb of God who died for our sins. They, like us, received a new relationship with God.

Because they had never seen Jesus in the flesh and the persecution had increased, some had gone back tho their old ways. While returning to their old ways done away with their immediate problems, the outcome was seperation/alienation from God.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

The word Hearing is not talking about deaf ears, but those who have became lazy in obedience and understanding to the Word of God.

Paul is saying that they should be teachers by now, but they are having to be thought the basics again.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary V. Warning and Encouragement (5:11–6:20)

The Greek word translated “lazy” can mean “dull” or “stubborn.” So, in other words, they had become mule-headed and refused to grow spiritually. And even though they should’ve been teachers by the time the letter was penned, they needed someone to teach them the basic principles of God’s revelation again (5:12). Sadly, they weren’t experiencing Christ’s deliverance because they were still in spiritual elementary school!

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary V. Warning and Encouragement (5:11–6:20)

Something is wrong if a thirty-year-old is still eating baby food. Knowing the ABCs and 123s of the Bible is crucial, but there comes a time to build on this foundation with further understanding and growth. After all, if you don’t advance beyond kindergarten, you never discover what lies ahead. Any believer who fails to move on from milk to solid food (5:12)—“milk” being the content of God’s Word, while “solid food” is the spiritual application and use of God’s Word to life—has some developmental issues and becomes stagnant in spiritual development.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary V. Warning and Encouragement (5:11–6:20)

5:13–14 Anyone who lives on milk is inexperienced (5:13). To be mature, you need solid food. Only in this way will your senses be trained to distinguish between good and evil so that you can live from a heavenly rather than an earthly perspective (5:14). This, in fact, is why God allows trials in our lives.

Some are just content to be where there are, but if you want more you gotta move from the milk to the solid food and apply the spiritual application of Gods Word to your life, not just read it.

Give example of Big man eating steak with sippy cup.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary V. Warning and Encouragement (5:11–6:20)

The only way you grow in most things is through training, through practice. It’s true in sports, it’s true in education, and it’s true in spiritual growth. You may have experience listening to and memorizing the Word, but that’s not sufficient. If you chew your food but don’t swallow, you will starve. You have to internalize and put God’s Word into practice (see

Just like the people then, they were giving up on Word and starting to turn back to their old beliefs of Judaism, some people today are starting to turn away because of all the social media, internet, etc.. looking for answers in all the wrong places instead of turning to the one with all the answers. JESUS

Some of Gods people are stuck in the cycle of building the foundation of the Christian beliefs over and over and over. Going in circles like the children of Israel did for 40 years under Moses.

You have got to move on past the foundation of Christianity

We read in Hebrews 6:1–2 “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

The foundation being:

Repentance of dead works: This means that, in the act of repentance, we turn away from our dead works and face toward God, ready to hear and obey His next command.

faith: Have Faith in God to do what His said is going to do. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

baptisms: The word here is plural. In Greek translation means baptismos: meaning to immersion. To completely cover

give examples: immersion in water to show public that you have accepted Christ, immersion of the holy spirit, etc..

laying on of hands:

resurrection of the dead: That when Jesus comes back those that are dead in Christ will rise to be with HIm

eternal judgement: When we stand at the Throne of God on Judgement Day to give account

We must build upon the foundation that has been laid and go on to maturity.

Before we move on I must make sure you understand what the Bible means and is:

Do you believe the Bible is the spoken Word of God, recorded by men through the interpretation of the Holy Spirit? Until you have this in your heart and mind. I am not sure if you are ready to let the Word of God guide you and shape you.

We just don't read the Bible, it reads us.

Remember It is written in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

So how do move on from the basics( off the milk and onto the meat.)

I am going to encourage you to move on using Gods Word to tell you.

Stay connected to Him

John 15:4–8 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Staying connecting to Jesus is our Responsibility. When we stay connected to Jesus, He grows us and shows us His way. as we seek Him, as we pray and Meditate on His Word, as we offer Him praise and worship, and as we love and serve others, our LOVE for Jesus grows.

Abide in Jesus with all our Hear, Mind, Soul, and Body.

Be Heard by God

John 9:31 “ but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

Being heard by God involves attentive listening and a willingness to engage in conversation with Him. The concept of "Shema" in Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of hearing, understanding, and responding to God's voice.

God communicates with us through His words, which can deliver and protect us.

To be heard by God, one must approach Him with an open heart and mind, being "quick to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19)

When feeling distant from God, scripture provides words to renew our minds and redirect our thoughts to Him[1]. Prayer plays a crucial role in being heard by God, though His responses may not always align with our immediate desires but rather with our ultimate well-being.

The power of prayer lies not in the one who prays but in the One who hears the prayer.

God listens intently to all prayers, regardless of the speaker's eloquence or status, treating them as precious and ensuring they reach His throne.

Even in times when we feel unheard by others, we can take comfort in knowing that God always listens and values our words.

Make Room for God

as we read 2 Kings 4:8–10 “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.””

Making room for God involves both physical and spiritual aspects. This Scripture describes a woman who literally created a space for the prophet Elisha, leading to a miraculous blessing in her life

This concept extends metaphorically to our lives, where creating space for God can lead to unexpected blessings.

We also read in Exodus 25:8 “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” God was telling Moses if they would make room for Him, He (GOD) would fill the space.

Get rid of wordly stuff in our lives, give examples??

Worship GOD

Did you know God seeks (to look for, desire) those that worship Him

We read in John 4:23–24 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.””

Worship is fundamentally about acknowledging, praising, and adoring God for who He is - His character, attributes, and being.

It involves attributing worth to God, or recognizing His "worth-ship," which is seen as a primary purpose for which we were created.

Worship can take the form of thanksgiving, adoration, praise, and service to God. It is described as a way for people to glorify and enjoy God, while also sensing His presence.

Some view worship as an ongoing activity, with angels said to worship God continually.

Importantly, worship is seen as focusing on God's inherent nature rather than what He does for people.

5. Have Faith in GOD

Read Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Read Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

By Faith In Genesis 4:4 Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice

By Faith in Genesis 5:24 Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death

By faith in Genesis 6 Noah was warned by God of events unseen, constructed an ark

BY faith in Genesis 12 Abraham obeyed God when he was called out to go to a place to receive his inheritance

BY faith in Genesis Sarah recieved power to conceive, even when she was past the age.

6. Serve GOD