The Unshakable Kingdom

Reading from God’s Word:

Hebrews 12:25–29 CSB

25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Introduction

Worship is one of the most important things we do. It’s the focus of our Sunday.

There is really no better way to begin our week.

This is a time to refocus, recharge, and renew.

Worship reminds us who we are, whose we are, and what matters most.

What we do here this morning is our response to the glory and grace of God—it is the bowing of our hearts before the King.

But today, I want to take us deeper.

I want us to explore not just the actions of worship, but the attitude behind them.

I want us to examine the posture of our hearts as we enter the presence of the Lord.

We are going to step into one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament regarding our relationship with God—Hebrews 12:18-29.

In this text, the writer draws a dramatic contrast between two mountains: Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

One represents fear, judgment, and distance from God.

The other represents joy, grace, and access to God through Jesus.

Together, these mountains paint a vivid picture of the kind of King we serve and the kind of kingdom He reigns over.

This also brings us to the final part of our June sermon series, “Our Great King”

Three weeks ago, we saw Jesus crowned with glory, reigning with justice and power over the nations (Psalm 2, Revelation 19).

Last week, we were reminded that our King walked among us, humbling Himself to serve and to save (John 1:14, Philippians 2).

And today, we are reminded that this same Jesus—this glorious, humble, victorious Savior—is enthroned forever over a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

The writer of Hebrews invites us to see the Christian life not only as a journey, but as a race—a marathon of faith, discipline, endurance, and joy.

And at the finish line is not a trophy or applause, but a King—a King who has already run the race for us and now calls us into His eternal kingdom.

As we open this text together, let’s prepare our hearts to see more clearly the majesty of our King, the security of His kingdom, and the seriousness of our worship.

May we leave today with a deeper awe of God, a firmer grip on grace, and a renewed passion to offer Him reverent, joyful praise.

The Race of Faith

Hebrews 12:1-17

Before the Hebrew writer describes the glory of the unshakable kingdom, he calls us to endurance.

The Christian life is not a sprint—it is a marathon.

And to run it well, we must prepare ourselves, cast off everything that slows us down, and focus intently on Jesus.

Verses 1–3 give us the foundational strategy for faithful living:

v. 1:

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Lay aside every hindrance—the unnecessary distractions and worldly burdens that keep us from pursuing Christ wholeheartedly.

and the sin that so easily ensnares us—the habits, temptations, and hidden sins that trip us up again and again.

Run with endurance the race set before us—not someone else’s race, not a shortcut, but the path God has laid out for each of us.

v. 2:

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus—He is not only our Savior, but our example.

He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

He ran the race before us and endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

vs.4-11:

Here, we are reminded that hardship is part of this journey.

God disciplines His children, not to harm us but to strengthen us.

Just as a good coach pushes an athlete to develop endurance and focus, so God uses difficulty to train our souls.

f we understand this, we won't resent the struggle—we’ll embrace it as a sign of His fatherly love.

vs 12-17:

Here we are urged to persevere and to help others do the same.

Hebrews 12:12–13 CSB

12 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

Beware of bitterness.

Don’t be like Esau, who traded what mattered most for a fleeting appetite.

This whole section is a rallying cry:

Stay in the race.

Don’t give up.

Keep your eyes on the King. He is worth it.

And the kingdom He is offering cannot be shaken.

Two Mountains, Two Kingdoms

Hebrews 12:18-24

The author of Hebrews draws one of the most vivid contrasts in all of Scripture—between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.

These two mountains symbolize two covenants,

two ways of relating to God,

and two spiritual realities.

And they ultimately reveal the greatness of our King and His kingdom.

Mount Sinai – The Kingdom of Law and Fear

Verses 18–21 describe the terrifying experience at Mount Sinai.

v. 18:

Hebrews 12:18 CSB

18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm,

The mountain shook, burned with fire, was covered in darkness and storm.

v. 19:

Hebrews 12:19 CSB

19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them,

Trumpet blasts and the voice of God filled the air.

v. 21:

Hebrews 12:21 CSB

21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.

Even Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

This scene captures the essence of the old covenant:

holiness without access.

God’s presence was real, but unapproachable.

The people were overwhelmed by His holiness and terrified by their own sinfulness.

Sinai symbolizes the law—a system that exposes our guilt but offers no power to change.

It demanded obedience but could not produce transformation.

It revealed God’s justice but kept sinners at a distance.

And tragically, many of the original readers of Hebrews were tempted to return to this.

Why?

Because of persecution and pressure. It seemed safer.

But the writer back in v. 18 says: You have not come to this mountain.

Mount Zion – The Kingdom of Grace and Glory

v. 22

Hebrews 12:22 CSB

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,

“But you have come to Mount Zion.”

Notice the tense. Not “you will come”—but “you have come.”

This is your spiritual reality right now through Christ.

Mount Zion represents the new covenant.

It is the city of the living God.

It is the heavenly Jerusalem.

v. 23:

Hebrews 12:23 CSB

23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,

It is filled with rejoicing angels, redeemed saints, the righteous made perfect,

v. 24:

Hebrews 12:24 CSB

24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

and Jesus Himself, the mediator of a better covenant.

At the center of it all is Jesus the King.

He is the one who opened the gates of this city.

His blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel—not a cry for vengeance, but a proclamation of peace.

He is not just the fulfillment of the old covenant—He is the giver of a new and better one.

And that means our worship, our relationship with God, our very identity is grounded in grace—not fear.

We don’t come trembling at a distance.

We come boldly into the throne room of grace, because our King reigns there and welcomes us in.

When we gather in worship, we are not simply in a church building—we are spiritually in Zion.

We are part of something far greater than what we see.

We are participating in the heavenly kingdom of the risen Christ.

So let me ask you: Did you come to worship today aware that you are entering the courts of heaven? Did you approach today as if you'd be standing in the presence of the King?

This passage calls us to stand in awe of the access we’ve been given—to cherish it, never take it for granted, and respond with reverence and joy.

The Warning and the Call

Hebrews 12:25-29

After painting this glorious picture of grace and access through Christ, the Hebrew writer pivots with urgency.

There is a warning here, and it is meant to stir us to respond rightly to what we have been given.

Do Not Refuse the King Who Speaks

v. 25:

Hebrews 12:25 CSB

25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.

At Sinai, the people trembled and begged that God stop speaking.

But now, in Christ, God has spoken fully and finally.

Hebrews 1:1–2 CSB

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

To reject Jesus is to reject God’s ultimate message of mercy and salvation.

If those under the old covenant did not escape judgment when they refused God's voice on earth, how much more serious is it to ignore the voice that comes from heaven?

Jesus is not just a prophet or priest—He is the King.

And His word carries ultimate authority.

Refusing Him is not just a mistake; it is spiritual rebellion with eternal consequences.

A Greater Shaking is Coming

v. 26:

Hebrews 12:26 CSB

26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.

At Sinai, God's voice shook the earth.

But now He promises to shake not only the earth, but the heavens as well. This is a prophecy of final judgment.

v. 27:

Hebrews 12:27 CSB

27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.

God is going to shake everything that is created—all that is temporary and unstable—so that only what is eternal will remain.

Everything built by man will collapse.

Everything that belongs to this world—our possessions, our comforts, our status—will be stripped away.

Only the kingdom of Christ will remain.

And only those who belong to that kingdom will stand secure.

Worship with Awe and Gratitude

v. 28:

Hebrews 12:28 CSB

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, our response must be worship—deep, reverent, grateful worship.

This is not casual or complacent.

It is not hurried or half-hearted.

It is worship that acknowledges the holiness of God and the weight of His grace.

We offer acceptable worship “with reverence and awe.” Why?

v. 29:

Hebrews 12:29 CSB

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Because “our God is a consuming fire.”

That phrase doesn’t contradict grace—it completes it.

The God who welcomes us in Christ is still holy, still just, and still deserving of our deepest respect.

So let me ask: Is your worship worthy of the King?

Do you live each day with the gratitude and awe that reflects the unshakable kingdom you’ve received?

As We Close…

The choice before every soul:

Will you remain at the foot of Mount Sinai, trembling under the weight of guilt, fear, and judgment

or will you come to Mount Zion, where grace flows freely, and where the gates of God’s kingdom stand open through the blood of Jesus?

You cannot remain neutral

To ignore this call is, by default, to refuse the King who speaks from heaven.

One day, everything in this world will be shaken—everything that is not rooted in Christ will fall.

But those who belong to Him, those who have trusted in His word, those who walk in His grace, will remain.

Not by their strength, but because they are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

What will you do?

Let this moment stir you to commitment, to reverence, and to awe.

Let it compel you to worship—not just today, but with your life.

Let it remind you that your Savior is not only your Redeemer, but your reigning King.

And His voice is calling you—not to fear, but to faith; not to distance, but to devotion.

Let us run the race with endurance.

Let us worship with holy fire.

Let us stand firm in the promise that cannot be moved.

We have come to the unshakable kingdom

Let us serve Him with joy, gratitude, reverence, and awe—

And His name is Jesus.