Gather: Life Together In Christ

Series: Find Life. Live Sent

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Introduction

Good morning, church. It is good to gather with you today.

Opening Illustration

Last week, we introduced our shared calling as a church: Find Life. Live Sent. We find true life in Jesus, and Jesus sends us to live that life for His glory and the good of others.

Over the next several weeks, we are looking at four rhythms that shape this life: Gather, Grow, Give, and Go. Today, we begin with the first: Gather.

Why does gathering matter?

In 2010, the medical journal Public Library of Science Medicine published a major analysis of 148 studies involving more than 300,000 people, examining the relationship between social connection and mortality risk. They found that people with stronger social relationships had a 50 percent greater likelihood of survival than those with weaker relationships.

Relationships are not merely something that makes life more enjoyable. They are part of how we were designed to live.

That is especially important in a city like Bangkok. We can sit surrounded by hundreds of people on the BTS, work beside people all day, and carry a phone filled with contacts—and still feel completely alone.

As a society we have never been more connected technologically, yet many people feel deeply isolated relationally.

Modern research confirms something Scripture has taught from the beginning: we were not created to live alone.

And that is especially true of the Christian life.

People sometimes say, “I can worship God anywhere. I can pray by myself. I can read the Bible at home. I do not need to attend church to be a Christian.”

It is true that we can worship God anywhere. Our relationship with Him extends far beyond Sunday morning. But the Bible never presents the Christian life as something we were meant to live alone.

Christianity is personal, but it is never merely private.

When Jesus gives us new life, He brings us into a new people—His family, His body, and His church. The life we find in Christ is a life we share together.

God does not simply save isolated individuals and tell us to follow Jesus by ourselves.

That is why gathering matters.

Church is not merely an event we attend. It is a people to whom we belong and a life we share.

This is what we are going to see in our text today. Hebrews 10 does not merely command us to attend church. It points us to what Jesus has done and repeatedly says, “Let us.”

Let us draw near.

Let us hold fast.

Let us consider one another.

This is life together in Christ.

Please turn with me to Hebrews 10:19–25.

19  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 

20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 

22let 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. 

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

24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

25not 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.

Let’s pray.

The original readers of Hebrews were under pressure. Some had suffered because of their faith. They were growing weary and were tempted to drift away from Christ. 

Throughout the letter, the writer warns them not to turn back, but he also points them repeatedly to the greatness and sufficiency of Jesus—the perfect sacrifice for our sins and the great High Priest who brings us to God.

That is why verse 19 begins with the word “therefore.” Everything the writer calls us to do is grounded in what Jesus has already done.

Look again at verses 19–21:

“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…”

Before the writer gives us a command, he gives us confidence.

Under the old covenant, access to God’s presence was severely restricted. A curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter, and only once each year, carrying the blood of a sacrifice.

That curtain sent a clear message: sinful people cannot casually enter the presence of a holy God.

But Jesus changed everything.

Illustration: That word access reminds me of something that happened when we lived in Memphis.

Memphis is famous for barbecue, and every year it hosts the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. When we first moved there, we were excited. We bought our tickets, put on our wristbands, and walked in expecting to eat some of the best barbecue in the world.

But we quickly discovered that our wristbands only gave us access to the festival—not to the barbecue.

We could walk around, smell the barbecue, and watch other people eat the barbecue. It felt less like a festival and more like a special kind of punishment.

During the evening, the cooking teams held parties inside their tents with barbecue, music, and DJs. But every tent had security, and you needed another wristband to enter.

I asked, “Where can we buy one of those wristbands?”

They said, “You can’t buy one. The owner of the tent has to give it to you.”

So we spent the evening on the outside, watching everyone else have a wonderful time.

Later, I complained to a friend about how disappointing the festival had been. He said, “Bro, you should have told me you were going! My friend owns one of the tents.”

The next year was completely different. We met our friend, he introduced us to the owner, and the owner gave us the right wristbands. We walked straight past security and into the party—and finally ate some barbecue.

What made the difference?

It was not that we had become more important. It was not that we had earned our way inside. Someone with the authority to welcome us gave us access.

In an infinitely greater way, Jesus has given us access to God. We could never purchase it, earn it, or obtain it for ourselves. But through His blood, Jesus removed the barrier and opened the way into the presence of God.

We are no longer standing outside.

Through Jesus, we have been welcomed in.

The barrier was removed—not because sin no longer mattered, but because Jesus had fully paid for it.

The writer calls this a “new and living way.” It is new because it is not based on the repeated sacrifice of animals. It is living because Jesus died, rose again, and now lives forever.

Our gathering is not grounded in our obedience and faithfulness to God, but in Christ’s finished work for us.

Because of what Jesus has done, the writer gives us three communal exhortations. He does not say only, “You draw near” or “You hold fast.” He says, “Let us.” 

Because Jesus has opened the way into God’s presence, the first way we live together in Christ is by gathering to draw near.

I. Gather to Draw Near

Verse 22 says:

“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.”

The first reason we gather is to draw near to God in worship.

“Draw near” is the language of approaching God’s presence. Because Jesus has opened the way, God invites us to come near with “full assurance of faith.”

“Hearts sprinkled clean and bodies washed with pure water” is OT ritual language.  The point is we can come confidently because Christ has dealt with our sin, cleansed us from our guilt, and made us righteous in God’s sight.

We do not approach God because we have earned His acceptance or performed well enough during the week. 

Our confidence is not in ourselves. Our confidence is in Christ.

But notice that this invitation is communal. The writer does not say, “You draw near.” He says, “Let us draw near.”

We can—and should—pray, read Scripture, and worship God individually. But this passage calls the whole church to approach God together.

Why is gathering with other believers so important? Why is worship not merely an individual experience?

One reason is that God’s people have always gathered to worship Him.

In the Old Testament, Israel gathered at the tabernacle and later at the temple. They assembled for sacrifices, festivals, prayer, and the reading of God’s Word. 

Jewish communities gathered in synagogues. 

The first Christians met in the temple courts and in homes. 

As the gospel spread, churches gathered in cities throughout the Roman world to pray, sing, hear the apostles’ teaching, share the Lord’s Supper, and encourage one another.

And one day, believers from every tribe, language, people, and nation will gather before the throne of God and worship the Lamb.

From the beginning of Scripture to the end, God is gathering a people for Himself.

We were created to worship God, and we were redeemed to worship Him together who will worship him for all eternity. 

There is something special about being with people who share what matters most to us. That is why people form meetup groups for almost everything. There are groups for board games, running, photography, learning languages—and even groups specifically for tall people. Apparently, being tall can get lonely too.

I recently went to a Michael Jackson-themed bingo night. It was fun to be in a room filled with people who recognized the same songs, enjoyed the same music, and became excited together. A shared interest created an immediate sense of connection.

But think about how much greater it is to gather with people who share more than a favorite singer, hobby, or game.

We gather with people who have experienced the same life-changing grace.

We were all lost in sin, but Jesus found us. We were guilty, but Jesus forgave us. We were spiritually dead, but Jesus gave us life. We come from different countries, cultures, generations, and backgrounds, but we have the same Savior, the same gospel, the same Spirit, and the same hope.

If people find joy in gathering around a shared interest, how much more should we rejoice to gather around the One who saved and transformed us?

That is why weekly worship is not a performance presented by a few people on a stage. The worship team is not a band performing a concert. The preacher is not an entertainer. And the congregation is not an audience.

God is the audience, and all of us are participants.

When we sing, we declare God’s truth to Him and to one another. 

When we pray, we bring our praise and needs before Him together. 

When Scripture is read and preached, we listen and place ourselves under its authority. 

Through baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the gospel we share. 

Through fellowship, prayer, and encouragement, we minister to one another.

Participation does not mean that everyone must stand on the platform. It means that we bring our attention, our voices, our hearts, and our presence.

We do not come merely to ask, “Was the music good? Did I enjoy the sermon? What did I receive today?”

We come asking, “Did I draw near to God? Did I listen to His Word? Did I join my voice with His people? Did I encourage someone else?”

And the truth is, there will be Sundays when we do not feel like worshiping.

Some weeks, you will arrive joyful and eager to sing. Other weeks, you will come exhausted, distracted, discouraged, or spiritually dry. You may struggle to pray. You may barely be able to sing. You may know what is true but have difficulty feeling it.

That is one reason we need one another.

When your faith feels weak, the voices around you proclaim what you are struggling to believe. 

When you are discouraged, someone else’s testimony reminds you that God is still faithful. 

When your mind is distracted, Scripture brings you back to what is true. 

When you feel alone, the presence of your church family reminds you that you belong to the body of Christ.

And some weeks, you will be the strong voice helping someone else.

The value of worship is not determined by the intensity of our emotions. God remains worthy, Christ’s work remains sufficient, and the gospel remains true. Whether we feel strong or weak, joyful or weary, we still need to draw near.

And we need to draw near together.

Because Jesus has opened the way, let us gather to draw near.

But the Christian life requires more than a moment of worship. We also need one another to remain firmly rooted in the truth when our faith is tested.

II. Gather to Hold Fast

Verse 23 gives us the second exhortation:

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

We gather not only to draw near to God in worship. We also gather to hold fast to what we believe.

To “hold fast” means to grip something firmly and refuse to let it go. 

The “confession of our hope” is the truth we confess together: Jesus is the Son of God, He died for our sins, He rose from the dead, His sacrifice is sufficient, and He will return to make all things new.

The writer is calling the church to stand firm together in the faith.

He tells us to hold fast “without wavering.” But this does not mean that Christians never experience questions, doubts, or confusion. The original readers of Hebrews were struggling. Following Jesus had become costly, and some were tempted to drift away.

Holding fast does not mean pretending that we never struggle. It means that when doubts come, we do not struggle alone.

We bring our questions into the light. We return to God’s Word. We remain among God’s people. We allow others to remind us of what is true when our emotions and circumstances make the truth difficult to see.

We do not gather because everyone’s faith is always strong. We gather because sometimes it is not.

This is why theology matters for every Christian.

Theology is not only for pastors, professors, or seminary students. Theology is simply what we believe about God, His Word, and the gospel—and what we believe shapes how we live.

If we believe God is sovereign, we can trust Him when life feels out of control.

If we believe Jesus has fully paid for our sins, we do not have to live under condemnation.

If we believe God’s Word is true, we can obey it even when the culture rejects it.

If we believe Jesus rose from the dead and is coming again, we can face suffering with hope.

Our convictions give us stability when our feelings and circumstances continually change.

And gathering with other believers helps form and strengthen those convictions.

Every Sunday, we are being discipled together. 

We hear God’s Word read and explained. 

We sing biblical truth. 

Through baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the gospel. 

Week after week, we are reminded: This is who God is. This is what Christ has done. This is who we are because we belong to Him. This is the hope to which we must hold fast.

But discipleship does not happen only in the Sunday gathering.

This is also why we gather in LifeGroups. In a smaller community, we can ask questions, discuss God’s Word, pray for one another, and apply the gospel to the specific circumstances of our lives. 

We can share where we are struggling and allow others to speak truth, wisdom, and encouragement into our lives.

We need both.

On Sunday, the whole church gathers around the gospel. In LifeGroups, we help one another work out the implications of that gospel in everyday life.

Throughout the week, countless voices are shaping what we believe. Social media, advertising, popular culture, and our own desires continually tell us what is true, what matters, and where to place our hope.

When we gather, God’s Word corrects the lies we have begun to believe and strengthens convictions that may have grown weak.

When someone wonders whether God can still forgive them, we remind them that the blood of Jesus is sufficient.

When someone is suffering and wonders whether God has forgotten them, we remind them that He is faithful.

When obedience becomes difficult, we encourage one another not to compromise but to trust the goodness of God’s Word.

This is how we help one another persevere.

Ultimately, our confidence is not in the strength of our grip, but in the faithfulness of the One we are holding on to.

Verse 23 does not say, “Hold fast because you are strong enough.” It says, “Hold fast…for he who promised is faithful.”

Our feelings may waver, and our circumstances may change, but God does not. He never lies, forgets, or fails to keep His promises.

Because God is faithful, let us gather to hold fast.

Yet gathering is not only about drawing near to God and holding fast to the gospel. It also calls us to turn our attention toward the spiritual good of one another.

III. Gather to Consider One Another

The third exhortation is found in verses 24–25:

“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 gather to draw near to God. We gather to hold fast to the gospel. And we gather to consider one another.

The word “consider” calls us to careful, intentional thought. We pay attention to one another’s needs, burdens, temptations, gifts, and circumstances. This requires more than simply being present in the same room.

It is possible to attend church every week without truly considering anyone else. We can arrive, find our seat, sing the songs, listen to the sermon, and leave without ever asking how God might use us in someone else’s life.

But the writer tells us to consider one another.

We should come asking, “Who needs encouragement today? Who is carrying a burden? Who needs prayer? Who can I help take another step of obedience to Jesus?”

This changes the way we think about church.

We do not gather only as consumers asking, “What did I receive today?” We also gather as members of Christ’s body asking, “How can God use me to strengthen someone else?”

The writer identifies two ways we do this. First, we stir one another up. Second, we encourage one another.

Stir One Another Up

Verse 24 says that we are to “stir up one another to love and good works.”

The Greek word translated “stir up” is paroxysmos. It means incitement or provocation. The only other New Testament use is in Acts 15, where it describes the “sharp disagreement” between Paul and Barnabas. The word often carries a negative sense—provoking anger or conflict.

Illustration: Middle School fights always involved trying provoke two people fight without getting involved ourselves. 

That’s a negative way to stir someone up.

But here the writer uses it positively.

He says, in effect, “Provoke one another—not toward anger, but toward love. Stir one another up—not toward conflict, but toward good works.”

There is an intentional intensity here. We are called to take an active interest in each other’s spiritual growth.

That does not mean nagging, manipulating, or shaming people. 

We stir one another by speaking the truth in love, modeling faithful obedience, offering specific encouragement, and sometimes lovingly challenging one another.

We may invite someone to serve alongside us. 

We may challenge a friend to forgive, show generosity, care for someone who is suffering, or share the gospel. 

We stir one another up by helping each other move from good intentions to loving action.

God uses the gathered church to cultivate this kind of life.

The Christian life is not simply “Jesus and me.” God has designed us to influence one another.

When was the last time you stirred up someone toward love and good works?

Encourage One Another

Verse 25 continues:

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

Some believers had begun to withdraw. Perhaps they were weary, afraid, distracted, or spiritually indifferent. Whatever the reason, neglecting the gathering had become a habit.

The writer knew this was dangerous. When people continually withdraw from the church, they separate themselves from one of God’s primary means of strengthening and preserving their faith.

This warning does not condemn those prevented from gathering by illness, disability, persecution, or unavoidable work demands. 

This is the habit of treating the gathered church as unnecessary.

We sometimes hear, “I can worship God anywhere.” That is true. But gathering is not only about what you need to receive. It is also about what God intends you to give.

Your brothers and sisters need your presence.

They need your prayers, example, gifts, and encouragement. When one part of the body continually withdraws, the whole body feels the loss.

The command to encourage means more than saying something pleasant. The word carries the idea of coming alongside someone to strengthen, comfort, appeal to, or urge them forward. 

Biblical encouragement gives people courage to keep following Jesus.

Sometimes encouragement comforts: “God has not forgotten you. We are here with you.” 

Sometimes it reminds: “God is faithful. You can trust His promise.” 

And sometimes it appeals: “Do not give up. Do not return to that sin. Keep following Jesus.”

Encouragement is not always telling people what they want to hear. It is telling them the truth they need so that they can remain faithful.

Verse 25 adds urgency: “and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

“The Day” is when Jesus returns, raises the dead, judges evil, and makes all things new. Every day brings us closer.

As the Day approaches, the pressures of temptation, suffering, compromise, and false teaching will not disappear. We will need encouragement—not less, but more.

In verse 23, we help one another hold fast to the truth we confess. Here, we help one another persevere in the faithful life that flows from that confession.

We need people who will walk with us over time, notice when we are struggling, remind us of what is true, and call us to keep following Jesus. And others need us to do the same for them.

One day, we will gather before the throne of God with believers from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 

Until that Day comes, we continue gathering here. We draw near to God, hold fast to our hope, stir one another toward love and good works, and encourage one another to remain faithful.

Because we need one another, let us not neglect gathering. Let us gather to consider one another.

Conclusion

Church, this passage calls us to life together in Christ.

Because Jesus shed His blood and opened the way into God’s presence, let us draw near. Perhaps you have been physically present while your heart has remained distant. Or perhaps guilt and shame have made you feel unworthy to approach God. Come honestly and confidently—not because you have earned your way back, but because Jesus has opened the way for you.

Because the God who promised is faithful, let us hold fast. 

What pressure, doubt, or competing voice is loosening your grip on the gospel? Do not drift quietly. Bring your questions into the light. Remain under God’s Word and among God’s people. Let us help one another remain committed to the truth we confess.

And because we need one another, let us consider one another. Do not come only asking, “What will I receive?” Ask, “Whom can I strengthen? Whom can I encourage? Whom can I stir toward love and good works?”

If gathering has become optional or merely habitual, hear this passage not simply as a command to attend more often, but as an invitation to share life with God’s people.

You need the church, and the church needs you.

The Day is drawing near. Jesus will return, and one day we will gather before His throne. Until then, let us draw near, hold fast, and build one another up.

This is why we gather.

This is life together in Christ.

Let’s pray.