A Community of Encouragement

Hebrews 10:23–25 ESV

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

Introduction: Why is the Spiritual Habit of engaging Community important? Why did the Author of Hebrews tell us not to abandon meeting together?

It is Because....

We are drawn away from Community.

Audience of Hebrews - Early Jewish Christians who were considering leaving Christ, the Church, and drift back to their purely Jewish Faith.

They brought in a religious custom that was in vogue during the day. I can go, listen to some great teaching and then leave. I will come back whenever I feel like it.

They were being persecuted for being Christians both within their Jewish circles and probably within Roman circles as well. Their was a lot of pressure within their families, friends to not become a Christian.

If we thought that being a Christian and doing Church was hard today, but they had it all together back then, we would be mistaken.

Christians

We may identify more with the first reason. Why do I need to physically go be with the church, when today, I can watch preachers online. You can get whatever you want online, and then go about your business.

Can’t I go to a large church, not pursue community and just leave? Should I be a part of a Life Group at that Large Church?

While it might not be Judaism that pressures us to walk away from Christ. Certainly the worldview of our society can. And while we may not be threatened with death, it is possible that the story of our current world that wants to demonize christians as “haters,” or “Biggots,” may seem like too much for some.

American individualism has emphasized a personal relationship with God to the point that many people who call themselves Christians think church is optional. But intentional Christian community is a nonnegotiable part of being a healthy and effective believer. “Christianity is not a religion for solitude and solitary. The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.”–John Wesley

Another reason is we do not see the need - The rich in Gilbert least churched.

And So, What we Need is....

We need Encouragement.

The Author of Hebrew’s goal in the whole book is to encourage vs. 23.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

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

The Book of Hebrews is split into 4 major sections showing us How Jesus is superior to

1) the Angels who delivered the Torah on Mount Sinai so…he warns them to not harden their heart to the message brought by Jesus

2) Moses Who led the people out of Slavery so…do not reject Jesus’ superior offer of salvation

3) The priests of the Old Testament who mediated their relationship with God so…Do not reject the only chance of reconciliation you have with God

4) The O.T. Sacrifices that atoned for Sin so…do not reject the only flawless offer of forgiveness for our sins

And this is where belonging to a Church Community is important.

Community is for Encouragement.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

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.

Stir Up - Encouragement - College Student last week - “I didn’t know we were doing all those things in the Community.”

My fire - Getting the coals together - fire burns hotter, when you separate the coals - they burn themselves out.

b. So with our Hope in Christ - It burns hotter, it is stronger when we come together to encourage each other. When we drift away and go it alone it begins to waver.

c. Vision for Life Groups - A community of growing disciples sold out (not wavering) to following Jesus in all facets of Life. - This is the Author of Hebrew’s vision.

Must see Jesus is superior - not wavering - requires us to be in community encouraging each other.

2. Notice the one another’s

1. Stepping down as your personal pastor - More Care - Unilateral Care.

2. Church of up to 75 - Church Can do the spiritual care for everyone. - Unilateral Care.

3. To grow - especially where we are at - We need to make a shift to multi-directional care.

Staff Role moves from shepherding to ranching, from doing the encouraging to making sure good encouragement happens

From Doing - Equipping

From Uni-directional - multidirectional.

4. This does not work unless we take the “one another seriously.” Making it your mission to encourage others with the hope we have in Christ.

5. How do you make this mission simple. There is one thing you can do today. - Join a Life Group - Say to yourself I can be of encouragement to 6-12 people. - For Youth going Making Youth Group your Life Group - Make it your mission when you go to encourage Christ’s Hope, For Children, Make it your mission to go to Sunday School to encourage Christ’s Hope.

This actually is one thing in our mission that will make a huge impact on our growth as a church. You mean by me committing to encourage 6-12 people in a Life Group, I can help our church grow. Yes, and the added bonus is I believe you will grow, because those 6 - 12 people will be on mission to encouraging you in the hope we have in Christ.

6. So, Yes there will be times when you feel like you are not being encouraged, or maybe what you talk about as a Life Group is not deep enough for you. Again I am going to encourage you to make Life Group’s your mission because then you are using Jesus as your model, and modeling Jesus to your Life Group. Did Jesus come to earth

Conclusion:

- Encourage People to Fill out the a Life Group Card and Place it in the offering.

Benediction:

Consider passing out individual candles (like ones used at a Christmas Eve candlelight service) as people walk into the service. At the close of your service, take a moment to light those candles and have people in each row light the candle of the person next to them. Alone we may produce a little flame, but when we shine together, we can light up an entire room. We are better together in the kingdom.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 32, 52-55 Belgic Confession: Articles 27-29 Belhar Confession: Article 2

Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 15-18, 29-31, 34 Belgic Confession: Articles 19