Commands of Christ: Gather

Alan Daws

Commands of Christ • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Hebrews 10:24–25

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Recap Commands

Repent and Believe

Baptism

Prayer

Love

Lord’s Supper

Give

Today we are going to look at the 7th command: Make Disciples

Make Disciples

Today we’ll look at the last one: Gather

Hebrew 10:24-25, “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works”

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews Word and Phrase Study

Verses 24–25 list three things that believers should do: (1) stimulate one another to love and good deeds; (2) assemble together; and (3) encourage one another because the Second Coming is approaching.

This is the only text in the NT which encourages believers to gather for worship. This may reflect the historical setting of Roman persecution directed toward Christianity (a non-approved religion) versus the relative acceptance of Judaism (an approved religion). It may also reflect different worship days. Very early after the Church began to spread within Judaism, the rabbis developed a “curse” oath required of every member of the synagogue, which involved rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. At this point most believers left the synagogue with its Sabbath schedule but continued in their Sunday worship with the Church. James 2:2 uses the term “synagogue” to refer to the Christian place of worship, as does Heb. 10:25.

Verses 24–25 list three things that believers should do:

Stimulate one another to love and good deeds;

Assemble together; and

Encourage one another because the Second Coming is approaching.

This is the only text in the NT which encourages believers to gather for worship. This may reflect the historical setting of Roman persecution directed toward Christianity (a non-approved religion) versus the relative acceptance of Judaism (an approved religion). It may also reflect different worship days. Very early after the Church began to spread within Judaism, the rabbis developed a “curse” oath required of every member of the synagogue, which involved rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. At this point most believers left the synagogue with its Sabbath schedule but continued in their Sunday worship with the Church. uses the term “synagogue” to refer to the Christian place of worship, as does .

This is the only text in the NT which encourages believers to gather for worship.

This may reflect the historical setting of Roman persecution directed toward Christianity (a non-approved religion) versus the relative acceptance of Judaism (an approved religion).

It may also reflect different worship days.

Very early after the Church began to spread within Judaism, the rabbis developed a “curse” oath required of every member of the synagogue, which involved rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah.

At this point most believers left the synagogue with its Sabbath schedule but continued in their Sunday worship with the Church.

uses the term “synagogue” to refer to the Christian place of worship, as does .

Utley, R. J. (1999). The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews (Vol. Volume 10, p. 107). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

The Early Church Model

Why should we meet together?

- Encourage and spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

10:24-25 - Encourage and spur one another on

towards love and good deeds.

Who should we meet with?

• Who should we meet with? - Baptized

- Baptized believers.

believers.

What should we do when we meet together?

• What should we do when we meet together?

- Pray, worship, fellowship, and discuss God’s Word.

- Pray, worship, fellowship, and

discuss God’s Word.

When should we meet together?

• When should we meet together?

The early believers met together every day.

- The early believers met together every day.

Where should we meet?

• Where should we meet? , Philemon

, - Homes & places of worship.

1:2 - Homes & places of worship.

Purpose of Church

1. Worship (; ; )!

2. Fellowship (; ; )!

3. Discipleship (; ; )!

4. Missions (; , ; )!

5. Leadership (; ; )!

How The Church Benefits Me

IT WILL HELP ME FOCUS ON GOD.

The Bible says one of the purposes of the church is to help you refocus.

2. The Bible says one of the purposes of the church is to help you refocus.

God knew this so well He put it in the Ten Commandments - Every seventh day, you take a day off and you refocus.

3. God knew this so well He put it in the Ten Commandments - Every seventh day, you take a day off and you refocus.

This is called worship.

4. This is called worship.

Any time you focus on God, you express love to God, you are worshiping.

a. Any time you focus on God, you express love to God, you are worshiping.

The first purpose of the church is to help you worship.

b. The first purpose of the church is to help you worship.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. "

5. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. "

Why is this the greatest one? This is what you were made for.

a. Why is this the greatest one? This is what you were made for.

God made you so He can love you and He wants you to love Him back.

b. God made you to love you and He wants you to love Him back.

You might ask "Can't I worship by myself?" Of course you can.

6. You say, "Can't I worship by myself?" Of course you can.

But you need a church family because there's more power in group worship.

a. But you need a church family because there's more power in group worship.

- - -------------------- --- --------------------------------- -

Have you ever come to church when you didn't feel like it and then after it was over you were glad you did?

b.Have you ever come to church when you didn't feel like it and then after it was over you were glad you did?

I have found that when I don't feel like focusing on God is when I need it most.

c. I have found that when I don't feel like focusing on God is when I need it most.

"Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" .

7. "Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

I hope that our worship will be exciting, inspirational, celebratory helping us all focus on God

IT WILL HELP ME FACE LIFE'S PROBLEMS

8. Three words describe the worship services at Summitview: celebration, inspiration and preparation.

Life is tough. You weren't made to face it on your own.

a. Celebration: We celebrate because it's a happy thing to know the Lord.

2. You weren't made to face it on your own.

So He's given us a family, a fellowship and made us members of his body, the body of Christ.

(I) The Bible says, ''I was glad when they said unto me, let us go unto the house of the Lord."

3. So He's given us a family, a fellowship and made us members of his body, the body of Christ.

(2) Not that I was sad, mad, or my dad told me

Do you ever get discouraged?

4. Do you ever get discouraged?

The antidote to discouragement is to get around some encouraging people.

a. The antidote to discouragement is to get around some encouraging people.

That's called fellowship. They will lift you up.

b. That's called fellowship. They will lift you up.

“Jesus died for us so that we can live together with Him. So encourage each other and give each other strength. (NCV)

5. "Jesus died for us so that we can live together with Him. So encourage each other and give each other strength. 1 Thess

5:10-11 (NCV)

The Bible teaches the Christian life is not a solo act.

a. The Bible says the Christian life is not a solo act.

I’ve said before that there are no Lone Ranger Christians.

b. There are no Lone Ranger Christians.

If you don't get around other Christians on a regular basis, if you're not part of a fellowship then you grow cold spiritually and the fire and enthusiasm goes out of your life.

c. Just like the old illustration of a camp fire.

d. If you don't get around other Christians on a regular basis, if you're not part of a fellowship then you grow

📷

So we need each other to give each other support.

cold spiritually and the fire and enthusiasm goes out of your life.

e. So we need each other to give each other support.

Today, relatives are spread out all over and we don’t our neighbors

6. "You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts... 11 LB

There is no sense of community anymore anywhere. people just don't feel like they belong. They don't even know their neighbors.

We need other people

a. There is no sense of community anymore anywhere. people just don't feel like they belong. They don't even know their neighbors.

b. Today, relatives are spread out all over.

The Bible says the church is to be an extended family.

c. The Bible says the church is to be an extended family.

"By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.

7. "By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ. 11

There are over 30 commands in the New Testament that you cannot obey unless you join a local family.

a. There are over 30 commands in the New Testament that you cannot obey unless you join a local family.

You can't do them unless you're part of a family.

b. You can't do them unless you're part of a family.

As a Christian you not only belong to God but the Bible teaches we belong to each other.

c. As a Christian you not only belong to God but the Bible says you belong to each other.

IT WILL HELP ME FORTIFY MY FAITH

Fortify simply means to strengthen, to reinforce, to develop.

2. You need to have your faith reinforced on a regular basis.

You need to have your faith reinforced on a regular basis.

a. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

The church helps you clarify your values.

b. The church helps you clarify your values.

, “let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity”

3. "Let us go on and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be. 11

let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity

People of want to know God's will. It's right here.

4. People often ask me what's God's will for my life. It's right here.

often ask me what's God's will for my life. It's right here.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. often ask me what's God's will for my life. It's right here.

a. Gods will for your life is this: grow up.

Gods will for your life is this: grow up.

b. God wants you to grow up and become spiritually strong.

How do you grow spiritually? The five ways we get God's word into our lives.

5. How do you grow spiritually? The five ways we get God's word into our lives.

First we get knowledge, we learn the content of the Bible.

a. First we get knowledge, we learn the content of the Bible.

Then we gain perspective, we begin to see life from God's point of view.

b. Then we gain perspective, we begin to see life from God's point of view.

Then we develop convictions, beliefs and values that change our behavior.

c. Then we develop convictions, beliefs and values that change our behavior.

Then we sharpen our skills and begin to practice the Word of God in our lives.

d. Then we sharpen our skills and begin to practice the Word of God in our lives.

That produces character.

e. That produces character.

There is a difference between being a Christian and being a growing Christian.

6. What happens when I read the Bible and I don't understand it?

7. There is a difference between being a Christian and being a growing Christian.

The difference is the family you're involved in.

a. The difference is the family you're involved in.

It is my hope that you will find the support that comes from belonging to God's family but the significance that comes from becoming more like Christ together in the family of God.

b. At Summitview we not only want you to find the support that comes from belonging to God's family but the significance that comes from becoming more like Christ together in the family of God.

IT HELPS ME FIND MY MINISTRY

8. :IO "God's intent was that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known."

a. That's true in the heavenly places; it's also true in our individual lives.

b. That's how God does it in our lives.

9. At Summitview we try to give you places where you can plug in and grow.

10. The main thing I'd encourage you about is get involved with other people.

D. IT HELPS ME FIND MY MINISTRY

The Bible says that God has made you unique -- SHAPE.

You are uniquely shaped, that He planned you even before you were born.

a. He's given you Spiritual gifts that you're good at.

He's given you Spiritual gifts that you're good at.

b. He's given you a heart, a passion -- there are things you love to do and things you don't love; things you're interested in and things you're not interested in.

He's given you a heart, a passion -- there are things you love to do and things you don't love; things you're interested in and things you're not interested in.

c. He's given you Abilities -- some of you are good with words, or numbers, or things, or animals, or people.

He's given you Abilities -- some of you are good with words, or numbers, or things, or animals, or people.

d. He's given you a Personality

He's given you a Personality

e. Then He's given you Experiences -- educational experiences, vocational experiences, spiritual experiences and painful experiences.

Then He's given you Experiences -- educational experiences, vocational experiences, spiritual experiences and painful experiences.

God has given you this·shape because He wants you to make a contribution to this world.

3. Whenever you use your talents and your abilities and your shape to help other people, the Bible calls that ministry.

Whenever you use your talents and your abilities and your shape to help other people, the Bible calls that ministry.

4. :IO "It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus, and long ago He planned that we should spend these lives..." in watching TV? No "...spend these lives in helping others." This is called ministry.

, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

This is called ministry.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. "It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus, and long ago He planned that we should spend these lives..." in watching TV? No "...spend these lives in helping others." This is called ministry.

5. God wants you to spend your life doing that.

God wants you to spend your life doing that.

6. The Bible says that the job description of pastors is to equip you for your ministry. That's part of the purpose of the church.

According to the Bible, part of my job description as pastor is to equip you for your ministry.

a. Our job is to make you successful. We're committed to that. People don't exist for the church.

My job is to make you successful.

I’m committed to that.

People don't exist for the church.

The church exists for people because the church is people.

b. The church exists for people because the church is people.

I am committed to helping you position yourself to find your ministry that best expresses your shape so you can become all God wants you to be.

📷

It is my hope and pray for our church to move out into more ministries in this coming year and it can only be done by your help.

c. Our pastors are committed to helping you position yourself to find your ministry that best expresses your shape so you can become all God wants you to be.

Now What?

E. IT WILL HELP ME FULFILL MY LIFE'S MISSION

shows us the entry point for the formation of New Testament churches.

1. You're not here by accident. God didn't put you on earth just to take up space, get a job, make money, retire and die.

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

“Those who accepted his message were baptized,

and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Share gospel

Three initial teaching points exist in this verse. First, when the message was presented, those the Lord called,

By faith these were added to the family of God through the sacrifice of Christ.

accepted his message. By faith these were added to the family of God through the sacrifice of Christ. It did not stop

It did not stop there however.

there however. They also chose to identify themselves with Christ’s body in his death, burial and resurrection through

They also chose to identify themselves with Christ’s body in his death, burial and resurrection through baptism.

baptism.his truth creates a second teaching point for us in this verse. Those who accepted the message were baptized.

Baptism immediately follows acceptance.

Baptism immediately follows acceptance. Here the point of emphasis is on both the immediate inclusion of some who

2. He has a life mission, a ministry in which He wants you to use your SHAPE and He has a mission in which He wants you to have an impact in this world.

Commit to the church and serving in the church.

Healthy Church picture

Circle: gathering, Water: baptism, Money sign: giving, Bread & Cup: Lord’s Supper

in Acts 2:3637

3. The fifth purpose of the church is to help you discover that mission.

Circle:Gathering,

Prayer

Water: baptism,

Money sign: giving,

Bread & Cup: Lord’s Supper

Heart: fellowship, Book: Bible study, Kneeling: prayer, Raised hands: worship

are said to have murdered Jesus, and the clear precedent of baptism after acceptance. This would

4. The moment you commit your life to Jesus Christ, that life

Heart: fellowship,

Book: Bible study,

Kneeling: prayer,

Raised hands: worship

Sent out: evangelism, Smiling faces: leaders

seem to strike down any argument concerning the need to live up to any standard as prerequisite to baptism, as no

mission is activated.

Sent out: evangelism,

more gross sin can be imagined than literally killing the author of salvation. It also answers potential false teaching

Smiling faces: leaders

concerning baptism prior to a personal confession of Christ.

How are we doing?

Finally those who were baptized were “added to their number.” This means they had a recognizable membership.

Prayer

They knew who was in and who was not. The church is open to minister to all but exclusively formed around those

who have followed the Lord in obedience, the first steps of which are acceptance and baptism.

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