Church is Essential
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were being pressured to turn back to the rituals of the OT and the Law which was fulfilled in Christ. Throughout the book, the writer demonstrates that Jesus is BETTER THAN anything or anyone in their past religious history. He was better than the angels, He was better than Moses, He was better than the blood of bulls and goats that could never take away sin.
Notice what the writer of Hebrews says about this BETTER WAY—Jesus, who in reality is the ONLY WAY!
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, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
What a beautiful picture and portrait of what Christ has done for us! THROUGH Christ we have CONFIDENCE to enter the HOLY PLACE through the BLOOD OF JESUS!
When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom by the hand of God, signifying that we can now come directly into the presence of God through the Lord Jesus Himself! We no longer have to come through a priest or through the blood of animals that could never take away sin, but we can come directly into the presence of God, through our faith in Christ and Christ alone!
The writer concludes this wonderful thought by admonishing his readers to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering...”
In the next two verses the writer of Hebrews gives us an ESSENTIAL KEY in encouraging us to do exactly that…It cannot be done in ISOLATION! One of the ESSENTIAL things that God uses to encourage and help us to “hold fast the confession of our hope” is the ENCOURAGEMENT, PRODDING, and FELLOWSHIP of the church! CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL!
Notice
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.
The first thing we are commanded to do is to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. The KJV uses the word “provoke” unto love and good works. Church is essential because...
Prodding One Another to Love and Good Works Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 24a)
Prodding One Another to Love and Good Works Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 24a)
The writer of Hebrews uses an interesting word here. He uses the word “consider.” Donald Guthrie says about this word:
…what the writer is urging evidently demands concentrated thought…to decide how this can best be done. Something more than individual effort is needed if love and good works are to be fostered. Christians must be alert to the needs of [one another]. (Donald Guthrie)
If you have more than one child you realize that you often have to approach each child differently when communicating with them, motivating them and disciplining them. You have to learn that child’s personality.
Scripture tells husbands to “dwell with their wives ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE.”
In other words we are all created uniquely different and in order for you to PROD your brothers and sisters in Christ to love and good works you HAVE TO GET TO KNOW THEM and SPEND TIME WITH THEM!
The word used here for “stir up” means to “incite.” We have to figure out what INCITES love and good works among our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must “work at” helping one another to become all that God intends us to be. We must encourage one another to become people that are vessels through which God’s goodness and love flow!
THIS CANNOT BE DONE IN ISOLATION! This is to be done TOGETHER! God created His body to work in close contact and communion with one another. God created us to NEED EACH OTHER!
God never intended for us to walk alone. Authentic community in which we deeply know others and are known by others is necessary for a victorious faith life. (Ministry Pass)
As Christians we have a corporate responsibility. We must help others who stumble and falter. (Thomas Lea)
Application: We want to help you LIVE OUT this command. This is why, beginning in March we will be having small group Bible Studies of 3-5 people so you can get to know one another better and learn how to study God’s Word together as well as learn how to “stir up each other to love and good works.”
This is why we are told to “MEET TOGETHER!”
Church is essential because
Meeting Together Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 25a)
Meeting Together Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 25a)
In verse 25 the writer of Hebrews reminds them to not neglect to “meet together, as is the habit of some.” The word “meet” refers to the “act of gathering.” God’s people are specifically told not to neglect “gathering together.”
Church is essential because gives the body of Christ a place and a time to “gather together.” We see this happening over and over again in the book of Acts as the believers met together.
We see different admonitions in Scripture to interact in one another’s lives and this cannot happen in isolation. This must happen through gathering together:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Yes, church is essential because we cannot meet together in isolation!
To follow God faithfully, we must share our lives with other believers. (Ministry Pass)
Another reason Church is Essential is because...
Encouraging Others Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 25b)
Encouraging Others Cannot Happen in Isolation (v. 25b)
The clear command is that believers ENCOURAGE other believers. Encouragement does not take place in isolation. While we can encourage one another through phone calls, texts, notes and the like, spending time together, praying together, hearing one another enables us to know HOW to encourage each other.
The idea of encouragement, according to Donald Guthrie is that...
...Christians should strengthen and stimulate one another...The New Testament lends no support to the idea of lone Christians. Close and regular fellowship with other believers is not just a nice idea, but an absolute necessity for the encouragement of Christian values. (Guthrie)
From the very beginning of His creation God said, “It is not good for man to be alone!” God designed us for relationships. God designed us for fellowship. God designed us to interact with one another and to work together.
Throughout the New Testament we see the illustration as the church as the “body of Christ.” The body is made up of various organs, limbs and cells all working together to function as one.
We too are diverse, with various talents, giftings, and interests…but as we work in COOPERATION with one another and the Holy Spirit to make disciples and glorify Christ we FUNCTION as He intended, fulfilling the purposes of His body. WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE OR IN ISOLATION!
We can’t all be doing “our own thing” but we must all be doing “HIS THING” for us so as to fulfill His will.
We NEED EVERY person in the body of Christ at Flagship to be INVOLVED and to be ACTIVE and to be FAITHFUL. From the oldest to the youngest…WE NEED YOU!
I may be speaking to some today who are not a part of the Body of Christ. You don’t personally know the Lord Jesus as your own personal Savior. The good news is that you don’t have to stay on “the outside looking in.” Christ loves you and wants a personal relationship with you. He wants to totally transform your life and begin to shape you into the image of Jesus and USE YOU, YES YOU to make a difference in His church, His kingdom, and this needy lost world!