Hebrews 10:22-25
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Welcome
Good morning! If you have your Bibles, I’d like to invite you to open them up to the book of Hebrews. Chapter 10.
Last week, Justin started off our series in the study of the church. Why do we do the things that we do at church? Tradition? Fun? Because we like singing and cool music?
We believe that the Bible is clear on many things regarding church and how it functions and we want to take you through a few of these elements in order that you can use them to your advantage!
This morning, we are specifically going to talk about why we shouldn’t neglect, or skip out, on getting together as a church. Hebrews is one place that this is specifically mentioned.
Read with me on the screen, verses 24-25.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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.
Pray with me as we get started.
Intro
Intro
As I began to think on what it meant to neglect something, I was reminded of a recent incident that is a surprisingly good example of the dangers of neglecting something.
What I have here is a bathroom shower tile.
**Just like my shower, when it comes to your faith, Negligence (the act of neglecting) is never good and will allow things to grow that you do not want to grow. We see warning of this in our passage today.
Read again, verse 25: “ 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”
Well, I think it is quite clear on the implication to show up. And maybe there are some in this room that struggle to remain consistent in actually coming to be a part of the body. And for you, if there are those, my encouragement is to come. Physically be here in person on Sundays and other opportunities throughout the week.
As we look deeper into this passage this morning, I want us to challenge ourselves in how we think about this idea behind “neglecting to meet together.”
As I studied myself and wrestled over it this past week, I began to see clearer and clearer that it is saying so much more than just, “show up, better not miss church!” Rather, in my study, the question arose:
“Is it possible that, I myself, and possibly many believers at Woodland Park, may not necessarily be neglecting to ‘meet together,’ but could be completely neglecting the reason for it?
I fear that far too often, I find myself falling victim to this.
Why? Is it deliberate disobedience? Could it be from ignorance, just not knowing the reason behind why we gathering? Maybe a bit of both? Regardless, I pray that this morning would educate those of us who suffer from ignorance, and encourage those of us who may know these things, but are not necessarily living it out.
I believe this passage gives us such a clear and powerful cycle to follow!
Text
Text
The book of Hebrews is a book whose author is not specified and whose audience is not necessarily specified either. What we do know, however, is that the author wrote with authority, wrote in line with everything that Jesus and the apostle’s taught, and this letter has exposed itself to be the very words of God Himself. We also can conclude, judging by the language and layout of the book, that the author is writing to people who were very familiar with Jewish customs.
For example, one of the main themes in this book is that Jesus is greater. Specifically that Jesus was the greater priest and the greater sacrifice, both of which were central themes in the Old Testament and both of which would be understood by a knowledgeable Jew.
Read with me to see just how Scripture warns against neglecting to meet together as Christians and the verses that surround it. This is verses 22-25.
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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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 Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 10:22–25). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Context
The gathering of God’s people is so important and crucial to the life of a believer. And there is a lot that goes into seeing the fullness of this passage. So, in attempt to simplify for you guys a bit, I have decided this week to do a sermon-in-a-sentence, and my prayer is that it will help you in understanding and remembering this passage.
By believing our identity in Christ and understanding our objective, we will not only keep from neglecting Church, we will keep ourselves from neglecting her purpose.
Let me break this down.
Believing our Identity
Believing our Identity
Do you believe your identity? Here is the thing: When you trust in Jesus, 2 Corinthians shows us:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Your identity has totally changed. From enemy to friend, from being opposed to fully accepted, from blemished and broken to blameless, from orphan to adopted sons and daughters of the King, (as Ephesians 1 so clearly displays) and the list goes on and on.
Most of you KNOW these things to be true, but do you believe them. Do you live your life in a way that displays that you truly believe that.
This is what I want you to see in verse 22.
22 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.
Do you live your life in a way that you know that you are accepted by God to the extent that you can draw near to Him? Not based on your own works, but based on you being represented by the perfect works of Jesus on your behalf.
Not only can we draw near, but we can do so with a true heart! Guys we are freed from sin! Outside of Christ, we can do nothing to escape the corruption of our hearts, our minds, our actions.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
THis is an OT
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
This is also an identity statement! Let US hold fast to OUR hope.
If we believe our identity in Christ, we are automatically fully given a hope that we will one day fully be with Him apart from the effects of sin. This hope is our fuel as we press on through every challenge of this life! Hope is a powerful thing, what is devastating is that many people place it in things that will always fail them. Not for us though!
So, if you truly believe your identity in Christ, you can hold tightly to this Hope… and can do so because we are being held by Someone to hold onto. The text reads “for He who promised is faithful.” Man, I need to be reminded of this.
Well, in considering these things, believing your identity in Christ is a lens in which you should see your life. You begin to see things as Christ does. And when you see things as Christ does, you begin to see the objective in almost every area of your life.
Understanding the Objective
Understanding the Objective
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
consider // to direct one’s mind to // to perceive mentally // to understand. there is great intentionality in community
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
“Stir up” // inner, concentrated movement. // to provoke; to irritate.
This is huge! This word of tension here shows us that encouraging one another to love and good works is NOT always an easy conversation.
our objective is to dwell, constantly be thinking of ways that we can stir up one another in what? In love and good works.
You need this type of accountability in your walk with the Lord. I NEED this type of accountability in my walk with the Lord.
This is where we see why the next verse, the main verse of our conversation this morning, begin to really show us its importance.
Wrap up
Wrap up
25 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.
Guys, its a cycle! In order to walk with Jesus, we must walk with Him according to our identity in Him. but oh, how often we forget this. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to remind us of this consistently. This is why we do not neglect to meet together.
Because meeting together has a purpose. We are to stir up on another. If you show up to every event that we offer, every weekly gathering that we have, you can show up and not neglect the meeting, but you can neglect the meeting’s purpose. Do not miss out on the benefits!
Get real with yourself, get real and vulnerable with your brothers and sisters as you gather, and press on every day, because every day we are a day closer to being with Jesus. Make the most of the purpose of the body.