Don't Neglect the Gathering

Goal: That the hearer would be strengthened by gathering with fellow believers in worship

Malady: The sinful soul fights against the desire to gather

Means: Christ has forgiven the soul and created a new being. He sent the Holy Spirit who encourages us to gather

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who loved you with his very life. Amen.

The book of Hebrews is a theological treasure. It really does an amazing job at taking a deep look at the Old Testament and then comparing it to the New Testament to see how Jesus fulfills the systems God put in place in the Old Testament. What I mean by that is God established certain ways of doing things in the Old Testament, such as how worship looked, the people in their vocations, the sacrifices offered, and he did it on purpose and for an important reasons.

And that reason is to set up what Jesus was going to do with his life in order to save us from our sins. What this means for us is the way we do things in the worship service, the way the service is structured, matters. Now don’t hear me wrong, I’m not saying that our liturgy is the only valid way of worship, I’m not saying that. But I am saying that the elements of a church service, like the teachings, the sermon, the readings, the hymns, the pastor, all of that is important and the book of Hebrews helps us see why.

In today’s passage from Hebrews, the author changes the focus from who is up here, from what goes on with the up front stuff, and he turns the camera around to you. And what’s going on with the worshipper. The person who has gathered in this place to worship God, to receive the sacraments And the author of Hebrews wants us to see the spiritual reality of you being here today.

We’re going to take a look a couple of verses here from the end of our text starting at verse 19, Hebrews 10:19-22

Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV

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.

So what’s going on here? The author is bringing up a significant aspect of worshipping God before Jesus and telling us how it has changed since Jesus. When God first gave the plans for the tabernacle to Moses on Mount Sinai, wayyyy back in the Old Testament, in those building plans there was a very important room. You’ve heard of it before, it’s called the Holy of Holies, or the most holy place. This is where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

If you recall from the last time you saw Indiana Jones, the Ark of the Covenant’s lid had two angels on top. That lid was special, because there, God had his presence. And only one perosn could enter that place once a year to offer a sacrfifice to God, on the day of atonement. Adn that person, the high priest went through a series of steps to be made ritually perfect to enter into that room and not die.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Gospel Authors tell us an importat detail that the temple curtain, the door that seperated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, from the church was torn in two. And here in our text, the author tells us why that’s important, because the worship of God has changed following the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross

Here again what he says, “we” “We have confidence ot enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus by the new and living way that he opend for us through the curtain.” You, as the person in the pew today can now enter into God’s presence, into the holy of holies because of Jesus. You have direct acess to that altar up there. You can approach God without worrying about being smited. Because Jesus shed his blood and purfied you, like the high preist of old was purified, you can now apporach God!

Which is what you do here in worship! Today you will approach God! You will come into God’s presence, to the holy of holies! You will be here around the altar and get to hold God in your hand! “take and eat this is my body.” You get to do this without fear becuase Jesus shed his blood on the cross for you. So as in the words of our text, “ 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.” You are baptized, you are confirmed, welcome to the table to receive Christ.

Now we have this picture, this image of what takes place today in this space. You have been sprinkled with the Lamb’s blood. You are purified to approach God. You can come here and receive the gift. You can be in God’s presence. This is an amazing thing, but it’s not the whole picture. There is more to being here in this temple, in this church than that!

The author continues, Hebrews 10:23-25

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.

We gather here, in the church, not only because of the blessings we receive from God, but also to encourage one another.

Often times, it can be tempting to think of church as an individual. “I” am coming to worship God. “I” am doing this. “I” am doing that. And while all that is true, and important. It’s not the whole picture. That person over there needs you to com to church for their sake, to encourage them. In the same way, you need that person over there to be here to encourage you. I need you here to encourage me. And I am here to encourage you.

Don’t neglect the gathering. The gathering isn’t just about you, it’s about all of us. All of us working together, encouraging one another, in the words of the writer of Hebrews, “all the more as the Day is drawing near.”

What he’s saying here is as we draw closer to the last Day, the days will become increasingly evil. And that means it will be harder and harder to just live our lives of faith. So we gather here, all the more, to encourage one another.

And when the Bible speaks of encouragement, it’s not talking about some, like, cheesy motivational/self help book. This isn’t 10 ways to organize your life or anything like that. This encouragement is to tell each other about Jesus. Tell each other that Jesus loves you. That Jesus, the eternal son of God, became a real flesh and blood person, to offer his blood as a sacrifice, as both priest and offering, to give you access to the most holy place, to give you access to God. Jesus has come and now you have access to God! Your sins have been washed away, even the secret ones. Becuae of Jesus, God chooses not to remember them.

Encouage one another with words of Jesus! Tell how the Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the world!

So. Let’s try it out. All of you are sitting next to someone right now. A family member, a friend, a stranger. I want all of us, I’ll do it too, to take a moment here and encourage one another. You could say something like, “Isn’t it great! Jesus has forgiven you! And he’s forgiven me!” or you could say, “I can’t wait to see God when we stand together in heaven.” Or something like, “I’m so glad Jesus died on the cross to save you!”

I’ll keep an eye on the clock. On your marks. Get set. Go. Go encourage one another.

-30 second ish pause-

What happens in this space is truly a remarable thing. For here, God has made all of us into his family. Here, he told us of his love for us. Here we receive forgiveness. Here we gather to be encouraged by one another. And when that happens, we know, that God is here with us. Amen.