Overcoming The Challenge Of Change, Part 3: “Making The Church Gathering A Priority”

Introduction

Based on a true story, Remember the Titans spotlights the character formation of those caught up in the difficult transition of integrating T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1971 the tensions run high- especially on the football team- when a black man, Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington), is brought in as the new head coach, demoting the previously successful white coach, Bill Yoast (played by Will Patton), to an assistant coach.

About thirty minutes into the movie, the team is at the breaking point. It’s been rife with tension, bickering, and racial struggles. In fact, it’s not much of a team at all. This scene is the turning point, as team captain and All-American linebacker Gary Bertier (played by Ryan Hurst), who is white, has a confrontation with the other key defensive leader, Julius Campbell (played by Wood Harris), who is black. They’ve been forced by Coach Boone to talk to each other, which neither one of them likes at all, but at last they get down to the issues at the root of the problem- attitude and leadership.

Gary and Julius stand nose to nose, and every line is heated.

Julius says, “Why should I give a hoot about you, huh? Or anybody else out there?… You’re the captain right?”

“Right,” says Gary.

“You have a job?” ask Julius.

“I have a job,” says Gary.

Julius asks, “You been doin’ your job?”

Gary says, “I’ve been doin’ my job.”

Julius says, “The captain is supposed to be a leader. Then why don’t you tell your white buddies to block for Rev [the black running back] better, because they haven’t blocked for him worth a plugged nickel, and you know it. Nobody plays, yourself included…I’m supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team? no! No, what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna look out for myself, and I’m gonna get mine!”

Gary says, “That’s the worst attitude I ever heard.”

Julius answers, “Attitude reflects leadership.”

In the next practice, the moment of truth arrives. Gary stands up to his white friends and tells them to block for Rev, and they actually follow his lead. Soon after, he and Julius are working together tightly on defense, and the next thing you know, they are slapping heads together like they won the Super Bowl, flush with a new and growing respect and friendship. The team follows their lead and becomes incredibly united, eventually leading the school and even the community through the process of racial integration.

If we are leaders, those around us know whether we are out for ourselves or out for the team, and their attitudes will reflect it.

Transition To Body- The Fearless & Boldness of the Saint (even in coming to church to worship the LORD God Jesus Christ)

A potentially grieving church which has lost some members and is experiencing change.

On average, various groups (such as trade guilds) met together about once a month. Diaspora Jews could use their synagogues at any tine, but especially gathered on weekly Sabbaths. Christians seem to have gathered at least weekly, but persecution may have dissuaded some people from attending even relatively private house churches. Roman authorities were suspicious of private meetings, although no one would likely investigate them outside Rome unless someone brought an accusation.

Since we have a great priest over the house of God

Hebrews 10:19–21 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

V19- confidence

a state of boldness and confidence, courage, confidence, boldness, fearlessness

Body- Why should the church gathering be a priority to me?

Let Us Draw Near- Closely Approach The Presence Of God With Complete Confidence- Let Us Draw Near...

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

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.

Draw near- to move towards- of approach to or entry into a deity’s presence, transf. sense of 1a: approach

assurance- state of complete certainty, full assurance, certainty

Obtaining Access By Faith Into This Grace

Romans 5:2 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

conscience- the inward faculty of distinguishing right and wrong, moral consciousness, conscience

Jesus Sympathizes

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Draw Near to God & God Will Draw Near to You

James 4:7–10 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Let Us Hold Fast- Faithfully Retain Our Allegiance To The Son Of God

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

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

Hebrews 10:23 NIV

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Illustrate: NIV translation of unswerving as driving on a slippery road

Note the object of our hope who is Jesus Christ not the act of hoping

hold fast, retain faithfully

wavering- bending to either side

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.80 ἀκλινής, ές

pertaining to being without change or wavering in one’s faith—‘without wavering, firmly

Previously “hold fast” was used again in reference to our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

People In The Temple Hanging On Jesus’ (The High Priest vs. Chief Priest) Words

Luke 19:45–48 ESV

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV

15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Why? He who promised is faithful

Let Us Consider How- Mutually Stimulate Our Spiritual Work Ethic In Christ God (Let us consider conveys careful consideration, thoughtful attention and deep concern)

Hebrews 10:24 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

provocative- serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate

Stir/spur- rousing to activity, stirring up, provoking

let us encourage (stir up) one another—

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. καλός

good, noble, praiseworthy, contributing to salvation

Hebrews 3:12–14 ESV

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Not Giving Up meeting together,

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

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.

Neglecting to meet- to separate connection with someone or someth., forsake, abandon, desert

Cease assembling

Episynagogen (gathering or meeting together)- epistle and synagogue

Epistle- to send a message

Epistemology- the study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity

Synagogue- synagogue, also spelled synagog, in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study. Its traditional functions are reflected in three Hebrew synonyms for synagogue: bet ha-tefilla (“house of prayer”), bet ha-kneset (“house of assembly”), and bet ha-midrash (“house of study”). The term synagogue is of Greek origin (synagein, “to bring together”) and means “a place of assembly.”

Meeting together- indicator of identity or marker of reciprocal relationship

Habit- a usual or customary manner of behavior, habit, usage

Why would a Christian give up meeting together?

Not to gather together to gossip and compare shopping list...

But instead to encourage one another in the LORD...

To read and talk about the Bible together...

To pray together...

Thank the LORD together

Transition To Close

HOME court advantage occurs when the energy of the group magnifies what is happening on the court. With home court advantage, a basketball team struggling to put points on the board hears the energy around them and all of a sudden something feels something sparked within. All of a sudden, that energy enables the team to do better than before and push past the enemy’s oppositions. The fans in the stands are not physically going through the same thing the team is, but they are joining them in spirit and in a way that gives the team a sense of power they didn’t have before. Strength appears out of nowhere because of this mysterious home court advantage. Many people ask why they need to come to church. Worshipping with other believers allows people pushing toward the same goal to gather together in spirit. Worshipping together sparks a view of God bigger than whatever situation folks may be going through.

Evans, Tony. Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations (p. 349). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

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The Cloud Of Witnesses in the stands giving us Home Court Advantage

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

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.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Mark 13:32–33 ESV

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

Mark 13:35–37 ESV

35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Close- Bless the LORD Oh My Soul!

Psalm 34:1–4 ESV

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 122:1–2 ESV

1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Psalm 100:1–5 ESV

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

If King David were at home right watching on His TV or mobile device because of the Coronavirus Pandemic he would say!!!!

Psalm 103:1–5 ESV

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.