Growing Up God's Way - Hebrews 5:11-6:8 (outline)

What is the goal of the sermon?

To spur the hearers to continue growing up.

Is there a need for this goal/message?

Yes. Some are uncertain about how to grow.

Yes. Others don’t understand the consequence of not growing. (still-born)

Yes. Being able to live wisely under difficulty is possibly only One way.

How will you accomplish this goal? (and preview)

By expositing Hebrews 5:11-6:9 to show that growing up requires: (1) A loving rebuke, (2) A reasonable command, and (3) A reassuring word.

Big Idea:

If you will endure, you must be growing up God’s way.

Body:

(1) A rebuke is necessary (Hebrews 5:11-14)

…because of our tendency to lack self-awareness…and to choose an “easier” path...

Ill: Mark 8:32-33. Jesus rebukes Peter

This rebuke is designed to bring a self-awareness about themselves which otherwise the hearers would not know. Hebrews 5:11 shows us part of this problem - They are dull of hearing which is to say that they had grown lethargic.

..we understand that their problem was an acquired condition characterized by an inability to listen to spiritual truth - Kent Hughes (p. 148).

App: Have you grown lethargic in hearing the word on Sunday mornings or day-by-day? How would you know…(see next)

Hebrews 5:12. The rebuke is given a biblical test of “you ought to be teachers”.

App: Are you able to explain the basics of what it means to be a Christian? Further, are you teaching the basics of what it means to be a Christian?

The rebuke concludes with a humbling metaphor. Hebrews 5:13-14. [EXPLAIN VERSES]

There is a danger in not considering the context of this passage when interpreting this metaphor:

To say that they are dull of hearing = lack maturing. To say they lack of maturing = lack of discernment. To say they lack discerning = lack of exercising by the Word. To say they lack exercising by the Word = they lack true faith that produces obedience to the Word.

App:

This kind of rebuke tells us:

Mature:

Aware of Need.

Humble.

Immature:

These are those who neglect growth in the Word for growth in the world...

Illustration: Luke 8:14, 21:34-36.

Unaware of Need.

These can be adults who are part of the community but who have no lasting fruit of faith-filled obedience to the Word.

There is no idea that we can be confident of the salvation of those who remain spiritual infants for years. - Schreiner (p. 173).

Transition: (II Timothy 3:16-17)

(2) A reasonable command is necessary (Hebrews 6:1-8) [apostasy problem]

…because of our tendency of reverting back to faith in our religious activity…

Ill: There are habits which are built into our human nature. These can be very comfortable habits and difficult to break. When the north side of Union Rd. was closed...

If we will grow mature we need clear direction.

Hebrews 6:1-3. The command to forsake and follow.

Have obedience-causing, true faith in the word and forsake faith in past, religious observances. That is the command.

App: What specific evidence is there in your life that you are maturing and becoming more like Jesus?

Hebrews 6:4-6. True faith vs. False faith.

Illustration: Charles Templeton; 1945 (partnered with BG; YFC; 1948 (doubt); 1957(agnostic); 50 years later Lee Strobel - “I miss him...”

App: According to the scripture, which faith do you have?

Hebrews 6:7-8. This metaphor helps clarify the reasoning of the writer.

The fruit in this passage is a faith that produces genuine obedience or exercise of the Word of God.

Those who do not yield a life of obedience to the word will burn — not because your obedience pays for your sins but because faithful obedience is the sign of true faith that endures; and where there is no obedience there is no true faith.

Illustration: Thief on the Cross… "Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom...” Marks of true faith: confession & endurance.

April 17 - Public confession opportunity

App: Do you know a person who cannot submit to anyone? One who is ruled by the spirit of rebellion? One who cannot be rebuked? One who, though they are among the people of God, are bearing no real fruit of faithful obedience to the word?

If this is you, you must consider that you have a false faith and not a true faith. You are keeping religious observances but you are not maturing. You are spiritually still-born.

Transition

(3) A reassurance is necessary (Hebrews 6:9)

…because of our tendency to lack assurance after a necessary rebuke.

Ill: What is our typical response after the law has exposed our infraction (i.e. speeding, red light…etc)…

Hebrews 6:9. What kind of outside source is this? One that verbalizes true, gospel-love. But beloved…

App: This is a word of encouragement to those who question whether vulnerability is a worthwhile risk.

The right kind of vulnerability will not only lead to rebuke but also to encouragement as well.

Who is in your life telling you these kinds of rebukes and reassurances?

Conclusion:

...the reality is that some of us are not quite getting the full picture here.

God has not only spoken in times past by the prophets, but he has now spoken to us by His Son. In Jesus, we find the Rebuke, the Command, and the Reassurance.

His Person is perfect in obedience (Hebrews 5:8), and in this perfect obedience, we all should feel the stinging rebuke of our disobedience.

Are you busy comparing yourself to other people that you don’t see how Jesus exposes your flaws? He is the Word.

To the still-born, will you go ahead and give your life to Jesus?

To the lethargic Christian, have you stopped receiving the loving rebuke exposed by the perfect Jesus?

His Command is clear. Only those who obey Him have eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9).

Are you living a life of actual faith and obedience to Him?

His Reassurance is that He is the eternal High Priest, through whom we receive not only salvation but the things which accompany salvation (Hebrews 5:10).

What accompanies salvation? A life of obedience to His Word.

Illustration: Mark 15:39. What caused this, was it not a confrontation with God’s final speech — Jesus.

Are you exercising your senses with your workout partner, or are you spiritually dead?

Bad habits die hard. Habit of sleeping during the ministry of the word. Habit of not exercising in the word. Habit of not preparing for receiving the word.

What is this all saying? Hearing, obeying, and receiving encouragement from Jesus — how we grow up God’s way — are not as important as the cares of this life.