Sermon Tone Analysis

ENGAGING IN TRUE WORSHIP

Dr. George Bannister

Following Jesus: The Letter to the Hebrews / Worship /

Hebrews 13:8–16

INTRODUCTION:

I. ENGAGE IN WORSHIP OF THE UNCHANGING GOD.

(Hebrews 13: 8)

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Chapter 13)

Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐχθὲς καὶ σήμερον ὁ αὐτός, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας.

A. We are to worship the unchanging God.

1. Jesus Christ is the same (αὐτός = pertaining to that which is identical to something—‘same.’)

past (ἐχθὲς ) present (σήμερον) and future (αἰῶνας).

(James 1:17)

B. We are to worship God in spirit and truth.

(John 4:24).

1.

What does this mean?

a. Real worship is spiritual, not ceremonial.

b.

Real worship is not confined to a place.

c.

Real worship is honest and earnest.

II.

ENGAGING IN TRUE WORSHIP BY MAINTAINING PURE DOCTRINE.

(Hebrews 13: 9-10).

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Chapter 13)

9 διδαχαῖς ποικίλαις καὶ ξέναις μὴ παραφέρεσθε· καλὸν γὰρ χάριτι βεβαιοῦσθαι τὴν καρδίαν, οὐ βρώμασιν, ἐν οἷς οὐκ ὠφελήθησαν οἱ περιπατοῦντες.10 ἔχομεν θυσιαστήριον ἐξ οὗ φαγεῖν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν οἱ τῇ σκηνῇ λατρεύοντες.

A. Don’t be carried about by every wind of doctrine.

(Hebrews 13:9a)

1- We are not to get “sucked-in” by new doctrines and ideas.

(παραφέρεσθε = ‘to carry along,’ to cause someone to depart from an earlier belief, with the implication of accepting a belief which is false—‘to mislead, to lead astray, to carry off.)

(1 Timothy 4:1)

(Ephesians 4:14)

a. Illustration:

Following the Great Awakenings and revivals in America, many people were deceived by “restoration” groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

They were preaching “new doctrines” that contradicted the biblical doctrines about Christ, Salvation and the Church.

They introduced new authorities that taught false gospels based upon works.

B. Establish your life on sound doctrine.

(pπεριπατοῦντες = to live or behave in a customary manner, with possible focus upon continuity of action—‘to live, to behave, to go about doing.’)

1- Doctrine (what we believe) affects our behavior.

a. False doctrine will influence your life in negative ways.

(1) Joseph Smith’s teaching about plural marriage led to inevitable abuses and life-styles that contradicts scripture.

b.

True doctrine leads to godly behavior.

* True orthodoxy should lead to orthipraxy!

C. Reject doctrine that is unprofitable.

1.

It has not even benefited those who have been occupied with it.

2. God takes doctrine seriously.

(Galatians 1:6-8)

III.

ENGAGE IN TRUE WORSHIP BY MAKING SACRIFICES TO GOD.

(Hebrews 13:11-16).

A. Accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

(Hebrews 13:11-12).

11 ὧν γὰρ εἰσφέρεται ζῴων τὸ αἷμα περὶ ἁμαρτίας εἰς τὰ ἅγια διὰ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως, τούτων τὰ σώματα κατακαίεται ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς·

12 διὸ καὶ Ἰησοῦς, ἵνα ἁγιάσῃ διὰ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος τὸν λαόν, ἔξω τῆς πύλης ἔπαθεν.

1. Jesus paid for our sins “in full.”

(John 19:30)

B. Offering the sacrifice of identifying with Christ.

(Hebrews 13:13-14).

13 τοίνυν ἐξερχώμεθα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς, τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν αὐτοῦ φέροντες.

14 οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ὧδε μένουσαν πόλιν, ἀλλὰ τὴν μέλλουσαν ἐπιζητοῦμεν·

1. Being willing to “bear the disgrace” of Christ through open identification with Him.

a.) Through POF & Baptism

b.) Through openly witnessing

c.) Through identifying with God’s people.

(Hebrews 11:24-26)

C. Offering the sacrifice of praise.

( Hebrews 13:15)

15 διʼ αὐτοῦ οὖν ἀναφέρωμεν θυσίαν αἰνέσεως διὰ παντὸς τῷ θεῷ, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν καρπὸν χειλέων ὁμολογούντων τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

1.

We are to continually (διὰ παντὸς = constantly, always, continually) offer the sacrifice of praise (καρπὸν = praises, which are presented to God as a thank offering).

(Colossians 3:15)

D. Offering the sacrifice of ministering to one another .(Hebrews

13:16)

16 τῆς δὲ εὐποιΐας καὶ κοινωνίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνεσθε, τοιαύταις γὰρ θυσίαις εὐαρεστεῖται ὁ θεός.

(Galatians 6:10).

1. Minister by doing good for one another.

(εὐποιΐας =to do that which is good and beneficial to someone—‘to do good, good deed.’

2. Minister by sharing with one another.

(κοινωνίας =an association involving close mutual relations and involvement—‘close association, fellowship.’)

3.

These sacrifices please God.

(εὐαρεστεῖται = ‘to cause to be pleased, to please.’

CONCLUSION: