Growing Relationships - Part 1 Series

Growing Relationships

We must Grow in our Relationships

How to Grow in relationship with God

Have faith

Confess sins

Obey Him

How to Grow in relationship with God’s People

Consider one another

Encourage one another

Meet with one another

Failure to Grow is Evidence of a Lack of Relationship

Relationships are Costly…yet Rewarding

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Introduction

Relationships are important in Christianity. In helping others come to Christ. In helping others and ourselves, persevere in Christ.

This past week, Laura and I and a few others were able to attend a relationships workshop that was really incredible.

It was beneficial to me in a number of ways and I know to everyone who attended.

Effort Required

But one of the things that I learned or at least was reminded of was that it requires effort to have a growing relationship with people, whether it is your spouse or a friend or a family member.

To have a relationship beyond just knowing someone and to be continuing in relationship with others is going to take effort. Maintaining relationships is hard work.

Anyone who has been in a relationship with another person and thought it would maintain itself has seen that relationship deteriorate into no relationship at all.

I am sure each of us can think back to relationships we had in high school or college that were close and strong, but have deteriorated as you have gotten away from talking and being together. You may still talk occasionally, but it is not the relationship it was.

Even in marriages where you see your spouse everyday and are together and speak each day, it takes work and effort to truly communicate and grow in your relationship.

And even in spite of all the work and effort that being in growing relationships involves, each of us need those types of relationships in our lives.

Transition

Well, the author of Hebrews has a few things to say about our need for Growing relationships in Hebrews 10

We are continuing on in Hebrews 10:19-22.

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We saw last week that Christianity is a new and better Covenant than the Old Covenant and even better than any pseudo covenant that we seek to follow that is really no covenant at all.

And we enter into that New Covenant by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and entering into relationship with Him.

Let’s see what the author has to say now in light of what he has said to this point.

Let’s read Hebrews 10:19-23

Hebrews 10:19-23

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

So here the author recaps what he has just said and is basing his next thoughts upon it.

The first thing we learn here is that

We Must Grow in Our Relationship with God

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Hebrews 10:22

22 let us draw near to God

Drawing near to God is Growing in your relationship to God.

The author is telling us to Grow in our relationship with Him.

I want to back up and give a bit of context up to this point.

The author has in the previous 3 chapters told us about the New Covenant.

He is telling these Hebrew people, many of whom are believers but a few who may not be, that the New Covenant in Christ’s blood is far better and that we need to enter into that covenant, receiving Jesus by believing in Him as our Savior.

Once that happens, Relationship has been established. Salvation has been given, never to be taken away.

Then you need to grow in that relationship.

Draw near to God, Grow in that relationship.

That is easy to say, but How do we do that?

How do we grow in our relationship with God?

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The inability to know how to maintain particular relationships is what leads to many relationships failing.

Thankfully for us, the author gives us some guidelines in how to grow in our relationship with God.

The first thing he says is

Have Faith in Him

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Hebrews 10:22b

22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,

Now there are a couple of aspects to the faith that we need to have to be in a growing relationship with God.

First we need to have a