Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Emphasizes the importance of Christian community in encouraging love, good works, and mutual support as we journey together towards the Day of the Lord.
Welcome, dear friends, to our shared sanctuary, a place where we gather as one family under the vast, loving umbrella of God's grace. We are here today, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment.
I am reminded of the words of Germany Kent who once said, "Be nice to people... maybe it'll be unappreciated, unreciprocated, or ignored, but spread the love anyway. We rise by lifting others." And indeed, we are not alone. We are here together, bound by the ties of faith and love, ready to harness the power of togetherness. Since this is true, we should try our best to lift each other up and spread love always.
Our Scripture for today, from the book of Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 24 and 25, reads:
"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."
This passage is a call to action, a reminder that our faith is not a solitary endeavor, but a communal exercise. It is an exhortation to stir up one another to love and good works, to meet together, to encourage one another. It is a clarion call that becomes more urgent as the Day draws near.
We are called to harness the power of togetherness. We are stronger when we stand together, when we lift each other up, when we encourage each other. We are called to be a beacon of love and good works in a world that often seems dark and devoid of hope. We are called to heed the call as the Day draws near, to live with urgency, with purpose, with hope.
As we prepare to delve deeper into these truths, let us open with a prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us together today. We thank you for the power of your Word, for the truth it reveals, for the hope it inspires. We ask that you open our hearts and minds today, that you help us to understand your Word, to apply it to our lives, to live it out in our actions. We ask that you guide us, that you strengthen us, that you fill us with your love. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
In the grand tapestry of life, we are not mere threads hanging loose, isolated and alone. We are intricately woven together, each thread contributing to the beauty and strength of the whole. This is the essence of togetherness. It is the recognition that we are interconnected, that we need each other, that we are better together. It is the understanding that our individual threads, when woven together, create a tapestry that is stronger, more beautiful, and more resilient than any single thread could ever be.
More than being physically present with others: It is about being emotionally and spiritually connected. It is about sharing our joys and our sorrows, our triumphs and our trials. It is about bearing each other's burdens, about rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. It is about encouraging each other, lifting each other up, spurring each other on to love and good deeds.
It’s a biblical mandate: In the book of Hebrews, we are exhorted to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another. This is not a suggestion, it is a command. It is not optional, it is essential. It is not just for the good times, it is for all times.
It’s for the benefit of others: When we come together, when we encourage each other, when we spur each other on to love and good deeds, we become a beacon of hope in a world that is often dark and devoid of hope. We become a source of strength for those who are weak, a source of comfort for those who are hurting, a source of encouragement for those who are discouraged. We become the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to a world in need.
It’s for eternity: As the Day draws near, as the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ approaches, the need for togetherness becomes even more urgent. We need each other to stay strong, to stay faithful, to stay focused on the prize that awaits us. We need each other to encourage each other, to spur each other on, to keep each other accountable. We need each other to finish the race, to fight the good fight, to keep the faith.
As we immerse ourselves in the profound wisdom of the Scripture, we find ourselves drawn to the compelling call to love and good works ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO