A. I want to begin by sharing some actual excuse notes sent by parents. They were collected by the University of Texas and include the original spellings.
1. “My son is under a doctor’s care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.”
2. “Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,and also 33.
3. “Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.”
4. “Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.”
5. “Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.”
6. “Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.”
7. “Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak.”
8. “Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.”
9. “Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was not his fault.”
B. Excuses, excuses, and excuses…we all have them, right?
1. We have excuses for why we missed school or work.
2. We have excuses for why we are late paying our bills.
3. We have excuses for why we got off our diet and exercise program.
4. We have excuses for why we haven’t been in touch with a friend.
C. We also have excuses regarding spiritual things.
1. We have excuses for why we have been missing worship or Bible classes.
2. We have excuses for why we don’t give more money or time or effort to the Lord.
3. We have excuses for why we can’t take on a responsibility like teaching a Bible class or visiting a shut in.
D. Most excuses aren’t very good ones, are they?
1. Ultimately, God doesn’t want to hear excuses, rather He wants to hear confessions and resolutions.
2. God wants to see genuine repentance and faithfulness.
3. And one of the things that God definitely doesn’t want to hear is excuses why we didn’t attempt to do something about those who are excusing themselves from active participation in our assemblies and ministries.
E. Okay, let’s have a quick show of hands…How many of you think it is important to be nice to people at church?
1. Okay…good. Now a follow-up question: How many of you think that being nice to people at church is the most important thing we should do?
2. Most of us know that being nice isn’t the most important thing, and yet we know it is important to be a very welcoming, loving, accommodating church family.
3. At the same time, we also realize that being a real Christian community is more than just giving people a comfortable place to worship.
4. We are called into an adventure of discipleship and a ministry that is demanding and requires our attention and effort, but also requires the encouragement and correction of others.
5. And so we find ourselves challenged by this tension of being nice and gentle, and being confrontational and insistent.
F. I want to draw your attention to the passage we read for the Scripture Reading.
1. It is from the New Testament letter called Hebrews.
2. In many respects, Hebrews is not a letter, but is actually a sermon.
3. The Hebrew preacher is using every means at his disposal to grab the attention of his first century hearers.
4. They were Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and were abandoning their commitments to Christ.
5. Hebrews was written to persuade them to come back to Christ, and stick with Christ.
6. The Hebrew writer tells them how to do that, and how to help each other do that.
G. And so we come to our passage for the day: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:23-25)
1. Those are three power-packed verses – Amen?!!
2. In verse 23, the Hebrew writer starts with the challenge to hold on the hope we profess.
3. The reason we should hold on to our hope is because we are hoping in the God who is faithful.
4. Sometimes we put our hope in people who are very unreliable, and we are disappointed.
5. But God never disappoints, because God is altogether trustworthy and reliable.
6. We can count on Him, and therefore we should never give up our hope in Him.
H. Then in verse 24, the writer challenges us to figure out how to motivate each other to love and good works.
1. Look at verse 24 in these different translations:
a. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (NIV)
b. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (New Living Translation)
c. And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (NAS)
d. And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, (International Standard Version)
e. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (KJV)
f. The Message reads: “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,”
2. The word in that verse that I want to focus on is the Greek word paroxysm (par-ock-ism).
a. It is an interesting word that is used only twice in the NT.
b. The other place that it is used is in Acts 15:39 where Paul and Barnabas were having a disagreement about whether to take John Mark with them on the next missionary journey – Mark had deserted them on the first.
c. The Bible says: “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.”
d. The word translated “sharp” is the word paroxysm (par-ock-ism).
3. Look back at the different translations of Heb. 10:24 and notice the different English words used to translate paroxysm (par-ock-ism) – “to spur, to motivate, to stimulate, to provoke.”
4. Usually when we think of provoking someone, we think of doing so in a negative sense, rather than a positive sense. Right?.
5. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word provoke as “to anger, irritate, or annoy; to create disputes.” That’s the negative side of provocation.
6. But that’s not the only definition Webster gives. The additional definition for provoke is “to excite to action or feeling, to stir up, call forth, stimulate, to influence.”
a. That’s the positive side of provocation.
I. Another interesting thing about Heb. 10:24 is that we are commanded to be creative in our provoking.
1. The different translations say things like: “let us consider, let us think about, let’s see how inventive.”
2. It’s important to give thought to this because all of us are different.
3. What might motivate one person may not motivate another, and visa versa.
4. I like the story told of the minister who took his little child to see the circus.
a. The clowns were particularly good and the last one of them was a little fellow wearing a wonderful high hat.
b. While he was bowing elaborately to a dignified woman, his hat fell off and an elephant sat on it.
c. The clown gestured wildly at the elephant, but the beast sat still.
d. He waved and shouted again and again, but the elephant never budged.
e. Angrily the clown stepped behind the elephant and kicked with all his strength, and hopped away with a sore foot in his hands.
f. Then, frantic with anger, the little clown turned back to the elephant and tried to lift him off the hat.
g. Defeated and in complete despair, the clown sat down and started to eat some peanuts.
h. The elephant was interested in the peanuts got up, ambled over, and begged for some!
5. Just like the man with the elephant, we have to be inventive and figure out how to motivate each other; how to get each other moving in the right direction.
J. The final part of that verse points out what is the end result that we are looking to motivate people toward – it is love and good deeds.
1. We aren’t just trying to provoke people in general – many of us do enough of that without trying!
2. No, we are to work toward provoking each other toward love and good deeds.
3. There are people to be loved, there is service to be performed, and there is justice to be done.
4. If you are anything like me, then you’ll need some fairly firm encouragement to keep at it.
K. So all of us need some spurring and provoking.
1. Let’s face it, we get a little lazy or distracted at times, and we need someone to nudge us in the right direction.
2. The wise, spiritual person welcomes the nudging, spurring and provoking of others.
3. We need brothers and sisters in Christ who will help us to become more and better than we would be without their motivation.
4. When we think of people who have made the biggest difference in our lives – the parents, teachers, mentors, and friends – they all have one thing in common – they pushed us further than we wanted to go.
5. They didn’t let us get away with being less than we should be or could be.
6. When I’m being a true friend and minister, then I’m doing the same thing.
7. Sometimes this sort of “provoking” means giving up being “nice.”
L. But that’s okay, isn’t it? “Niceness” is overrated, it is a fairly thin virtue.
1. Niceness is something best-suited for people you don’t know very well – like strangers, other drivers on the highway, and new acquaintances.
2. Deeper and more meaningful relationships require something more than just niceness.
3. Deeper and more meaningful relationships require prodding and provoking.
4. Any close relationship that can’t tolerate mutual provoking isn’t really a relationship worth having. Is it?
5. The last thing we need is a bunch of people who flatter us, never disagree with us, and never challenge us when we are wrong.
M. As a preacher, I can tell you that there is a temptation to stand in the pulpit each week and speak sweet nothings to the congregation.
1. It’s not hard to come up with positive and pleasant messages that never challenge or correct.
2. Some preachers say that they avoid preaching tough sermons on tough subjects because they want to be loving and don’t want to hurt people.
3. But how is it loving for any of us to not help each other see the truth about ourselves and not help each other become all that God wants us to be?
4. Certainly, we come to worship to be encouraged, but we should never be encouraged to stay where we are if it is not where God wants us to be.
N. And so God has called us to provoke, stir up, disturb, motivate and spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
1. Did you notice that this verse wasn’t written to preachers, but was written to all Christians?
2. It doesn’t read: “Elders consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
3. Or: “Deacons consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
4. No, it says “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
5. We are equally responsible for stimulating one another to love and good deeds.
6. This is your job, and my job – it is everyone’s job – not because we are preachers, or elders, or Bible class teachers, but because we are Christians.
O. The big question now becomes – HOW? How can we motivate one another on toward love and good deeds? Let me offer three ways…
P. First of all, we can provoke people by our PRESENCE
1. The first thing we must do is faithfully gather with the church.
2. The Hebrew writer said, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…” (10:25)
3. We can’t positively influence others if we are not present, and we can’t be positively influenced by other unless we are present.
4. It’s harder to influence people from a far than it is to influence them up close and personal.
5. We must be together and spend time together in order to encourage and be encouraged.
6. I like the story of Otto Appleton.
a. He was nearly 90 years old when a young 25 year-old man became his preacher.
b. Otto had been a lifelong member of the church.
c. But now his crippling arthritis had bent him over to the point that to even lift his head was painful, and his walk was a mere shuffle.
d. Otto’s hearing was almost completely gone and his eye sight was so poor he could no longer read.
e. Nevertheless, every Sunday, Otto made his way to church.
f. After observing this for about a year, the young preacher asked Otto, “Why do you make this monumental effort each week to come to church even though you can’t see or hear what is going on?”
g. Otto smiled and said, “I come for the children. I want them to know it’s important.”
7. Let me make one clarification about our presence – the opposite of forsaking the fellowship isn’t just showing up.
a. The opposite of forsaking the fellowship is being engaged with one another.
b. Yes, we need to be present, but we also need to be involved, active and connected.
Q. Second, we can provoke people by our EXAMPLE
1. Think with me about our dear brother Charlie.
2. What a great example he has been to all of us.
3. He had no family, no money, and a body that didn’t let him get about and take care of himself, but did he allow any of that to get him down? Not a bit.
4. Charlie had a fantastically positive attitude and he was a great encourager.
5. More than anything he wanted people to know that God loved them and that he loved them.
6. The power of our example isn’t necessarily through some grand gesture, some spectacular example of love and self-sacrifice.
7. Rather, I think it happens on a day-to-day basis as we demonstrate acceptance and compassion and genuine interest in others.
8. It happens through a consistently positive attitude and through small acts of kindness.
9. That kind of example is inspiring. Thanks Charlie!
R. Finally, we can provoke people by our WORDS
1. We have talked many times about the power of our words.
2. Proverbs 18:21 says: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
3. I like the story of a math teacher named Helen who gave her students an unusual assignment one day.
a. The students were struggling to understand some math concepts she was trying to teach them.
b. They were becoming mean and short with one another.
c. She instructed them to take out a blank piece of paper and write the names of each of their classmates and next to each name they were to write the nicest thing they could think of about each person.
d. She collected all the lists and complied them over the weekend.
e. On Monday she gave each of the students his/her list.
f. Before long the entire class was smiling and comments were being made, like: “Really? You think that about me?” “I never knew that I meant anything to anyone.” “I didn’t know others like me so much.”
g. Several years later, Helen learned that one of those students, named Mark, had died in Vietnam.
h. She attended his funeral and then gathered afterwards with his friends at his family’s home.
i. Mark’s parents approached the teacher and said, “We want to show you something.”
j. With that, the dad opened his wallet and removed two worn pieces of paper that had been taped, folded and refolded many times.
k. The papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him.
l. Mark’s mother then said, “Thank you so much for doing that. AS you can see, Mark treasured it.”
m. Others took notice of the conversation, and a former classmate named Chuck smiled and sheepishly said, “I still have my list too. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.”
n. Another student’s wife said: “John asked me to put his in our wedding album.”
o. A former student named Marilyn, reached into her purse, took out her wallet and showed her worn list to the group, saying, “I carry mine with me all the time.”
4. Oh the power of encouraging, up-building words!
5. There is a time for warm, encouraging words, and there is a time for critical, challenging words.
6. There’s a time to ask: “Are you sure that is a good course to take?”
7. There’s a time to say: “I love you, but I can’t agree with what you are doing.”
8. There’s a time to express our concern for a person’s soul and for their lack of follow-through in discipleship.
9. We, of course, must be careful how we share our challenging, critical words, but sometimes love demands that we share them.
10. I love the question Paul asked the Christians in Galatia: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16)
11. Proverbs 27:6 says: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
S. Today’s sermon serves as the concluding sermon in our series about developing Real Christian Community – becoming the church as it ought to be.
1. We have been examining the “one another” passages of the New Testament.
2. Hopefully we have grown in our ability to:
a. Be devoted to one another.
b. To honor one another.
c. To submit to one another.
d. To accept one another.
e. To admonish one another.
f. To serve one another.
g. To bear with one another.
h. To encourage one another.
i. To pray for one another.
j. To bear one another’s burdens.
k. And finally, to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
3. All of these are a part of our ultimate goal to love one another, each expresses a part of what love really is.
T. Look again at our passage from Hebrews: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1. That DAY is approaching – the day when Christ will return and time will be no more.
2. As each day passes we are one day closer to the coming of Christ.
3. Jesus told us to be ready, because none of us know on what day he will come.
4. We need not be anxious about His coming, but we do need to be ready for His coming.
5. Are you ready?
6. Is there someone you need to encourage and provoke to get ready for His coming?
7. Remember no excuses will be accepted at that time.
Resources:
“Go Ahead, Provoke Me!” Sermon by Mike Bennett
“Becoming Provocative Christians” Sermon by D. Paul O. Boger.
“Stimulate One Another to Good Deeds” Sermon by Edwin Crozier
