September 17
Community requires Commitment
Hebrews 10:19-25
Fun LG testimony of committing something to do together. Or..story of First Responder acting to help his teammate
Turn to Hebrews 10:19-25 This morning we continue our three-part series, Better Together. That’s one of the dominant themes throughout the Bible: that we are better together. That’s because we are created in the image of God, and because God exists in community, that we are not better until we are in community with Him and with His people. We saw last week that we are infinitely better when we are reunited, rejoined, brought back into community with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Last week we had ?? people raise their hands to accept covering for their sin provided through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and identify with Jesus for the first time!
Now this morning we turn our attention to the fact that being a part of the body of Christ means that To be committed to God is to be committed to each other.
So let’s read the text for this morning, Hebrews 10:19-25 (on screen)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh ), 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
The first few verses pick up last week’s theme. The writer of Hebrews draws heavily from Old Testament, Hebrew imagery. Here he/she is (we’re not sure who the author was), is conjuring up the physical temple to make a spiritual application. The inner part of the Temple, the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, was off limits except for the high priest who would come in once a year and make sacrifice and sprinkle the blood of the animal to as a symbolic cleansing for the nation of Israel. A curtain separated that area from everything and everyone else. The point of this passage is that Jesus acts acted as both High Priest and sacrifice so that by His physical death and the sprinkling of His blood He has opened up access to God. And those of us who are in Christ, because our hearts are sprinkled clean by His blood, we have bold access. We don’t have to fear God’s judgement; we don’t have to cower in His presence. We can enter His presence boldly because we belong in His presence thru Christ. God has promised and He. Is. Faithful.
But now the author shifts slightly to make another application of this great gospel, good news that brings us into fellowship and community with God. Notice what it says:
“24 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
You probably noticed that as fellow believers, We are to be committed to each other:
1. Committed to each other’s well-being v.24a
“And let us be concerned about one another”
Turn to the person next to you and say, “I’m concerned about you!” Well, out of context that can mean a lot of things. But here’s what I want you to get down deep in your soul: Just as we belong to Jesus, we belong to each other!
And if we belong to each other, we look out for each other. Story of 2 brothers fighting, man didn’t know they were brothers, tried to intercede so he jumped on one of the brothers and wrestled him to the ground. The other brother jumped on him and then the 2 of them beat the guy up!
Family sticks together. And there is no greater family than the family of God. Now, you know how big I am on family, right? (pic of fam; I’ll provide) We stick together. You got a problem with one of my family members, you got a problem with me.
And yet, even more important than my earthly family, is my heavenly family. If you’re saved, raise your hands. You are my brothers and sisters in Jesus. And that my friends has incredible, eternal significance.
And yet, church folk are notorious for treating their heavenly family with contempt. Some of the nastiest people I’ve ever known were church folk—not really sure they were Christians. Carthage; Jonathan. Flat tires and anonymous threatening notes. Lots of people just stopped coming to church. Others stayed and did all they could to ruin my reputation. They would scowl at me as I preached.
Yes church folk can be nasty, but maybe even worse—indifferent. We have so many of us who are hurting: crumbling families, cancer-ridden bodies, enslavement to deep wounds from the past. Being committed to each other means that we get on the prayer list to pray for them; it means being generous with your time to mentor a student who is struggling with adolescence; it means stepping into one of our Real Life Ministries to give hope to the overwhelmed; it means becoming a Life Group leader to help shepherd God’s flock. We’re better when we’re together and committed to the well being of each other.
2. Committed to love and good works v.24b
“in order to promote love and good works”
Have you ever noticed how absolutely critical commitment and good works are to any relationship?
No relationship will go very far or very deep without commitment. The depth of love is measured by the depth of commitment.
Of course the proof text for that is Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Commitment and good works are critical for any love relationship.
Jeff Hunt
3. Committed to the gathering to encourage one other “
25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Gonna say something that is going to hack some of you off. Can I just say that Letting non-essential activities crowd out your weekly appearance in this room is sin.
Not talking about that needed vacation. Not talking about visiting out of town relatives. Certainly not talking about being sick. What I’m talking about is allowing your schedule to be so over-activated that you’re running kids all over the Metroplex on Sundays or getting out of town every other weekend or sleeping in on Sundays because your too worn out from your hyper activity.
When you show up on Sunday morning, your very presence here encourages the people around you. When you open your mouth to sing, you sing encouragement to those around you. When you laugh at my jokes—I’m encouraged!
When the baskets are passed, don’t give away your money. Rather, share it so our community can serve others. Come to Life Group, not only because you need it, but also because you can encourage others and build them up. Be in worship so you can celebrate victories God has given to others. Come so you can serve those around you with a kind word, a hug, or an invitation to break bread together.
That’s Bible. And if the Bible’s not good enough for you, maybe Winnie the Pooh:
“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
Story of greeter w/cancer: Connections team gathering around her???
