Suffering Teaches Obedience

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews

Text: Hebrews 5:1-9

Ministry: Aware of your weakness before you can help the weakness of others. Aware of your sin before you can help the sin of others.

Vs 9, often in scripture “perfect” means mature, complete, finished. In this verse perfect is used as “completely qualified” as Jesus is our perfect High Priest, the only One qualified to do so…meeting all the qualifications

Vs 8, Suffering teaches obedience

Hebrews 2:10

When the Father says “No”

Obeying God even though…

Obedience and faith are easy when God is doing everything you want

Acts 9:15-16, Habakkuk 3:17-18

Hold On

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 4:14-16  

Hold on to your confession/profession of faith.  

(Romans 10:9)  

Public confession/profession is when things start happening, things get done, things start to change.  

Why public? So others can hear you say it. So you can remember you said it to others.  

Hold on to your prayer.  

Never stop asking, because you will never stop needing.  

Hold on to Jesus.  

Jesus knows what temptation feels like but He does not know what sinning feels like. He understands the desire to quit but He does not know what giving up feels like because He never did. Jesus conquered sin for you because He knows that you can’t.

Living Word of God(Part 2)

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 4:12-13  

The spoken and written Word of God through, by and for Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God.  

Bible Study:  

Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-5  

1 Peter 1:20-23  

Hebrews 1:1-2  

The Word of God is a “He,” not an “it.”  

Application:  

Living Word—There is no where that He is not.  

Abraham Kuyper, "There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out,  "This is mine! This belongs to me!"  

(And you are more than one square inch!)  

Powerful Word—Matthew 28:18  

~Almost all your spiritual growth will be tied in some way with your growth in the sovereignty of Jesus.  

~”Hang On!” two ways.  

If Christianity is boring to you, you’re not doing it right.

Living Word of God

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 4:12-13  

The spoken and written Word of God through, by and for Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God.  

Bible Study:  

Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-5  

1 Peter 1:20-23  

Hebrews 1:1-2  

The Word of God is a “He,” not an “it.”

Application:  

Living Word—There is no where that He is not.  

Abraham Kuyper, "There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out,  "This is mine! This belongs to me!"  

(You are more than one square inch!)  

Powerful Word—Matthew 28:18  

Sharper Word—There is nothing about you that Jesus does not know. He knows what is wrong with you, and He knows what is right with you.  

What is wrong with you?  

What is right with you?

Breaking the Cycle

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 4:1-11 (NIV)

Belief + Trust = Faith  

Do you believe? So trust…rest.

Mathew 11:28  

“Today!” Breaking the cycle from yesterday!  

Generations—breaking the cycle of ungodliness and dysfunction.  

Personally—breaking the cycle of ungodliness and dysfunction.  

N.T. Wright, “Once you stop believing either in the God who called you, rescued you and guides you, or in the future He has promised you, you may simply go round and round in the wilderness and never get anywhere.”  

Best message title ever—Joyce Meyer, “Haven’t We Seen This Mountain Somewhere Before?”

Rest: Then and...Now

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 3:14-19  

 Rest: Now…and then

Life is the great temptation to not rest, to not trust. Our culture is not an easy place to find rest.  

Belief + Trust = Faith  

Do you believe? So trust. So rest.  

 A test of rest:                                                                  

1) Our circumstances are screaming everything but rest.

2) Because you went thru and passed previous tests of faith, doesn’t always make this one easier.  

Matthew 11:28. “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  

1 Peter 5:7,“Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.”

Deceit

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 3:7-14  

“The deceitfulness of sin”—That somehow it’s OK to not trust God, and somehow it’s OK to not obey God.

Deceit:  

~Sin is not really that bad. What’s the big deal?  

~Slavery wasn’t really that bad. Going back is better than going forward.  

~10 to 2. That somehow it’s OK to be one of the 10 instead of one of the 2.  

“The will of God isn’t hard to know, it’s hard to do.”  

“You only believe the part of the Bible that you do.”

The Long Journey

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 3:7-14

Heart: the seat of who you are, what you love, what you trust in, what you think about most…what has you? Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:21, Proverbs 3:5  

Hard heart: Stiff, not flexible, not easily moved, no longer care. Matthew 3:9 The anger/emotion of Jesus.  

Straying heart: This life is not a sprint but a long distance journey. Straying is wanting to go back, not forward, where everything is familiar and seems safer. Back, not forward.  

Evil heart of unbelief: Amazing unbelief!  

R. Kent Hughes, “The unbelief of God’s people is even more amazing than belief!”  

Forgetting what God has done. The long journey takes a toll.  

Instead of back to the way things were, let’s go on to the way things can be. Because of what God has done, we look forward to what He will do. 

What has you?

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 3:7-14  

Heart: the seat of who you are, what you love, what you trust in, what you think about most…what has you? Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:21, Proverbs 3:5  

The sarcasm of Isaiah: Isaiah 44  

Idol—Something you have to carry.  

Jesus—Someone who carries you.  

Psalm 95  

Max Lucado, "Worship is when you're aware that what you've been given is far greater than what you can give."  

A.P. Gibbs, "Broadly speaking, prayer is the occupation of the soul with its needs; praise is the occupation of the soul with its blessings; but worship is the occupation of the soul with God Himself."

You are not one of many!

Message: A saving, restoring influence

Text: Luke 15:11-32

Father—went to both sons

Younger son—wild, reckless, wasteful

Older son—narcistic, self-righteous, unforgiving

Prostitutes—they are what they are

Employer—heartless, taking advantage of younger son’s need

Younger son’s community—heartless, couldn’t care less

Hired servants—well taken care of. Helped prepare the feast and joined in the celebration. They were happy for the younger son and the father

Older son’s friends—different than everyone else’s friends

Some roles were negative, some were neutral, some were helpful but none would/could fill the role of the father.

You are not one of many!

As Jesus is not One of many!

The Servant and The Son

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 3:1-6  

The builder and the house; the servant and the Son…not the same thing, not even varying degrees of the same thing.  

Moses—law  

Jesus—love  

Moses—religion  

Jesus—relationship  

Moses—institution  

Jesus—Person  

Jeremiah 31:33, Matthew 22:37-40  

The law is easier at first, but weaker in the end—it’s not enough to keep you because you can’t keep it.  

Love is harder at first, but stronger in the end.  

Law—conduct  

Love—character  

Law—doing  

Love--being

Remember

Message: Communion

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

24-25 Always remembering back:

Don’t forget what Jesus did for you, because of what you were. Don’t ever forget what you were and still could be. Remind yourself often.

26 Always looking ahead:

Acts 13:25 John the Baptist

Gospel Touches

“Who is the most important person for you to reach?”

He Had To Be

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:17-18  

“He had to be…” Why did Jesus have to be made like us?  

Vs 17 From God’s perspective:  

“Merciful” – the mercy of God  

“Faithful” – the truth, the justice of God  (Romans 6:23)  

Grace – where the mercy and justice of God meet  John 1:17   

A Redeemer who satisfies the merciful heart and the righteousness of God all at once. Who else could do that, who else can fill that role?  Acts 4:12, Revelation 5  

Vs 18 From our perspective:  

If Jesus is to be sinless, His sinlessness must first be tested by temptation.  

Tempted to: back up; give in and quit; lighten up; choose an easier path; stay angry; stay hurt; stay frustrated…

Nothing To Fear

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:14-16  

John 10:10 The devil can’t create sin but he does manipulate our fears, inclinations, personalities and takes advantage of our circumstances. The devil can’t create sin, so he works at creating the situation where sin can thrive.

In Jesus, there is nothing to fear:  

Revelation 1:17-18  

1 Corinthians 15:51-58  

Revelation 21:4  

Isaiah 26:3  

Pilgrim's Progress, "I must continue, for to go back means nothing but death.  To go forward is the fear of death, but beyond it is life everlasting.  I'll keep going forward."

Michael E. Wittmer, "If death was no big deal, then there would be no reason to be a Christian."

Sanctification

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:11  

Sanctification: “To be set apart as holy.”  

How is sanctification different from salvation?  

Salvation is Romans 10:9, sanctification is Romans 8:29. Salvation leads to sanctification as being born again is to lead to Christian maturity.  

So what? What’s the point? Why is it important?  

John 17:17-19  

How many of us were led to Jesus by no one? How many of us have grown in Jesus by influence from no one?  

~How many people are more faithful to Jesus because of your faithfulness?  

~How many people are less faithful to Jesus because of your lack of faithfulness? Or, how many people would be more faithful to Jesus if you would be?  

~Are you affecting anyone at all by your faith?

I can't get you out of my mind.

Message: I can’t get you out of my mind  

Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7  

Vs 5 – First: Do you really have it?  

Next: Pass it on to someone.  

Pass it on…  

Vs 3-4 – Willie Nelson, “You Were Always On My Mind.”  

Vs 5, 7 – Your faith when they have lost faith in themselves. Apostle Paul’s facebook account.  

Vs 6 – Fan into flames the inner fire.  

1. How many people are more faithful to Jesus because of your faithfulness?

2. How many people are less faithful to Jesus because of your lack of faithfulness? Or, how many people would be more faithful to Jesus if you would be?

3. Are you affecting anyone at all by your faith?

Shaping to the perfect fit.

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:10  

“Perfect” means complete, mature, finished.  

When did Jesus’ suffering begin?                         

When did your suffering begin?  

Shaping to the perfect fit.  

 Abraham Lincoln, "The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance.We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this, but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise…we must work earnestly in the best light He gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great ends He ordains.Surely He intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay."

From Telescope to Microscope

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:6-9  

What is man?...  

From telescope to microscope  

Psalm 8 David studying the universe  

Psalm 139 David studying himself  

Why man?...  

There is something wrong with each of us, and Jesus knows what that is. So why us?                                        

 Your worth is not what you are, but whose you are.  

Why Jesus?...  

Jesus is not watching you, He wants to be with you.  

“But we see Jesus.”  

Take back control of your boat!

Message: The Letter to the Hebrews  

Text: Hebrews 2:1-4  

“Drift away” is a nautical/mariner term—a boat slowing drifting away, almost unnoticeable.  

What is the ultimate goal of your life? Where is your life leading you, where are you going?  

“Neglecting” is not rejecting, it is indifference. It’s the point where you no longer care that you don’t care.  

C.S. Lewis, “And as a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away.?”  

Take back control of your boat!                             

“More earnest heed” (More close attention) Not less, not the same, but more.

Between the cross and resurrection

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Message: Between the cross and resurrection  

Text: Luke 24:19-27  

Interruptions: Our problem is we can only see the interruption, not the whole plan. It is intentionally withheld from us, God has reserved that for Himself. So, we must live and walk by faith. We don’t know, so we trust that God knows.  

1 Corinthians 15:12-20 We may see death as the last interruption, but God sees it as part of His plan.  

Billy Graham, "All the tomorrows of our lives have to pass Him before they get to us!"  

Eugene Peterson, "With God, we are always coming in on something that is already going on."  

Philip Yancey, "From God's point of view, the future has already been determined, and the prophets spell out the future state in glowing detail:  swords beaten into plowshares, a lamb recumbent beside a lion, a banquet feast.  That is what God wants for this earth and that is what God will accomplish on this earth.  The end is settled.  What remains is whether we will live believing it."  

A.W. Tozer, "To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident. He travels and appointed way…Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God's hidden providence."