First General Baptist

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.”

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.”

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. 

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."

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!

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

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?”

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…

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."

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?