Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Theme: I Love My Church Ministry

Thesis: You need your local church because it’s how God protects and grows our faith.

Notes:

Read Hebrews with 3 distinct groups in mind:

* The Uncommitted – those who have heard the gospel, but not yet converted

* The Wavering – those who have believed the gospel, but are wavering due to persecution

* The Faithful – those who are committed to Christ, but are suffering for their faith

 

Satan tempts with both persecution as well as prosperity.

“Cure your children’s warring madness;

bend our pride to your control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.” — Fosdick

2 Timothy 4:10, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica….”

3 Commands

* To the Uncommitted – Commit to Christ–the only way to God

* To the Wavering – Cling to Christ–God always keeps His promises

* To the Faithful – Commit to God’s people – God uses it to protect and grow your faith

 

1 Timothy 3:15, “…the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

“No creeds but Christ” might sound spiritual, but many non-Christian denominations believe in Jesus, but do not believe rightly about Him. Heresy thrives in ambiguity.

 

How we commit to each other

* Consider one another

* Careful thought

* Compassionate concern

* Who can I do the most good for my church family today?

* Stir up love and good works in each other

* Assemble Together

* Exhort one another

* Get to know your fellow church members by being a good listener

* Come to church on-mission, ready to serve

 

How people forsake the church

* We make it about “me” instead of about “us”

* “If a man thinks he is not conceited, he is very conceited indeed.” –C.S. Lewis

* We don’t find time to serve in regular ministry

* Use the gifts Christ enabled you with to serve others

* We don’t take time and energy to build gospel-centered relationships

* Fear, selfishness, busyness–all impediments to relationship

 

Why people forsake the church

* They could be woefully uninformed

* They could be willfully rebellious

* They could be wicked heretics

 

Why we need the church

* We are at war

* We can drift doctrinally

* We can drift spiritually

* We were made for community

* Throughout Scripture God always calls people out into a community:

* Abraham

* Jacob

* Nation of Israel

* The Church

 

Live It Out!

* Love your church

* Make gatherings a priority

* Make building gospel-centered relationships a priority