“God’s Faithful Promises”
Hebrews 10:15-25 (10:24-25) – Sunday, November 17, 2024
Have you ever thought of all the different kinds of churches? Big churches, small churches, fancy places with lots of stained glass and stone carvings, or plain buildings with wooden pews and earnest prayers, plus house churches, all over the world!
My friend Tiffany used to attend church at the National Cathedral in Washington. She grew up there. She remembers running around in that gorgeous building along with the other children in their renowned youth choir. Up and down the corridors, and even playing hide and seek in the building. Imagine having that glorious cathedral as a familiar, home church!
I would like for us to focus on one particular idea in this Scripture reading from the letter to the Hebrews, today. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I have worshiped at churches in a number of different faith traditions, in all different kinds of church buildings, and they all proclaimed the same Lord, Jesus Christ. The same God receives all the glory! Some churches pray in a more rambunctious manner than we do here. Yet, in every church, believers come together to worship God, and to encourage each other.
This letter to the Hebrews is a circulating letter. That means it and other circulating letters were sent from place to place in Asia Minor, so the small, struggling groups of believers could receive encouragement and teaching in writing from the Apostles and other newer church leaders. This particular letter was sent to Jews who lived a long way from Jerusalem, and possibly had rarely been to Palestine. Right here in chapter 10, this letter to the Hebrews gives the command to keep up meeting together.
Remember, the Christian community was extremely small at this point! In these towns and cities in Asia Minor and all over the Roman Empire, the Jewish community was decidedly small, too. Except, the Jewish religion at this time was known and accepted by the Roman government. Since Christianity was such a brand new religion, the Roman government did not recognize it, and in fact in some places, wanted to persecute followers of Christ!
I want everyone here to understand: in these early days, followers of Christ were not going to worship in large building dedicated to the Lord, set apart to the worship of our God. Not at all! This gathering together we read about in Hebrews 10 is in very early days of the church. We are talking about small house churches! Gathering together took place in each others’ homes, and maybe, perhaps, in a large spare room belonging to one of their number.
I’ve attended some African-American worship services. They are often quite different from the more quiet, sedate way we worship here at St. Luke’s Church. I had the privilege to preach in one service some years ago, at a Baptist church on the west side of Chicago. In a converted building, three storefronts put together. The building did not look like much from the outside. But, inside? A whole different thing.
The spirit of God came down and transformed that worship space – and the worshipers. Marvelous to experience. They truly encouraged one another, cared for one another, and helped one another show good to others. In their own context, familiar to them, on the west side of Chicago.
“After all, God has graciously adopted us into God’s family. God has transformed you and me from God’s enemies into God’s children, and from strangers into siblings. So when Christians meet together, we come to a kind of family reunion.” [1] When we meet together, whether it’s in a soaring cathedral or just where two or three are gathered together, God is present with us. And, God can draw us close. Closer to God, and closer to each other.
Now, this is only the first part of what happens when we gather together. What else can happen? What is another command from Hebrews chaplain 10? “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
So often, we as believers are told to be nice and gentle, meek and mild. And, that is one side of our Lord Jesus, certainly. But, the Rabbi Jesus when He was here on this earth was not just a meek, mild, retiring kind of guy. He often stepped out, and stepped up. Jesus actively worked on behalf of the poor, the forgotten, those left behind, in both love and good deeds!
How often are we called to be bold in the Scripture? To spur one another on to expressions of love and caring, to strike out and be bold and courageous? Yes, we are also called to be bold, and outspoken, and hard-working – like our Lord Jesus! This connects to the gospel call to face dangerous or difficult times bravely knowing that God is in charge. [2]
There is one important factor here, though. It’s very difficult to be brave, bold and courageous all alone. But – it helps if we do it together.
I would like to point out that all of these pronouns in these verses are plural. In the original Greek, the writer to the Hebrews is talking to “you all” when he mentions “you,” and especially when mentioning “we.” In all of these instances, all of these commands, these verses are talking to us Christians as a group. That is, all of us followers of Christ. Eugene Peterson’s excellent translation The Message interprets this as a summons to “be inventive … in encouraging love and helping out.”
As we come to the end of the church year, we consider a number of Scripture readings that talk about the end of our time here on Earth, when we look forward to our Lord Jesus returning. This Scripture reading from Hebrews is no exception. Listen again: “encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Just as Boy Scouts are required to do a community service project to earn their Eagle Scout award, they need to organize others to help them do their special project. In the process of completing the project, they learn how to spur one another on to accomplish that goal, to join in together on good works that benefit their community. [3]
In the same way, we Christians are called to be faithful, to encourage each other, and to spur one another on! And, as each of us is drawn closer together to other believers, we are drawn closer to our God.
We followers of Christ are all called to actively work on behalf of the poor, the forgotten, those left behind, in both love and good deeds! And, all the more, as we all look forward to that Day when our Lord returns in glory. We practice, we love each other, and we work together, looking forward to that Day when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What marvelous blessings for ourselves, for each other, for our communities, and for the world. Alleluia, amen!
(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!
[1] https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2018-11-12/hebrews-1011-14-15-18-19-25/
[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/10/year-b-proper-28-33rd-sunday-in.html
[3] Ibid.
Pastor, Preacher, Pray-er 