Sermon Review 1-18-09

Morning: We began On Faith, a new series of sermons, from Hebrews 10:19-13:25. This sermon was entitled "Faith Compelled." In the passage under consideration, Hebrews 10:19-39, the author expresses some practical ways to respond to Jesus's priestly ministry. The theme of this passage is to draw near to God. The idea of drawing near to God is to come into his presence in worship and adoration. The author instructs us to draw near with 1) a sincere heart--that is to have a heart that has been transformed by the work of the Spirit of God; 2) in full assurance of faith--that is confidence in our profession as well as confidence in the object of our faith, the Lord; 3) have our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience--a reminder of when the priests would sprinkle blood and water on the worshippers symbolizing the washing that would occur through regeneration; and 4) having our bodies washed with pure water--possibly a reference to the the symbolic act of baptism which demonstrates the inward reality of regeneration.

Other practical ways to respond are: 1) to hold unswervingly to the truth, because of God's faithfulness; 2) consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds; 3) Meeting together to encourage one another, because of the nearness of Christ's coming and the harsh reality that those who abandon God's will have no hope; 4) to remember what all we have already endured, the promised reality to come, and the cost of walking away; and 5) to endure until the end.

Since Jesus is our great high priest, and since through his death he has opened access to the Most Holy Place in Heaven, that is, the very throne room of God, then we should draw near to God in faith and obedience, pressing forward in that faith until Christ's return or until he calls us home.

Evening: We looked at some of the obstacle to evangelism. Some of the obstacles we looked at were fear (of what people would say, of rejection); ignorance (the inability to answer a question or objection; not knowing how to present the gospel); the fear of making matters worse (what if I botch it); Apathy (no concern for the lost); the lack of non-Christian friends, the lack of time, and a few others. We also looked at the reality that Christ has called us to be his witnesses and that he equips us for the task. We must simply approach the task with prayerful attitudes and trust the Holy Spirit to help share the message faithfully.