WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where Encouragement is Happening (Hebrews 10:24-25) - August 16, 2020
INTRODUCTION
We are the church where encouragement is happening.
Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out -- a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward's father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.
Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, pp. 4-5
We need to be able to spot excellence in the midst of failure.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
I. SPURRING ONE ANOTHER ON
A. Spur - paroxysm - “stab”
1. Poke/prod/push
2. One another
B. To love
1. Love of God
2. Love of others
a. The church
b. The world
c. Our enemies
C. To good deeds
1. Works of righteous
2. Compassionate acts
II. MEETING TOGETHER
Jean Nidetch, a 214 pound homemaker desperate to lose weight, went to the New York City Department of Health, where she was given a diet devised by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. Two months later, discouraged about the 50 plus pounds still to go, she invited six overweight friends home to share the diet and talk about how to stay on it. Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 250,000 Weight Watchers meetings in 24 countries every week. Why was Nidetch able to help people take control of their lives? To answer that, she tells a story. When she was a teen-ager, she used to cross a park where she saw mothers gossiping while the toddlers sat on their swings, with no one to push them. "I'd give them a push," says Nidetch. "And you know what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Pretty soon he's pumping, doing it himself. That's what my role in life is--I'm there to give others a push."
Irene Sax in Newsday
A. A good habit
1. The norm of meeting together - synagogue
2. The struggle of meeting together
3. The reality of meeting together
B. A bad habit
1. The call of not meeting together
2. The struggle of not meeting together
3. The reality of not meeting together
III. ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER
Everyone needs recognition for his accomplishments, but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father: "Let's play darts. I'll throw and you say 'Wonderful!'"
Bits & Pieces, December 9, 1993, p. 24
A. To encourage parakalountes - “To call to one’s side” (original verb)
1. To address, speak (in general)
2. To admonish, to exhort (in specific)
B. “All the more as you see the Day approaching.”
1. The finish line
2. The end is near
CHALLENGE
Write down the name of 2 people that you will encourage this week. Commend them to love and perform good deeds. Encourage them to meet with their brothers and sisters in Christ this week. Remind them that the finish line is in sight.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.
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