Rossville Christian Church
Sunday, September 26
- When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
- Truth I'm Standing On
- Are we a family? What is the best thing about family? Why is it we want to be a part of something so badly? Funny even in the beginning God said in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone. We are relational creatures, designed after our creator, that is the reason we desire family so much. And the Church definitely ought to be the desire of many, we ought to have the family plan down pat, so that we can be the light of the world. In Heb 12:14 it says:
Hebrews 12:14 NIV Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.PrayerA newly ordained pastor was consoling a recent widow of an eccentric man. While they were standing before the casket the pastor put his arm around her and said, “I realize this must be hard for you Mrs. Johnson. Just remember that what we see before us is only the husk, the shell of your dear husband – the nut has gone to heaven.” It doesn’t really matter how we encourage others, only that we try.Stoking each other’s fireHebrews 3:12–14 NIV See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.A. The writer of Hebrews is adamant1. We are a communitya. We are the fire stokersb. Sometimes you have to turn each other’s lamps upHave someone come up and turn up the lampJohn 5:6–8 NIV When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”2. We are responsible to and for each othera. Do we know each other enough to aski. Two people in this situation Jesus and the paralyticii. Jesus had to ask and the paralytic had to answerb. We must ask the right questionsi. It takes commitmentii. That is what community is all aboutB. Need Christian PartnersJames 5:16 NIV Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.1. Hold accountablea. Mighty menb. Are our groups talking about sin3. Got to have someonea. sometimes to ventb. Sometimes just for encouragementi. Getting the courageii. Realize we are not aloneiii. We have God and each otherJust talked about this, building up our love banks.Heat of DisciplineHebrews 6:1–3 NIV Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.A. Teach each other1. Move one another on to maturitya. Not just the pastor’s responsibilityb. Do I have the desire?Desire to teach my kids like my Dad taught me. I heard it at the football game last Monday, so many people wanting to teach the lessons of the past.2. Draw each other deeperi. Older to the youngerii. Take time to take on a mentorJames and IB. Staying at the beginning leads to falling awayHebrews 6:4–6 NIV It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.a. We have to keep drawing from the fuelb. Cannot come to a place where we think we knowc. No retirement in the kingdomi. Either learning more or teaching moreii. No time to just soak it in, have to be working3. Don’t become stagnantJames 1:22 NIV Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.a. We have to do the workGod calls us to dig a hole, don’t just lean on the shovelb. We have to do as well as believeBurn Stronger together –Heb 12:14-15Hebrews 12:14–15 NIV Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.A. Being Holy1. The goal is the Kingdoma. The goal is not individualb. The task we perform isPhilippians 3:14–15 NIV I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.2. Different than the wordly familya. Only what I get out of itb. Godly family is what do I bring for othersB. Draw Our Strength1. From Christ2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.2. And each otherProverbs 27:17 NIV As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.a. How God designed itb. So we would rely on each otherc. In holiness call upon the LordProverbs 16:3 NASB95 Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.B. We complement each otherHebrews 10:24 NIV And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,1. We have to stir each other upa. What draws people to thingsi. other peopleb. When we stir each other upi. get excitedii. Want to do moreWord of mouth advertising, exactly what we are called to do2. Hold each other accountablea. Not always just hunky doryb. But in love we have to guide other to truthConclusion:PT test story. Couldn’t have made it without someone there encouraging and calling me on. Hebrews says see to it that none of you has a hard, unbelieving heart, we have to encourage each other on to the prize that awaits. This is a life-long race that has no breaks, we don’t get to rest from kingdom work, which is why we need each other all the more. And if we want our lights, all of our lights, to shine brightly then we must stir each other up to good works and to faith that is in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:14NIV2011
Hebrews 3:12–14NIV2011
John 5:6–8NIV2011
James 5:16NIV2011
Hebrews 6:1–3NIV2011
Hebrews 6:4–6NIV2011
James 1:22NIV2011
Hebrews 12:14–15NIV2011
Philippians 3:14–15NIV2011
2 Corinthians 12:9NIV2011
Proverbs 27:17NIV2011
Ecclesiastes 4:12NIV2011
Proverbs 16:3NIV2011
Hebrews 10:24NIV2011
- This I Believe (The Creed)
- 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)