Sermon notes "Do Hard Things"
Hebrews 13:1-6
Counselors discuss anxiety. Our usual response is to avoid challenges. But when we do avoid, those hard things just get larger and harder. Swimming upstream isn't easy. What we are called to do as followers of Jesus. Hebrews is written to a group who were struggling to follow Jesus publicly. Chapter 13 is a list of things the author wants the Hebrews people to do.
Three reasons to do hard things
1. They push us out of our comfort zone
2. They help us grow in our sanctification, to grow in our Christian maturity. We grow the most in times of trouble. Reveals the fruit of the Spirit
3. Helps others
Here in East Cobb the culture is of abundance. Many love to do hard things. Warning: we can't do these things to get God's approval. God loves us despite our sins. Doing hard things should be our lifestyle as followers of Christ
Four areas of hard things we should be doing.
1. Hospitality. Verse 2. We are part of a family. Be hospitable to strangers. Share with others. An odd thing back in the first century, but this was the normal posture for believers back then. Same have entertained angels, like when Abraham and Sarah had entertained who turned out to be messengers of God.
Rosario Butterfield's books. She was a professor critical of Christianity but was loved by a pastor who disciplined and shared with her. She changed her lifestyle. She wrote Get close enough to the stranger to put their hand in the hand of the Saviour.
2. Persecution. Verse 3. Back then prisoners weren't given food or blankets. Go and visit and feed. Have empathy. By doing this they were publicly identifying with the weak and persecuted. Two resources:
3. Marriage is to be held in honor among all (within the church), as opposed to looking and acting like the world. God will judge the adulterer. Otherwise we can't love others. We can't love those in the world. We sin, but God extends His grace. "Such were some of you". God will heal us. Trying harder doesn't help. It's an issue of discipleship, not an issue of discipline. JFBC offers help.
4. Contentment. Verse 4-5. I Timothy 6. Greed and sexual immorality are both symptoms of idolatry. "I will never desert you" - Psalm 118:6. What can man do to me. Needing and buying more stuff, changing jobs, trying to find contentment.
Book: The Jesus Story Bible
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