If we are a member of the body the Bible calls the church, what are our responsibilities? Two verses in Hebrews 10 will help us “Consider One Another” today.
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“Consider One Another”
Hebrews 10:24-25
- We’re going to ask ourselves some questions about the local church today
- Why should we be part of a local church?
- What is our role in the church?
- Do we join a church for ourselves? (So we can be ministered to?)
- Or do we join to serve others?
- If we are a member of the body the Bible calls the church, what are our responsibilities?
- How should we approach those responsibilities?
- And does it matter?
- Just two short verses of scripture – Hebrews 10:24 and 25
- On the theme: “Consider One Another”
- Before we get into the text, let’s define the key word: consider
- We find it in our first verse of the day
- It means to observe, to understand, to be attentive, to fix one’s eyes or mind upon
- Hebrews 10 is speaking to the brethren
- Those who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ
- Who have placed their faith in Him and become His disciples
- What’s more, they have gathered together in local assemblies
- We’ll see that in our second verse of the day
- Let’s get started…
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- The first idea we encounter is a consideration for one another
- The other ideas seem to follow
- This is why “consider one another” is our theme
- It seems we are part of the body to be a ministry to others
- To understand them, be attentive to their needs, to learn how we can assist
- This may catch us by surprise, if we’ve come to the conclusion that the church must
- Understand us
- Be attentive to our needs
- And learn how it may assist us
- None of that is incorrect in a technical sense
- We are to consider “one another”
- But if either party becomes self-focused, unity becomes very difficult
- So our responsibility is to consider
- But it is also to provoke
- This is a fascinating word, it is an incitement, even to the point of irritation
- (Some of you may think, well, I’m doing a pretty god job of that already)
- But it’s not a negative
- This is exactly the right kind of an irritation
- It is the kind that the one being irritated understands is good for them
- And it may not always be pleasant, but it is always helpful
This provoking has been described in this way: “to remind and keep reminding, to encourage and keep encouraging, to help and keep helping”
- Notice what we are provoking unto: love and good works
- We are using our gifts (and our presence) within the body to push others towards God’s best for their lives
- This is a worthy and wonderful pursuit, that we should be excited about undertaking
- We should also be happy that others within the body must do the same for us
- We will push them, and they will push us, toward loving one another more
- Toward loving those who need Christ more
- Toward getting involved with people who need love more
- Toward speaking loving words
- Toward loving God’s commands
- And toward actions that profit others and please God
- If we consider one another enough to have any success in this work
- We will be truly uncommon people in the world
- Before going on, we should remind ourselves of the text…
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- This verse reminds us to assemble and not to forsake it
- While there are (obviously) legitimate reasons not to meet
- Forsaking is deliberate and something we often make excuses about or justifications for
- We should never behave in that way
- Remember, God knows every detail of our heart’s attitude and motivation
- The assembly referenced is the local church
- Which meets in various ways and in various times, but never the less meets
- This is a reminder that the meeting of God’s people is important
- It is not something to be taken lightly, because we need each other
- We are key to the spiritual growth of others – and they are key to our spiritual growth
- Certainly not the only key, but one God encourages
- This reminds us that some do “forsake” the assembly
- And we should not follow their example
- Or use their example as a justification for our own forsaking
- We are to do the opposite
- Because we must exhort, that means coming alongside one another
- We do so, that we may (in a Godly way) push each other forward in our discipleship
- When we are alongside we are perfectly positioned to help
- And to encourage
- And to confront, if necessary
- The New Testament provides us with a myriad of instructions about our role in other believer’s lives
- But we must be alongside them to do it
- And we are to do all this “so much the more” as we see the day approaching
- The day when we can no longer work
- The day when Christ calls us home to be with Him
- I don’t know if you have noticed, but things aren’t getting noticeably better
- It has not become easier to be a disciple
- The fact is, every day seems more difficult
- And the need for our provoking and our exhortation only grows
- So we shouldn’t forsake
- In fact, we should deeply consider, and do even more!