6/16/13 HEBREWS: REAL FAITH PRACTICES; Hebrews 10:23-25 Lend a Helping Hand

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Hebrews: Real Faith Practices

Lend a Helping Hand

June 16, 2013

 

GETTING THINGS STARTED

Vivian wrote out a list of questions for us to answer in 60 seconds:

1.    How old are you?

2.    What is your favorite color?

3.    Where would you like to live?

4.    Do you have any pets?

5.    What color are your eyes?

6.    Are you a righty or lefty?

7.    Do you like French fries?

8.    Do you have any siblings?

9.    What is your favorite food?

10. What/where is your home town?

 

Now answer these 10 questions in 60 seconds or less:

1.    When is Chris and Jennifer’s anniversary?

2.    How tall is Jonathan?

3.    What is Joshua’s favorite animal?

4.    How old is Alix?

5.    What is Jeanie’s favorite color?

6.    What is Kelsie’s favorite color?

7.    What is Jacky’s dog’s name?

8.    What school does Seth go to?

9.    What is Andy’s favorite sport?

10. What school does Hsin-Roe’s sister go to?

 

Which set of questions were more fun?  Why?

 

Many of life’s greatest experiences would be less memorable if we went through them alone: athletic competitions, rock concerts, slumber parties—even the least enjoyable classes at school can become memorable if our friends are sharing the pain with us!  Today’s lesson is going to illustrate the importance of other people on our spiritual journeys. Each of us ultimately is responsible for following Christ and growing spiritually, yet the Bible also teaches that we need each other.  Let’s take a closer look.

 

Read Hebrews 10:23-25 (nlt)

23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

 

 

Leading up to this passage, the writer of Hebrews was encouraging his readers that their faith was secure in Christ.  This was a group of readers who remembered what it was like to live under the Law and offer sacrifices each year.   The writer of Hebrews was urging them to rest in their salvation, assuring them that Christ had provided forgiveness through his death and resurrection. This discourse opened up into a discussion on the practical living out of this assurance.

 

The writer of Hebrews speaks to an important spiritual truth here.  The Bible affirms over and over again that God intends for us to impact each other spiritually.  We play a role in the growth of our fellow Christians, as it pertains to their spiritual maturity.  This may be something we accept and embrace when the community of believers is comprised of adults. But we also can challenge and encourage teenagers to seek this kind of community as well. This lesson will challenge us to have a greater impact on each other’s spiritual growth.

 

Let’s spend a few minutes discovering some important ideas about helping one another grow spiritually and build Jesus-centered lives.

 

 

1. Find confidence in God’s faithfulness

 

Our faith, the life we have in Christ, is built on trust and hope.  God will never fail us.  God will never back down.  God will never walk away.  God keeps all of His promises.  And God wants us to be people who are dependable and trustworthy and faithful.  But it’s not just about being individuals.  It’s about your role as a faithful member of your spiritual community.

 

  • In verse 23, the author of Hebrews says God can be trusted—how have you seen God’s faithfulness displayed recently in your life or in another person’s life?
  • This passage focuses on the idea that as a community, we’re supposed to be people who hold confidently and resolutely to our faith.  How do you see this playing out in your group of friends?  How do you see this playing out in the greater body of Christ-followers in your school?
  • How can God’s faithfulness inspire the confidence we need to genuinely care for other people, the other followers of Christ that God has brought into our lives?

 

 

2. Motivate others toward spiritual growth

 

  • Have you ever seen yourself as a part of your friends’ spiritual growth?  Why or why not?
  • What kind of influence does verse 24 show you potentially having on others?
  • Why would God want us to motivate and encourage other Christ-followers in their faith?  Why can’t we just go it alone without other Christians?
  • What are the rewards of encouraging others toward spiritual growth—and having others encourage you toward spiritual growth?

 

Our spiritual gifts and purposes are confirmed when others encourage us and vice versa.

 

Jonathan shared how at one youth group he visited on Sunday night, the members of the youth group broke up into pairs and said 3 things about the other person that encourages them.  Then they spoke a challenge to the other person, like “memorize Ephesians”.  So, we decided to try it out… We spent time as a group saying an encouraging thing about one person and that person had to pick another to say an encouraging thing, until the last person.  Elaine mentioned how Candace always kept a good attitude and kept trying to be faithful even when hard things happened to her.  Candace said Elaine was always a good friend.  Richard mentioned how Eric is always mature but can also be silly and fun.  Chris mentioned how dependable Jonathan and Jacky were, picking them up at 7:30am and 7:45am respectively every Sunday morning before English service to practice…

 

We had such a great time doing that, we did it again, and pointed out which spiritual gift another person had and why it’s such a blessing:  Elaine said Jacky’s gift was service…it’s hard for her to say no when people want her to do something.  Chris said that was Andy’s gift as well…he’s always helping out, like taking out the trash from the youth room, or getting Bibles and pens for everyone on Friday night.  Jennifer noticed that in Jeanie as well, always picking up people for church or youth group.  Jonathan’s gift was teaching…Math Counts tutor, Mathnasium, private tutor, and even taught Chris how to use his laptop today when the keys were accidentally locked during English service.  Richard said Alix’s gift was compassion, always rescuing stray dogs or turtles.  Chris mentioned how discerning Jennifer always was, and kept him out of a lot of trouble, how Sarah Lai was a giving person—would spend a lot of time picking out Christmas gifts for others and even gave our youth group a lot of CDs this year which we are using for Praise and Worship in church.  We noticed Vivian was an encourager…   

 

There’s a good chance that many of you have not considered that you are actually called to be an influential part of your friends’ spiritual development.  But if you think about what we know from Scripture, this really shouldn’t be such a big surprise to us, should it?  It’s all about how seriously we take our call to be all we can be as Christ-followers.  God doesn’t call the “awesome” Christians to one standard and the “sub-par” Christians to another.  God calls all of us to follow Him and His ways and to encourage other followers of Christ along the way.

 

 

3. Choose to be a person of encouragement and hope

 

  • What role does encouragement play in your life as a friend to others?
  • What does verse 25 mean when it speaks to the idea of hope?
  • According to this verse, what role does consistent fellowship play in what we’ve been talking about in this lesson?
  • What are the positive effects on others—especially those who do not know Christ—who might see you and your friends acting in ways that are positive and uplifting to one another?  How is this different than the behavior you see around you every day at school?

 

Never underestimate the impact you can have on your friends and on others by simply being a bright spot in their lives.  Because we are so concerned about what we look like to others, we often don’t take risks.  We don’t want to look different.  We want to play it cool. We want to seem like we’re totally in control.  And going out of our way to build up and encourage others can leave us vulnerable.  What if they don’t return our efforts?  Or worse, what if they tear us down?  If we are confident in our faith and in our faith community of friends, we will take the risk of building others up, of speaking God’s truth and love into their lives.

 

 

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

Colossians 3:12-17 (nlt)

12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 

16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

 

 

  • Read Colossians 3:12-17.  How do these verses connect with the ideas we’ve discussed so far today?

 

  • This passage describes the way Christians ought to interact.  How does this differ from the way people in our culture interact with each other?

 

  • Which instruction in this passage do you find most challenging to obey and apply? Why?

 

  • If we followed these instructions perfectly and completely, all the time, how would that change the impact we have on the world around us?

 

 

APPLICATION

  • Think of a time recently when you had a positive influence on a friend.  How did that make you feel?  What could this potentially do for your friendship in the long run?

 

  • What kind of friend do you want to be?  Describe the influence you would like to have on your friends.

 

  • What changes do you need to make in your life to be the kind of friend and influencer you need to be?

 

  • How could we as a group put the ideas from Colossians 3 into practice in our small group, our youth ministry, and our church?

 

 

SUMMARY

How much responsibility or accountability do you place on each other when it comes to encouraging each other’s spiritual journey?  Do you teenagers see yourselves as part of each other’s process for spiritual maturity?  The Bible presents this truth that while each of us ultimately is responsible for our own spiritual growth, we do play an important role in each other’s relationship with Christ.  This lesson helped us explore this important truth and challenged us to engage with one another more openly as it pertains to spiritual growth.

 

For Keeps [Memory Verse]

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24 NLT).

 

 

 

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