First Mennonite Church
May 11, 2025
The Church and Community Life
Text: Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.
As we saw, one of the three purposes of the church is to be the holy people of God. In an effort to describe what this means for the community of Jews and Gentiles who had believed in Jesus, the New Testament writers used various metaphors for the church. It is the body of Christ on earth. It is called “a new humanity.” It is a holy building built upon Jesus, the foundation. It is the adopted family of God where members learn and grow in their relationship as they interact, care, and support each other. The church is also called the temple of the living God. At the heart of each of these metaphors is the sense of connectedness, interdependence, unity, and mutuality that distinguishes the church. We need each other to be the church. We need each other to follow Christ. We need each other to be the body of Christ, the holy temple of God, and the family of God.
The most common way we give witness to our identity as such is in our gathering for worship. We come together, as God’s holy people, we worship to God, submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and seek the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Through worship, we approach the holy throne of God with confidence. This is possible because through his death, Jesus gave us access to the holy presence of God. Jesus is our mediator who understands our human condition because he too was human.
After the author of this letter had stated the free access we have to approach God’s holy presence, he gave the worshipers three commands. The first is:
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
These first two are often emphasized in sermons and bible studies. Most of our sermons enjoin us to draw near to God, to live holy lives, and to hold on to the faith. The third command, however, is in regards to how to live life as a community, as a fellowship of believers. The author says that being that Jesus has opened a new and living way to the presence of God, literally, it reads, Jesus has inaugurated a new and living way to the presence of God, through his death, that we must consider ways in which we may spur one another toward love and good deeds. Here are two words we should look at closely. Therefore, once again this is how verses 24 and 25 read: 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.
Let us consider, begins the command. The word “consider,” denotes giving something a thorough thought. To consider is to look at something from various angles, possibilities, and situations. And what is it that we should jointly explore? “How we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some have the habit, but encouraging one another, even more as the Lord’s Day approaches. So we need to spur one another. The word spur (paroxysmos) means “to irritate,” “to pester,” “to provoke.” Although these words have negative connotations, the idea behind them is a positive one. It means: to strongly awaken inattentiveness, to warn against neglectfulness, and to redirect those drifting away.
Therefore, simultaneous to our coming together for worship, fellowship—community building also happens. We meet and interact with one another when we come to worship. We become friends, companions, and co-sojourners in our common faith and purpose. As time passes, we get to know others and become known to others in the fellowship. We share about ourselves, opening the doors of our lives to others. So we share about the things that bring us joy, about our needs, dreams, and hopes.
This aspect of church life and purpose is very much encouraged in the New Testament. The command to encourage one another is given over and over.
So, if we are to consider how to encourage, enhance, and reinforce the life of our community, what activities besides worship and, sometimes, eating together can we do?
According to the Gospels, Jesus led and met with his disciples and the crowds in various settings. Jesus met with his followers in the mountains, the valleys, fields, by the shore, on the roads and city streets, on the temple courts, and in private homes.
In Matthew 26, Jesus celebrated his Last Supper at the house of “a certain man.”
What things can we do that can strengthen fellowship amongst ourselves? Being together, doing things together, having fun together, working together, and serving together not only blesses other people we will serve but will also strengthen our relationship amongst ourselves. Doing things together strengthens the bond of love for one another and the Lord.
So, what are your suggestions about fun things we can do to spur one another toward love and good deeds?
A Time of Discussion Followed.
Pastor Romero