READ
Hebrews 10:19-25
CONSIDER
Think about the words from Hebrews 10:24, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” If you ask a Christian, how to define spiritual maturity, they may use words like service, mission, bearing fruit and obedience. Those are all beautiful answers.
One of the marks of maturity for me is how Christians not only intentionally point one another to Christ but allow and invite others to point them to Jesus. It is too easy as followers of Jesus to become self-dependent and fail to see our blind spots. When we humble ourselves by inviting others to challenge, exhort, and correct us, we grow in Christlikeness and are thoroughly equipped to faithfully serve and bear fruit where God has called us.
My prayer for this Sunday is that we will be encouraged to open up our lives, show others our weaknesses and invite them to point us back to the cross of Christ.
Pastor Tim Sreedharan
PRAY
Hebrews 4:14-16
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Father, help us to be a people who come to you in confidence, knowing that you forgive and invite us to spur one another in the gospel toward love and good deeds. Amen.
DIVING DEEPER
Read through the passage and take note of the following pattern: since … since … let us … let us … let us
How does this pattern help explain the text? Can you create a summary sentence for each point?
How do the two reminders of what Jesus has done (see v19-21) equip us for every good work?
If the word “spur” could also be translated as irritate or provoke, what does it mean as a Christian community to provoke each other toward love and good deeds?
Application questions:
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- How are you feeling called to intentionally point others to Christ?
- How are you being intentional in allowing others to point you to Christ?