Sermon Title: Consider One Another
Text: Hebrews 10:24-25
Resources:
Brief summary
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV).
The word “consider” in Hebrews 10:24 translates the Greek word katanoéō—a word that is an intensified form of the verb, “to think.” So it means “to immerse oneself in.” The idea is that of apprehension by pondering or studying. Sometimes it’s used in the visual sense, such as James 1:23-24: “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” It’s used in Luke 12:24 to mean “thinking about”: “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24). Or here: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). And also in Hebrews 3:1: “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.”
The theme verse for the youth group this year is Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” But this emphasis is good for all of us to reflect on. It’s easy for us just to live life passively without being intentional. God wants us to ask, “What do we want our lives to mean?”
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to have a deliberate purpose . . . to be intentional about the way that we “stir up one another to love and good works.” He shows us that one of the ways that we can do that is by meeting regularly together and “encouraging one another” (verse 25). All of us face the ups and downs of life. Sometimes we’re on top of the mountain, but sometimes we’re not. And we need one another in our Christian walk so that we can draw strength from our fellowship in Christ.
Coming to the assemblies of the church shouldn’t be another box to check or an obligation to perform. We shouldn’t come just so that we can personally “get something out of it.” Instead, we should focus on allowing God to use us to bless our spiritual siblings. They need us, and we need them. And we need to do more than just attend . . . we need to engage one another, to get to know one another.
The key to this is found in verse 23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” We draw strength from knowing that God is faithful. We can look beyond the troubles of this life to the reward that God has waiting for us, and we draw strength to join with fellow believers in mutually reaching out for that hope.
Reflection Questions
Start Praying
- How can our class pray for you, a friend, or loved one?
Start Reading (read Hebrews 10:24-25)
- What questions or observations do you have from reading the text? What’s one thing you remember from the sermon?
Start Thinking
- Considering others is a commandment that is second only to loving God wholeheartedly. This church is becoming more known for outreach, but what are some more ways that we could be showing the love of Christ to others within our congregation?
- One of the primary purposes of having these Wednesday night discussion classes is to fulfill Hebrews 10:24. How can we use these classes to “stir up one another to love and good works”?
- We are currently striving to read through the Bible as a church this year. When we approach scripture, what are our motivations for reading/studying? What are we looking to find there? Do you think our approach to scripture might impact how we read certain passages?
Start Sharing
- What do others do that most stirs you up to love better and do good?
- These verses in Hebrews tell us to be together and to encourage each other for good. Some Bible characters—such as Abraham, Moses, Daniel—didn’t always have an encouraging community and must’ve felt alone. Has there been a time in your life when you felt alone but then other believers encouraged you and helped you through it? Will you share it with the class?
Start Doing
- Think about our assemblies. How can we—the people in this room—do a better job of intentionally encouraging one another while we’re here at the building?
- “Consider” is an imperative that requires action on our part. When we leave here tonight, how can we plan to encourage someone in the next few days? (Be specific)
Start Praying (ACTS acronym)
- Adoration: Praise God for his faithfulness.
- Confession: Confess that we have sometimes failed to encourage one another as we should.
- Thanksgiving: Thank God for our fellow believers.
- Supplication: Ask God to help all of the members in this class to be lifted up and encouraged in their faith tonight.
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