WEBVTT

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 And if you would open up to Hebrews chapter 10 in your Bibles, it's on 1194 of your pew Bibles.

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 I'm going to read for us Hebrews 10, 19 through 25.

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 I'm actually going to be reaching back into verse 19 for the sermon this morning.

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 So you can see on your bulletin, I'm going to be preaching 10, 19 through 25.

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 Hear God's word.

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 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain that is through his flesh,

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 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

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 let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith,

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 with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience,

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 and our bodies washed with pure water.

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 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering,

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 for he who promised is faithful.

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 And let us consider to stir up one another to love and good works,

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 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,

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 but encouraging one another in all the more as you see the day drawing near.

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 May God bless the hearing of his word.

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 Hey, let me ask you a question.

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 How does something become a recurring commitment on your weekly schedule?

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 Whether that's your personal schedule or whether that is your family schedule,

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 how does something get on your family schedule on a weekly basis?

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 Maybe it's you are committed to eating together as a family every week.

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 Why is that so important to you?

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 Maybe you and your significant other are committed to a weekly date night.

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 Why is that so important to you?

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 Maybe you're exercising weekly.

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 Why does that matter so much to you?

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 Maybe this is about children's activities, sports, theater, music.

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 You're saying no to some things to say yes to those things.

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 Why is that so important?

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 Maybe like me, you block off three to four hours every weekend to watch a football game.

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 Why is that so important?

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 You know, when we're evaluating some of these things that we commit our time to on a weekly basis,

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 there's a couple questions you can ask.

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 Like, okay, what is the long-term good that comes out of this weekly commitment?

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 What is it producing?

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 Another question you can do to ask about weekly commitments is this.

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 When Jesus comes back, what will he think about that commitment?

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 When it comes to our Sunday-by-Sunday gathering as a church,

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 we all have a sense that it's important.

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 Have you ever asked the question, why?

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 Why is this so important?

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 Should a Christian do all that they can to gather weekly with their local church?

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 When I bring these topics up with brothers and sisters, members of our church who have been inconsistent,

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 chronically inconsistent, attending on a Sunday morning,

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 when I bring it up, it's usually met with some kind of defensiveness or bristling.

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 Because they think this is a matter of attendance.

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 Like they're not following through with their commitment.

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 That's not why I'm bringing it up.

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 I'm bringing it up because God's word brings it up.

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 You see, what I'm concerned about,

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 what God's concerned about,

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 is your long-term spiritual health and well-being.

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 This is not a matter of attendance.

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 This is a matter of God's grace.

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 In order for us to persevere to the end,

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 we need weekly infusions of God's grace.

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 We need to be encouraged by God's grace together to persevere.

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 At our weekly grace gathering,

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 God encourages us to endure to the end.

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 We need to meet weekly for the grace

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 so that we can hold fast to the end.

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 That's the point of Hebrews 10, 19-25.

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 And this is an argument that the author of Hebrews is making.

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 And it's a three-step argument.

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 Step one, verses 19-21,

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 what God has done,

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 He has given us unlimited access

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 and an unlimited abundance of grace.

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 It's amazing what He's done.

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 Step two,

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 how we together respond to that.

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 Three exhortations.

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 And then step three,

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 how we together lay hold of that

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 by meeting together.

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 We gather weekly for the grace

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 to persevere all the way to the end.

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 So let's look at this first step in this argument.

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 Now, I realize I'm jumping right into

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 like the last third of the book of Hebrews.

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 And I just want to let you know,

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 this is a little bit of preview

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 because I'm going to start preaching

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 through the book of Hebrews

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 as a whole come February.

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 The book of Hebrews was written to encourage Christians

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 who were drifting,

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 who would be tempting to walk away.

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 And this book of Hebrews

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 is one long 13-chapter encouragement

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 to hold fast,

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 to press on and persevere and endure.

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 And to that end,

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 the book of Hebrews

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 over and over again

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 fixes our eyes on Jesus.

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 What He has done.

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 And in this passage,

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 the author of Hebrews

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 points us to

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 the strategy of our local gathering

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 unto that end.

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 In verses 19-21,

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 we have this first step in the argument.

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 And what the author of Hebrew does

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 is he points us to two motivations.

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 And they're marked by the word since.

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 Verse 19,

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 Therefore, brothers,

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 since we have confidence

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 to enter the holy places

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 by the blood of Jesus.

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 Verse 21,

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 And since we have a great high priest,

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 great priest over the house of God.

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 Here's what He's doing.

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 He's saying,

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 Since this is true

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 and since this is true,

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 then we must do this

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 and let us do this

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 and let us do this.

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 It's an argument.

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 Trying to persuade us

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 of the importance of something.

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 So let's just look at this first sense real quick.

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 Therefore, brothers,

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 since we have confidence

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 to enter the holy places

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 by the blood of Jesus,

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 by the new and living way

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 that He opened to us

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 through the curtain,

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 that is through His flesh.

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 This first grace motivation

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 is access.

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 Through Jesus' death and resurrection,

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 through His blood and the living way,

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 His resurrection,

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 the new is a new covenant.

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 Through these things that Jesus has done,

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 He has given us unlimited access

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 to the holy place of God.

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 The heavenly holy place.

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 What we'll see in Hebrews 4

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 is the throne room of God.

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 Back in the old covenant,

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 the Holy of Holies

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 was this place in the temple in Jerusalem

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 that only one man

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 could enter once a year

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 on Yom Kippur.

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 The high priest.

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 To make sacrifice for the people.

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 And on the 364 days

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 outside of Yom Kippur,

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 there was like a sign

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 on the curtain

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 separating us,

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 separating them

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 from the Holy of Holies.

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 It said,

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 no admittance,

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 no access.

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 What we're being talked about here

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 is a heavenly holy place.

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 A heavenly throne room.

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 And what Jesus has done

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 through the good news

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 of His death and resurrection

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 is His life,

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 the curtain,

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 has been opened to us

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 so that we can enter in

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 to the holy place,

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 God's very presence.

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 We have unlimited access

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 to the very presence of God.

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 There was a time

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 when we couldn't

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 because we were in our sins.

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 But now there's a time we can

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 because we're in Christ now.

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 It's through Christ's death

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 and resurrection

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 that we have unlimited access

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 to the Holy of Holies,

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 the very throne room

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 of God's grace.

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 And since we have

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 been given this unlimited access

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 to the throne of grace,

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 we do something now.

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 But that's just the first sense.

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 There's a second sense.

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 And since we have

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 a great high priest

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 over the house of God,

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 the book of Hebrews

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 makes this phenomenal claim

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 that Jesus is

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 the great high priest

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 who has superseded

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 and made obsolete

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 the Jewish priesthood.

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 because he's

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 made a better sacrifice

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 once and for all

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 himself.

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 It's a once for all payment

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 that has forgiven us

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 forever.

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 He's a high priest

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 with a better ministry.

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 He is constantly

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 making intercession for us

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 because

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 he's alive.

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 He's a better person.

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 All of the priests

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 of the Old Testament

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 are dead.

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 Their bodies

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 have wasted away.

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 Not our high priest.

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 His is an indestructible life.

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 He lives to make

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 intercession for us.

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 And this great high priest,

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 do you know what he's

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 saying to us?

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 Come to me,

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 all you who are weary

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 and heavy laden,

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 and I'll give you grace.

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 You see,

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 what this great high priest

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 is pointing us to

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 is not just

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 we have unlimited access

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 to him,

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 we have an unlimited

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 abundance

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 to the grace

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 that he gives.

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 Unlimited abundance.

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 It's not like

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 we only get three servings

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 every day.

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 We can go to him

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 whenever we want

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 for the grace.

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 Listen to this.

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 This is Hebrews chapter 4,

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 14 through 16.

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 Since then we have

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 a great high priest

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 who has passed

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 through the heavens,

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 Jesus,

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 the Son of God.

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 Let us hold fast

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 our confession.

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 For we do not have

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 a high priest

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 who is unable

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 to sympathize

00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:17.899
 with our weaknesses,

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 but one who

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 in every respect

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 has been tempted

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 as we are,

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 yet without sin.

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 Let us then

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 with confidence

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.259
 draw near

00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:26.960
 to the throne

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 of grace

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 that we may

00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.639
 receive mercy

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.559
 and find grace

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 to help

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 in time of need.

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 What is grace?

00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.519
 Many of you

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 who have been

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 raised in the church

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 have an answer.

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 It's God's

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 unmerited favor.

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 It's a posture

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 of God towards us

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 where a holy God

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 is his posture

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 towards us

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 is not dependent

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 on our posture

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 towards him.

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 It's unconditional

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:56.080
 love for us.

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 And that is

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.019
 one aspect

00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:00.620
 of grace

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 because when I read

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 Hebrews 4.16,

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 I read about

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 a throne of grace

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 that provides

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 help in time

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 of need.

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 Do you know

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:12.740
 what that is?

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.399
 Power.

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 Unconditional love,

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 unlimited power.

00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.179
 The Apostle Paul

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 in 2 Corinthians 12

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 has been praying

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 that God

00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.740
 would remove

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.179
 this throne,

00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:26.059
 this thorn

00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:26.759
 of his flesh

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.479
 and Jesus

00:13:27.479 --> 00:13:28.459
 speaks to him.

00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:29.859
 My grace

00:13:29.859 --> 00:13:30.379
 is sufficient

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:30.859
 for you

00:13:30.859 --> 00:13:31.959
 for my power

00:13:31.959 --> 00:13:32.859
 is made perfect

00:13:32.859 --> 00:13:33.500
 in weakness.

00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:36.239
 He equates

00:13:36.239 --> 00:13:37.059
 grace and power.

00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.039
 So here's how

00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.419
 I want you

00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:40.000
 to think about

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:40.819
 God's grace

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.859
 and what we have

00:13:41.859 --> 00:13:42.739
 access to

00:13:42.739 --> 00:13:44.299
 in unlimited fashion

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:45.120
 and what is

00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.199
 available to us

00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:47.299
 in unlimited abundance.

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.419
 grace.

00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:48.620
 It's God's

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:51.459
 unconditional love

00:13:51.459 --> 00:13:53.059
 driving his

00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:53.919
 unlimited power

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.679
 towards us.

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.979
 It's all about

00:13:56.979 --> 00:13:57.299
 grace.

00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.240
 And you know what?

00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:00.979
 You need that grace

00:14:00.979 --> 00:14:02.079
 to persevere

00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:02.659
 to the end.

00:14:03.699 --> 00:14:04.740
 You can't do it

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.199
 on your own.

00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:07.339
 You can't flesh it out.

00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.459
 You can't muscle it out.

00:14:09.339 --> 00:14:10.359
 And this is what

00:14:10.359 --> 00:14:11.139
 God has done.

00:14:12.599 --> 00:14:13.839
 Unlimited access,

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.740
 unlimited availability

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.540
 to his grace

00:14:17.540 --> 00:14:18.500
 at his throne.

00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:20.639
 This is what

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.240
 God has done.

00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:22.720
 And this is where

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.360
 this little argument

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:23.840
 starts.

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.040
 Since God

00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:26.800
 has made a way

00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:27.680
 to his

00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.980
 unlimited grace.

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:30.980
 Step two.

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.060
 How do we respond?

00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.379
 How do you respond

00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.160
 to that kind of

00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:36.200
 unlimited access

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.600
 and unlimited

00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.800
 availability of grace?

00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:41.060
 Well, there's

00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:41.940
 three exhortations

00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:43.960
 in verses 22

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.540
 through 24.

00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:45.460
 Let's just take them

00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.200
 off one at a time.

00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:48.500
 God's grace

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.060
 is available

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:49.580
 to us,

00:14:49.660 --> 00:14:50.420
 brothers and sisters.

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.460
 So look at

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.780
 verse 22.

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.320
 Since this,

00:14:56.520 --> 00:14:57.240
 since that,

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.560
 let us draw near.

00:15:00.140 --> 00:15:01.280
 Let us draw near.

00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.200
 Draw near to what?

00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.040
 He doesn't say.

00:15:03.260 --> 00:15:04.080
 He's already said

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.160
 to the throne of grace.

00:15:07.520 --> 00:15:08.700
 Let us draw near

00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.480
 into God's presence.

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:10.600
 grace.

00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:12.139
 And we're to do

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.220
 that with confidence.

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.060
 With a true heart

00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:17.700
 and full assurance

00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.220
 of faith.

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.500
 Sprinkled clean.

00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.560
 Bodies washed.

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.560
 That's talking about

00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:23.019
 the cleansing work

00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.940
 of God

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:24.720
 through Christ.

00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.180
 His death

00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:25.940
 and His resurrection.

00:15:26.680 --> 00:15:27.240
 There is therefore

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.180
 now no condemnation

00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:28.779
 for those who are

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.399
 in Christ Jesus.

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.220
 So now,

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.120
 because you're in Christ,

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.840
 you can enter

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.560
 the very presence

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:32.899
 of God

00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.740
 without any fear

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.220
 whatsoever.

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.379
 Come to me.

00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.779
 Come to me for grace.

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.960
 Anytime you want,

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.400
 you've got full access.

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.400
 Draw near to me.

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.860
 Draw near to my throne.

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.139
 Did you notice

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:54.980
 the word us?

00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:01.840
 Let us draw near.

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.720
 How does that happen?

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.660
 Where and when

00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.460
 does that take place?

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.120
 Exhortation 2

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.980
 is in verse 23.

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:14.820
 Since God

00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.500
 has made available

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.200
 His grace,

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.580
 we're to draw near

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.139
 to Him

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.040
 together.

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:19.920
 And

00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:21.600
 exhortation 2,

00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.980
 let us hold fast

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.639
 the confession

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.080
 of our hope

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.399
 without wavering.

00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.920
 Hold fast

00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.500
 the confession

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.399
 of our hope.

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.919
 A confession

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.679
 is this

00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.699
 verbal

00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:35.139
 acknowledgement,

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.539
 verbal announcement

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.740
 of what you believe

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.519
 to be true.

00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:42.279
 It's out of your heart.

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.620
 The mouth speaks.

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.939
 You're saying,

00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:46.059
 we're saying together,

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.659
 this is what I believe

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.480
 about Jesus.

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.620
 Hope is a theme

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.639
 throughout the book

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.259
 of Hebrews

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:55.240
 and our hope

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.220
 is the one

00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.399
 who's gone before us.

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.299
 Jesus.

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.399
 Let us hold fast

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.159
 the confession

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.900
 of our hope

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.980
 without wavering.

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.339
 Wavering

00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:13.640
 in terms of

00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.619
 wavering of your faith,

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.480
 wavering of your

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.720
 pursuit

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.839
 of our Lord.

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.379
 Here's what causes us

00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:22.820
 to waver.

00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:23.600
 Distraction.

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.960
 Spiritual dullness.

00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:28.620
 Doubting.

00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.700
 These are the things

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.320
 that get in the way.

00:17:36.280 --> 00:17:38.240
 What causes us

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.020
 to waver

00:17:39.020 --> 00:17:39.820
 and what was causing

00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:40.900
 this first group

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.560
 of Christians

00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:42.380
 to waver

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:44.460
 is what the world

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.000
 says.

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.500
 What the world

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.480
 prioritizes.

00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.560
 We can't prioritize

00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:50.140
 what the world

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.940
 prioritizes

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.000
 because they don't

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.819
 confess Jesus

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.460
 as their king.

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.079
 We confess

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.619
 Jesus

00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:57.440
 and hold fast

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.019
 to the fact

00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.400
 that he's

00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:58.900
 the controlling

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.940
 center of our lives.

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.579
 All of us

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:01.900
 together.

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.359
 You know

00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:06.980
 what the opposite

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.819
 of holding fast

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.059
 is?

00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.299
 There are words

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.819
 for it

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.440
 throughout the book

00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:12.980
 of Hebrews.

00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:16.000
 In Hebrews 2.1

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.859
 it's drifting away.

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:19.959
 Hebrews 2.3

00:18:19.959 --> 00:18:21.819
 it's neglecting

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.339
 this great salvation.

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.779
 In verse 5.11

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.740
 it's pointing to

00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.799
 a dullness

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.479
 of hearing.

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.839
 In 10.39

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.159
 it's a shrinking

00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:34.599
 back.

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.219
 And in verses 3

00:18:37.219 --> 00:18:37.819
 chapter 3

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.299
 verse 12

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:38.679
 and 6

00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:39.500
 and 6

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.859
 it's

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.839
 it's actually apostasy.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.819
 It's a falling away.

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:49.119
 these are the things

00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.099
 that this book

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.679
 is written

00:18:50.679 --> 00:18:53.859
 to help us

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.659
 fight against

00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:56.799
 to not get pulled

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.179
 into.

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.259
 And so when we talk

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.639
 about holding fast

00:18:59.639 --> 00:19:01.299
 it's the very opposite

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.119
 of drifting away.

00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:04.220
 It's about persevering.

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:04.919
 It's striving

00:19:04.919 --> 00:19:06.579
 to enter his rest.

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:08.059
 It's about enduring

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:10.119
 just as the great

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.299
 hall of fame

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.039
 all of these

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.339
 brothers and sisters

00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.720
 they persevere

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.639
 to the end

00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:17.619
 just as Jesus

00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:20.619
 the author

00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.299
 and perfecter

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.480
 of our faith

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.259
 has gone before us

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.779
 enduring the cross.

00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.740
 We're called

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.799
 to hold fast together.

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.139
 To press on

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.960
 to endure

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.940
 hold fast

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.700
 this confession

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.660
 and so together

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:40.000
 when we come together

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.440
 let us

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.380
 hold fast

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.580
 the confession

00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:44.480
 of our hope.

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.759
 Let us

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.740
 hold fast

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.980
 we do this together.

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:49.100
 We're saying things

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.259
 like when we sing

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.539
 we're singing

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.259
 to Jesus

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.100
 we're singing

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:53.840
 great things

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.519
 about our God

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.720
 we're confessing

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.400
 what's true

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.019
 together.

00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:00.019
 We do this together.

00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:03.539
 The third

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.559
 exhortation

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:10.980
 is in verse 24

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:13.079
 it says

00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.759
 and let us

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.200
 consider

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.079
 how to stir up

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.480
 one another

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.859
 to love

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.440
 and good works.

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:18.819
 Technically

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:19.980
 the exhortation

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.859
 is to think

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.419
 carefully.

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:23.039
 It's on that

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.799
 verb consider

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.339
 but what we're

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:25.819
 being told

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.339
 to consider

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:26.980
 is how to

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.639
 stir one another

00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.019
 up

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.799
 to love

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.119
 and good

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:31.019
 works

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.059
 to love

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.720
 one another

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.819
 to do

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.559
 good deeds

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.480
 and do you know

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.039
 why we are

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.519
 to do that?

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.379
 Because we drift

00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:37.940
 from that.

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.059
 We gravitate

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.579
 to people

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.220
 who are like

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:41.720
 us

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.679
 who are familiar

00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:43.159
 with

00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:44.480
 and what we're

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:44.960
 being told

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.460
 here is to

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.519
 stir up

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.019
 one another

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.819
 to give

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.940
 careful thought

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.740
 of how to

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.419
 stir one another

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:50.740
 up

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.440
 to love

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.839
 one another

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.480
 to do good

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.119
 to one another.

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:58.079
 That little

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.019
 verb

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.539
 that little

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.139
 word

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:01.159
 stir up

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.119
 in the ESV

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:04.839
 it's a little

00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:05.699
 stronger than

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:06.019
 that.

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.259
 It's

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.639
 stir up

00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:10.159
 is good

00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.819
 but it's

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:12.539
 it's

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:12.859
 missing

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.739
 some force.

00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:16.019
 At the end

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.699
 of Acts

00:21:16.699 --> 00:21:17.579
 15

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:19.059
 the same

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.699
 word is

00:21:19.699 --> 00:21:20.259
 used

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.479
 to describe

00:21:21.479 --> 00:21:22.539
 the sharp

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.539
 disagreement

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.940
 between

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.480
 Paul and

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.000
 Barnabas.

00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.119
 It's a strong

00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.480
 word.

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.059
 In fact

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.799
 the NIV

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.119
 the New

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:32.519
 International

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.920
 Version

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.579
 translated this

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:34.759
 way

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.420
 consider how

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.740
 to spur

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.259
 one another

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.740
 on

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:39.440
 to love

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:39.680
 and good

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.019
 deeds.

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.220
 Maybe you've

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.680
 read a version

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.180
 that talks

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.480
 about

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.440
 provoking

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.059
 one another

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.220
 to love

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.559
 and good

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:45.940
 deeds.

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:48.359
 This kind

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:48.799
 of word

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.119
 it carries

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.819
 the sense

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.139
 of causing

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.759
 discomfort

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:55.680
 of

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:58.600
 confrontation

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.240
 even

00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.320
 of

00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:02.200
 being able

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.560
 to come

00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:02.820
 to one

00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:02.980
 another

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.220
 and say

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.640
 come on

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.120
 let's

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.380
 go.

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:05.960
 You know

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.580
 cowboys have

00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.000
 spurs on

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.340
 their boots.

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:08.880
 You know

00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.000
 what they're

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.200
 for?

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.620
 Spur the

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.000
 horse

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.200
 inflict some

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.660
 discomfort

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:17.259
 so that

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.100
 beast moves.

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:20.419
 and so the

00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.159
 idea here

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.459
 of

00:22:21.459 --> 00:22:23.099
 stirring

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.500
 one another

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:23.859
 up

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.919
 is we're

00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.559
 being in

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:25.859
 love

00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.419
 willing to

00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:26.939
 say things

00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.219
 to one

00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:27.519
 another

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:29.219
 to help

00:22:29.219 --> 00:22:29.699
 each other

00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:30.480
 persevere

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.839
 to love

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.759
 and to

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.419
 good deeds.

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.519
 peace.

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.380
 You see

00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.100
 these three

00:22:39.100 --> 00:22:40.100
 exhortations

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.259
 did you

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.700
 notice

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:44.240
 let us

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.779
 consider

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.740
 how to

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.100
 stir up

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.500
 one another?

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.360
 Let us

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.080
 hold fast?

00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.440
 Let us

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.060
 draw near?

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.539
 These

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.460
 exhortations

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.420
 are means

00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.920
 by which

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.980
 we encourage

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.560
 one another

00:22:57.560 --> 00:22:58.779
 in light of

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.500
 God's grace.

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.580
 In light of

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:01.939
 what he's

00:23:01.939 --> 00:23:02.359
 done.

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.000
 Because of

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.720
 his grace

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.639
 we draw

00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.240
 near together

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.679
 we hold

00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.419
 fast together

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:09.460
 we spur

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:09.919
 each other

00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:10.399
 on.

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.679
 Where do you

00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:18.019
 think this

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.460
 happens?

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.179
 Week by

00:23:21.179 --> 00:23:21.519
 week.

00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:25.899
 Brings us

00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.500
 to the last

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:26.960
 step in the

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.259
 argument.

00:23:29.699 --> 00:23:30.699
 Verse 25

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.740
 we're shown

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:34.319
 where this

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.740
 happens.

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.000
 Not

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.640
 neglecting to

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.120
 meet together

00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:39.519
 as in the

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:39.920
 habit of

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.279
 some but

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.700
 encouraging

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.200
 one another

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.819
 and all the

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.299
 more as

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.700
 you see

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.200
 the day

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.700
 drawing

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.539
 near.

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.700
 The primary

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.319
 way we

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.259
 draw near

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.980
 to God

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.400
 together,

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.299
 the primary

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.220
 way we

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.860
 hold fast

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.240
 the good

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.900
 confession of

00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.539
 Jesus together,

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.539
 the primary

00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.480
 way in which

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.059
 we spur

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.500
 one another

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.039
 on to love

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.279
 and good

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.059
 deeds is

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.740
 by meeting

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.500
 together in

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.339
 person Sunday

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.099
 after Sunday.

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:06.039
 We meet

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.180
 together because

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.200
 we are in

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.740
 desperate need

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.200
 of God's

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.819
 grace to

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.539
 persevere to

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.079
 the end

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.159
 together.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.399
 Quick

00:24:15.399 --> 00:24:16.359
 technicality,

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.460
 grammatical

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.480
 technicality.

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.139
 You can check

00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.920
 out, I'll check

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.559
 you back in in a

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:21.720
 minute.

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.859
 Technically,

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.759
 verse 25 is a

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.839
 subordinate clause

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.799
 of verse 24.

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.359
 And one can

00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:31.879
 think that

00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:33.359
 verse 25 is

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.799
 therefore kind

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.199
 of operationalizing

00:24:36.199 --> 00:24:36.959
 verse 24,

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.399
 but check back

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:39.659
 in.

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.319
 Follow the flow

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:42.939
 of the argument.

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:46.259
 In verse 21,

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.319
 since we have a

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.599
 great high priest

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.319
 over the house

00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:50.779
 of God,

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.859
 the house of

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.199
 God,

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.699
 flip back in

00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.279
 Hebrews,

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.720
 to Hebrews

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.799
 chapter 3,

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.779
 verse 6.

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.980
 But Christ is

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.460
 faithful over

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.740
 God's house as

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.380
 a son,

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:12.039
 and we

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:14.200
 are his

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:14.980
 house.

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:17.700
 If indeed we

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.380
 hold fast our

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:19.100
 confidence in our

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:19.480
 boasting,

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.000
 in our hope.

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.779
 Here's the point I'm

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.240
 trying to make,

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:23.779
 help you see

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.019
 here.

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.700
 The writer of

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.180
 Hebrews is

00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:27.559
 talking about

00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.039
 the church,

00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:29.859
 talking about

00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.220
 us,

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.680
 talking about

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.139
 the people of

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.339
 God in a

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.039
 particular place,

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.500
 in a particular

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.079
 time.

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.339
 He's saying

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:41.440
 over the

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.200
 house of God,

00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:42.839
 the church,

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.839
 and then verse

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:45.680
 22, the us

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.420
 is the house

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:46.879
 of God.

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.779
 Verse 23,

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.500
 the house,

00:25:49.899 --> 00:25:50.680
 the us is the

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.240
 house of God,

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.759
 the people of

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:51.980
 God.

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:53.180
 24 is the

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.640
 people of

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.000
 God.

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.039
 And so when

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.319
 we get to

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:57.120
 25, it is the

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:58.019
 people of God

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.160
 meeting together,

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.759
 or not.

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.920
 All of these

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.819
 exhortations

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:10.279
 happen, they

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.200
 come to fruition

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.680
 when we meet

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.579
 together in

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.759
 person Sunday

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.860
 by Sunday.

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.539
 I'm not sure if

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.120
 you know this,

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.799
 but Zach and I

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.480
 have the privilege

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.940
 of every week on

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.340
 our Wednesday

00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:23.120
 staff meeting,

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.080
 and we usually

00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:24.820
 have a blast

00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.440
 doing it.

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.620
 We create an

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.360
 order of our

00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:29.820
 service.

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.259
 It's what

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.240
 guides us when

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.759
 we gather

00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.840
 together as

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.380
 God's people,

00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:37.539
 as the house

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:37.900
 of God.

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.880
 It's what some

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.720
 people call a

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.200
 liturgy.

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.580
 And what it is

00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:45.519
 is basically a

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.299
 process by which

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.039
 we draw near to

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:51.159
 God, hold fast

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:51.859
 our confession,

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.599
 and spur one

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.119
 another on.

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.339
 That's what we

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:56.539
 do.

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.259
 That's one of my

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.899
 most favorite

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.619
 moments of the

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:00.859
 week.

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.619
 And so when we

00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.680
 kind of put things

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.859
 in place, we're

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.700
 looking to our

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:08.079
 Bibles to give

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.379
 us kind of like,

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.539
 what do we need to

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.279
 have together when

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.779
 we gather?

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.579
 So there's always a

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.139
 call to worship.

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.299
 It's God calling us

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.779
 to worship.

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.680
 And then we always

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.379
 have a benediction,

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.619
 God kind of wrapping

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.039
 us up.

00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.359
 And then the songs

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.579
 that we sing and

00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.720
 that we choose,

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.920
 they are designed

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:29.059
 to unite us in

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.899
 our confession.

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.879
 When we pray, like

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.740
 Zach prayed a prayer

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.639
 of confession this

00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:36.200
 morning, it's very

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.619
 intentional.

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.500
 Do you know why?

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.500
 We're drawing near to

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:39.900
 God.

00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.779
 It's to serve us,

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.700
 to serve our

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.180
 gathering.

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.880
 It's to help us

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:47.579
 lay hold of God's

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.380
 grace together.

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.099
 And of course, the

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.880
 preaching of the

00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:52.400
 word, we preach

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.019
 Christ and we

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.539
 preach so that you

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:57.220
 would be spurred on

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.140
 to love and good

00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:58.539
 deeds.

00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.339
 That's what God's

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.640
 word gets done.

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.519
 You can think about

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.539
 it as Zach and me

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.700
 being curators.

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.319
 Like an art curator

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.819
 of an art museum

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:12.599
 who designs a show

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.539
 from beginning to

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.000
 end in which you,

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.659
 when you come out,

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.220
 you're like, that

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:18.159
 was great.

00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.759
 What Zach and I do

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.559
 is to curate a

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:26.279
 gathering in order

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.500
 to draw near to God,

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:29.019
 hold fast the

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.019
 confession of Jesus

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.480
 and spur one another

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:31.819
 on.

00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.960
 But it's not all

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.639
 formalities.

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.279
 You know one of my

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.779
 favorite things?

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.839
 Before and after

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.319
 service?

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:42.359
 Is this informal

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:44.039
 spurring one another

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.339
 on.

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.519
 It's watching people

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.539
 pray together, talk

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:47.960
 together.

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.740
 It happens when we

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.579
 come together.

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.819
 It is so good.

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.720
 So when we come

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:57.480
 together, there is

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:59.099
 this outpouring of

00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.339
 God's grace, both

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.339
 formal and informal,

00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:04.240
 in order to

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.720
 encourage us

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.559
 to persevere

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.159
 to the end.

00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:16.299
 There is a rebuke

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.000
 in this passage.

00:29:19.679 --> 00:29:21.039
 Not neglecting to

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.039
 meet together as is

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.819
 the habit of some.

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.039
 A rebuke is

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.019
 when someone

00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.359
 says,

00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:29.579
 that's not right.

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:31.480
 You shouldn't

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.980
 be doing that.

00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.779
 The original

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.639
 audience, if you're

00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.500
 wondering, if you're

00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.059
 in your pew right

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.079
 now thinking, okay,

00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.799
 I'm not sure if he's

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.000
 talking about the

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.799
 Sunday gathering of

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.359
 God's people.

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.439
 Maybe he's just

00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:45.519
 talking about meeting

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.500
 together with someone

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.079
 over coffee.

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.460
 My life group

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.059
 getting together.

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.720
 I've got an

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.439
 accountability group.

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.000
 I've got a Bible

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.519
 study on Monday

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:51.759
 night.

00:29:52.439 --> 00:29:53.259
 Let me just help you

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.960
 understand something.

00:29:54.199 --> 00:29:54.879
 When the original

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:56.179
 audience read this

00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:57.639
 letter, there's no

00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:58.419
 doubt how they would

00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.099
 have interpreted that.

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.699
 The meeting

00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.460
 together was the

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.139
 meeting together of

00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:04.460
 their church for

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:05.799
 worship and exhortation

00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.659
 with God's word.

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:10.019
 And some people

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.119
 had gotten into a

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.960
 bad habit of not

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.240
 gathering together.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.939
 And here's how that

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.919
 pattern shows up.

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.699
 Hey, where is so

00:30:19.699 --> 00:30:20.000
 and so?

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.960
 We haven't seen so

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.619
 and so for a couple

00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:22.960
 weeks.

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:25.299
 That's how you know

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.480
 that there's a bad

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.379
 habit going on.

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:30.540
 Hey, where is so

00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:30.960
 and so?

00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:35.380
 Why aren't they

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:35.640
 here?

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.260
 Why aren't they

00:30:36.260 --> 00:30:38.340
 benefiting from

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.000
 God's grace?

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.000
 When someone gets

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.020
 in the bad habit of

00:30:45.020 --> 00:30:45.960
 not coming to church,

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.960
 gathering with God's

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:49.080
 people, they are

00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:50.920
 denying themselves a

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:52.320
 primary means of

00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:52.760
 grace.

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.420
 and they're opening

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:56.940
 themselves to

00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:59.200
 potential drift, to

00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.599
 potential dullness,

00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:05.099
 and apostasy.

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.940
 Did you see what

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.019
 follows this in

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.640
 chapter 10?

00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:12.060
 a warning against

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:13.000
 apostasy.

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.100
 There's a rebuke,

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.820
 and it's a loving

00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:20.680
 rebuke, because those

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.460
 who neglect the

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.080
 gathering of the

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:23.540
 church, they're

00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:25.060
 missing out on God's

00:31:25.060 --> 00:31:25.420
 grace.

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.259
 But there's also a

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.660
 correction.

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.840
 But encouraging one

00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:34.380
 another, and all the

00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:35.280
 more as you see the

00:31:35.280 --> 00:31:36.580
 day drawing near, the

00:31:36.580 --> 00:31:37.940
 day drawing near is the

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:39.259
 second advent of Jesus.

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.880
 When he comes back to

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:42.480
 judge, make all things

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.560
 right, and we're all

00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:44.380
 going to stand before

00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:45.200
 the judgment seat of

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:47.020
 Christ someday, and

00:31:47.020 --> 00:31:49.080
 we're one day closer.

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.180
 So we encourage one

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.460
 another.

00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:55.960
 By drawing near, by

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:57.560
 holding fast, by

00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:58.520
 spurring one another

00:31:58.520 --> 00:32:00.660
 on, that's how we

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.580
 encourage one another,

00:32:01.800 --> 00:32:02.840
 and it's not all the

00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:03.240
 less.

00:32:04.300 --> 00:32:05.480
 It's all the more.

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.620
 He's talking about

00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.040
 gathering.

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:11.520
 That's the immediate

00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:12.200
 context.

00:32:13.320 --> 00:32:14.680
 Don't neglect meeting

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.120
 together.

00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.560
 Meet together all the

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:17.620
 more as you see the day

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:17.980
 approaching.

00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:19.440
 You need God's grace to

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.440
 persevere together.

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.840
 How do you draw near?

00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.680
 How do we hold fast?

00:32:29.040 --> 00:32:30.420
 How do we spur each

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.040
 other on?

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.779
 How do we hold each other

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.019
 together?

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.299
 How do we hold each other

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:34.980
 by meeting together in

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:37.519
 person week by week?

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.440
 It's not the only way.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.980
 It's a primary way.

00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.879
 So what this means for us?

00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:48.500
 So what?

00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:53.339
 What difference does this

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:53.640
 make?

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.380
 I've been praying for you

00:32:57.380 --> 00:33:02.319
 that God's word would have

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:05.420
 an effect that would make

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:07.319
 you reconsider your schedule,

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.299
 your priorities.

00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:13.700
 If this is true, then it's

00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:15.379
 going to be reflected in your

00:33:15.379 --> 00:33:18.319
 weekly schedule because we all

00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.599
 need God's grace together.

00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:25.319
 So why is the Sunday morning

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.539
 gathering of our church so

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:26.959
 important?

00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:30.480
 So that you can persevere to the

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:30.740
 end.

00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:34.639
 It's not about attendance for

00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:35.419
 attendance sake.

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:37.480
 It's about God's grace that we

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:39.119
 experience when we gather together

00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.699
 in person.

00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:42.259
 Are you able to articulate that

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.899
 argument to yourself and others?

00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:47.459
 Can you make a case for that?

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.079
 Are you convinced of that?

00:33:50.459 --> 00:33:52.639
 Do you see our gathering as

00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:57.319
 essential to persevering to the

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:57.500
 end?

00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:03.059
 These are weekly infusions of

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:05.500
 grace to ward off unbelief,

00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:08.299
 drift, and dullness, and to

00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:10.880
 strengthen us to hold fast to the

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.279
 end.

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.099
 Do you buy it?

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.659
 Is that what the author of

00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.380
 Hebrews is saying?

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.019
 Is that what God's saying?

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.099
 Is that what he's calling on you?

00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:27.279
 Second, in light of that, does

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:28.219
 something need to change?

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.739
 Your work schedule.

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:37.299
 Is it within your power to shift

00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:38.900
 around your schedule so that you

00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:40.199
 can be here on a Sunday morning?

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:47.579
 youth sports, I hope what this is

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:50.119
 doing is compelling you to have a

00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.159
 family conversation.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:55.119
 As a family, mom, dad, engage your

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.879
 children over Hebrews 10 and say,

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.359
 okay, we see this in our Bibles.

00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:01.219
 We need to be gathering together as a

00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:03.339
 church in order to persevere to the

00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:03.579
 end.

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.699
 What do you think, gang?

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.420
 What do you think this looks like?

00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:10.840
 What does this mean for what we say no

00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.840
 to and what we say yes to?

00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:17.539
 What effect will this have over the

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:19.720
 course of our lives?

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:27.400
 It doesn't stop when your kids are just

00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:27.860
 young.

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.900
 Our daughter marries in cheer.

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:32.880
 This past fall, we learned that there

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:35.640
 was a cheer practice called on a Sunday

00:35:35.640 --> 00:35:36.840
 morning around 10 a.m.

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:40.200
 We had to prepare our daughter for that.

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.559
 She's so committed.

00:35:43.120 --> 00:35:45.140
 She is a tremendous team member.

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.820
 And we had to let her know, no, sweetheart,

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:51.160
 this is a conflict of values.

00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:55.220
 And what we value more than cheer is our

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:57.019
 gathering as a church.

00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:59.879
 And so we got her to a point where she

00:35:59.879 --> 00:36:01.659
 was okay with it.

00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:03.279
 And then I called the coach.

00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:06.739
 I have deep respect for the coach.

00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:07.939
 Coach is a believer.

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:10.359
 I said, hey, we're not going to be coming.

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.759
 Mary's not going to be there.

00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:15.819
 We have a commitment to gathering as a

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:17.119
 church that we're seeking to train our

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:19.399
 daughter in week after week.

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:21.259
 And it's more important than a cheer

00:36:21.259 --> 00:36:21.779
 practice.

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.819
 And you know what I said?

00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:28.600
 Coach, is this what you want to do?

00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:32.400
 Do you want to open the door to this?

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:37.120
 The coach responded so well.

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.720
 They canceled it.

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.559
 You know what?

00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:44.640
 Maybe, parents, if you're in youth sports,

00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:46.360
 maybe the thing that you need to do is get

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:50.300
 on sports league boards and be able to say

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:50.720
 this.

00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:51.840
 Hey, you know what?

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:54.940
 We'll come to anything except Sunday morning.

00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:58.980
 Let's schedule our league around that.

00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:04.180
 Does something need to change?

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:08.900
 Livestream.

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:12.900
 If you're watching on Livestream right now,

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:14.160
 or if you've watched on Livestream,

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:15.660
 Livestream is a good thing.

00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:19.399
 It helps people who have legitimate reasons

00:37:19.399 --> 00:37:21.259
 not to be able to make it on a Sunday morning.

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:24.239
 But what we have found is that the Livestream

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.440
 becomes a crutch.

00:37:26.859 --> 00:37:29.359
 It makes it easy for people not to come.

00:37:32.759 --> 00:37:34.219
 But the argument that we're making,

00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:35.399
 I'm making here this morning,

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:38.879
 is it's actually being here in person,

00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:41.619
 that there's this fullness of God's grace.

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:44.940
 So Livestream is at best a lesser grace of God.

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:49.679
 And if you're watching on Livestream

00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:51.359
 and thinking that you're part of our gathering,

00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.719
 you are in one respect,

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:55.239
 but you're just kind of like watching in.

00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:58.440
 It's when we gather as people together,

00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:01.500
 God is meeting us in a unique way.

00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:07.280
 Let's say what's best and go after that.

00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:11.239
 And what's best is gathering together in person,

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:12.079
 week by week.

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:14.400
 Another thing that needs to change,

00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.860
 are you avoiding someone?

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:17.539
 Are you not coming to our gathering

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:19.239
 because you're avoiding someone

00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:20.480
 or avoiding something?

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:24.739
 Consider how to stir up one another

00:38:24.739 --> 00:38:25.500
 in love and good deeds.

00:38:26.579 --> 00:38:28.260
 Do you need to get right with someone?

00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:31.219
 That's the way to deal with that.

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:37.420
 Or do you only come on a Sunday

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:39.880
 when it's your Sunday to serve?

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:46.960
 Will you come on Sundays you're not serving?

00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:50.679
 Because you need God's grace

00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:54.400
 to persevere to the end.

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:56.699
 Does something need to change?

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:59.980
 I want to make one little point right now

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:02.719
 and then I'm going to move on to one more thing.

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:07.740
 Do you know what is one of the most loving things

00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:09.579
 you can do, brother and sister in Christ,

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.240
 week by week?

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.360
 Show up.

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.840
 Be present.

00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:19.600
 Your being here is an encouragement.

00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:22.039
 It is good.

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:24.840
 It's good for the saints when we gather together

00:39:24.840 --> 00:39:26.860
 to see one another and hear our voices

00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:28.460
 as we confess our Lord together.

00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.720
 It's good.

00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.760
 Let's add.

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:32.160
 Let's make it a priority.

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:34.780
 It's good.

00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:34.860
 It's good.

00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:41.460
 We love one another by showing up.

00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:44.639
 One last question.

00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:49.440
 How are you preparing yourself to come

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:51.139
 on a Sunday morning?

00:39:52.740 --> 00:39:53.900
 What's your process?

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:56.800
 How are you getting ready?

00:39:56.800 --> 00:40:00.620
 I would encourage you to pray.

00:40:02.060 --> 00:40:03.640
 Oh God, would you pour out your grace

00:40:03.640 --> 00:40:05.220
 upon our church gathering this morning

00:40:05.220 --> 00:40:06.980
 that we would draw near to you,

00:40:07.060 --> 00:40:09.180
 that we'd hold fast to Jesus together

00:40:09.180 --> 00:40:11.280
 and that we would spur one another

00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:12.660
 on to love and good deeds.

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.840
 And then you can pray this.

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:16.060
 God, would you encourage me?

00:40:16.680 --> 00:40:17.720
 And then you can pray this.

00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:19.420
 God, would you make me an encouragement

00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:20.460
 to someone else in the room?

00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:23.700
 Would you give me eyes to see others?

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:25.300
 Would you help me to see someone

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:27.120
 who needs some kind of encouragement,

00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:28.200
 some kind of prayer?

00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:31.140
 And so now you come as a participant,

00:40:32.660 --> 00:40:35.580
 not as someone who's just watching.

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:41.120
 Should a Christian do all they can do

00:40:41.120 --> 00:40:44.800
 to gather in person Sunday after Sunday

00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:46.100
 with their local church?

00:40:47.680 --> 00:40:49.580
 On the authority of God's word,

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:50.600
 absolutely.

00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.440
 Yes.

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:52.559
 Yes.

00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:55.579
 We need God's grace

00:40:55.579 --> 00:40:57.599
 to persevere to the end

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:58.740
 and Sunday,

00:40:59.059 --> 00:40:59.920
 our Sunday meeting

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:02.179
 is God's primary means of God's grace

00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:04.440
 to run the race marked out for us.

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:07.119
 The more we gather,

00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:09.039
 the more we'll be encouraged by God's grace

00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:11.740
 and the more likely to hold fast.

00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:13.460
 The less we gather,

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:15.460
 the less we'll be encouraged by God's grace

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:17.880
 and the more likely we open ourselves up to drift.

00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:22.460
 But this weekly grace gathering

00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:25.920
 encourages us to hold fast to the end

00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:29.599
 together following Jesus

00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:32.800
 Sunday after Sunday.

00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:35.260
 Let's pray together.

00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.240
 God in heaven,

00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:45.399
 we want to want to be here together.

00:41:46.399 --> 00:41:47.919
 Those of us who may not want it,

00:41:48.919 --> 00:41:49.939
 God, would you change our want?

00:41:50.959 --> 00:41:52.259
 Would you incline our hearts?

00:41:53.279 --> 00:41:55.359
 Would you make us courageous

00:41:55.359 --> 00:41:56.839
 with our calendars?

00:41:57.979 --> 00:42:01.299
 Would you help us to say no to good things,

00:42:01.359 --> 00:42:03.599
 to say yes to best things,

00:42:03.719 --> 00:42:04.559
 your things,

00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:06.539
 your good design,

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:07.380
 your grace?

00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:11.799
 Father, would you unite us together

00:42:11.799 --> 00:42:14.159
 in our gathering

00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:15.679
 week by week?

00:42:16.340 --> 00:42:16.719
 Amen.