Preparing for the Lord's Day
Jesus is Better
Have you ever had the dream where you show up to take a test for a class that you never attended? When I was in college, I would often have this dream around exam time. I would realize that I was signed up for a class that I never attended, and I had to take the exam anyway. I would look at the questions and have no idea how to answer them. It was a horrible feeling to be unprepared. There are times in my life when I will again have such a dream. This often happens when I am feeling unprepared for Sunday morning services or a special teaching event.
In our passage for this Sunday, the author of the Hebrews explains that he is about to make a theological point that is beyond the basics of Biblical concepts. However, he is concerned that his audience will not understand his point without further explanation because they have not matured in their knowledge of God’s word. They are unprepared to understand the truth of God’s word because they have failed to develop their understanding of Scripture.
This lack of maturity is a direct threat to their spiritual well-being. Just as a child must mature into an adult so too must Christians grow from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. And what we will see in our text is that every Christian is called to move beyond the basics of the faith into ever greater levels of Christian maturity. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Hebrews 5:11-6:3, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 119:9-16, John 17:3, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 3:15, and this article on the discipline of learning.
This week we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “The God of Abraham Praise,” “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven” and “Jesus Paid It All.”
Sermon Information:
Text: Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Title: Beyond the Basics
Outline:
- You Must Recognize the Obligation to Mature
- You Must Lay a Foundation to Mature
- You Must Build Upon the Foundation to Mature