Preparing for the Lord's Day
Jesus is Better
Ex-vangelical is a term that has made its way into our vocabulary in the last several years. It refers to someone who once identified as a born-again believer but subsequently distanced themselves from evangelicalism specifically or orthodox Christianity altogether. Many of these ex-vangelicals have gone through a process of deconstructing their faith. This deconstruction entails returning to the fundamental Christian beliefs and questioning their validity. In the process of deconstruction, one will question the truthfulness of Scripture, the divinity of Christ, the nature of the atonement, the reality of judgment and hell, divine creation, and Biblical sexual ethics.
There are many motives behind the deconstruction movement within evangelicalism. Often those who engage in deconstruction have not come from a healthy spiritual background. They may have experienced abuse from church leaders or witnessed major hypocrisy within their church body. Many who deconstruct their faith have come from contexts in which genuine faith-seeking understanding was stifled. Others have begun this journey because of the wedding of political ideologies with evangelicalism in general. Unfortunately, many who begin the process of deconstruction end up not only jettisoning the label evangelical but the gospel itself. They become mired in agnosticism that continually asks, “Did God really say?”
In our passage for this Sunday, the author to the Hebrews addresses the question of how believers are to continue in their faith. When there are difficult circumstances, continual persecution, and hard questions how is a Christian to persevere in the faith? And we will see that if we continue in the faith, we must continue to trust in God’s life-giving words. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Hebrews 3:12-19, Numbers 14, Deuteronomy 9, Psalm 95, 106 and Westminster Confession of Faith 17.
As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord,” the Acclamation of Praise, “Spirit of the Living God,” and the Hymn of Response “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information
Text: Hebrews 3:12-19
Title: Life-Giving Words
Outline:
- We Must Offer Life-Giving Words (v. 13)
- We Must Hold to Life-Giving Words (v. 14)
- We Must Obey Life-Giving Words (vv. 15-19)