26-0621p Transcript

(0:35) So it probably sounds familiar because I just used that sermon this morning, (0:40) but kind of want to tie it together with this morning’s sermon. (0:47) This evening’s sermon is Stirring One Another Up to Love and Good Works.

(0:55) This morning we talked about worshiping God every day in our daily lives (0:59) and the importance of gathering together on the Lord’s Day. (1:05) One of the main reasons God wants us to assemble is found right here in Hebrews. (1:10) So I’ll read it again.

(1:13) Get a double dose of it. (1:16) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (1:20) not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, (1:24) but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (1:29) In a small congregation like ours, this is especially important.

(1:38) We don’t have big programs or large crowds. (1:43) What we have is each other. (1:47) Tonight is a core group that shows up faithfully.

(1:50) I want us to think about how we can actively stir one another up. (1:57) I’ll be honest. (1:58) I need this as much as anyone.

(2:01) Life gets long, shifts are tiring, and it’s easy to drift. (2:07) But God calls us to spur each other on. (2:10) So all of us, I’m sure, need it at times.

(2:14) All of us probably struggle a little bit or have our off days or weeks. (2:20) But we need to be encouraged and stirred up. (2:26) The word stir up in Hebrews 1024 is a strong word.

(2:32) It means to provoke, to spur on, or to stimulate someone to action, (2:39) like poking a horse to get it moving forward when it’s slowing down. (2:45) But it is not just being nice or saying kind words. (2:50) It is intentional encouragement aimed at helping each other love God more (2:55) and do good works.

(2:58) It is the kind of loving push that moves us forward in our faith. (3:04) This kind of stirring happens best when we are regularly meeting together. (3:10) You cannot stir one another up if you’re not around one another.

(3:16) The more consistent we are in gathering, the more we can encourage (3:20) and strengthen each other. (3:22) That was just like I was talking about this morning. (3:24) That’s why worship is so important.

(3:29) I mean, obviously, you can’t stir each other up if we’re not here. (3:32) So that’s why we shouldn’t neglect the assembly of the saints. (3:40) So why do we need this kind of stirring? (3:44) Mainly because we live in a discouraging world.

(3:48) Long work hours, house struggles, family pressures, and spiritual warfare (3:54) can make us weary or passive. (3:57) It’s easy to get worn down and start drifting, especially in this world today. (4:05) You know, crazy times we live in.

(4:08) There’s a lot of sin. (4:09) There’s a lot of things going on that can bring us down, that can cause us stress, (4:15) that can really break us down if we’re not careful. (4:19) So we need encouragement.

(4:22) Even strong Christians can drift if they are not encouraged. (4:27) The original readers of Hebrews were facing hard times of persecution, (4:34) and the writer knew they needed to be stirred up to keep going strong in their faith. (4:41) In a small church like ours, each person’s faithfulness matters a great deal.

(4:49) When one person is encouraged and growing, the whole body benefits. (4:54) When one person drifts, it affects all of us. (4:58) We really do need each other.

(5:02) Look at some biblical examples of people who needed stirred up. (5:09) Even the greatest people of faith sometimes needed encouragement from others. (5:15) Look at Elijah.

(5:18) After his great victory on Mount Carmel, he became so discouraged and afraid (5:24) that he ran into the wilderness and asked God to take his life, 1 Kings 19. (5:32) God sent an angel to strengthen him and later spoke to him gently. (5:37) Elijah needed to be renewed and stirred up again.

(5:43) The apostle Peter needed encouragement after he denied Jesus three times. (5:49) After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter by the Sea of Galilee while he was fishing. (5:56) He restored him, forgave him, and recommenced him with the words, (6:02) Feed my sheep, John 21.

(6:06) Jesus personally stirred Peter up and put him back on mission. (6:11) How great would that be to have Jesus personally stirring you up? (6:14) Or an angel. (6:17) We don’t necessarily get that benefit except through the Bible.

(6:22) But we could definitely stir each other up. (6:26) The apostle Paul needed encouragement from his fellow believers. (6:30) In 2 Corinthians 7, 6-7, Paul tells how God comforted him through the coming of Titus (6:39) and the good report from the Corinthian church.

(6:43) Even Paul, with all his faith and experience, needed the encouragement of other Christians. (6:51) So even the toughest, greatest Christian, Paul, he needed at times to be stirred up. (6:58) He needed encouragement.

(7:01) So that means all of us need it. (7:04) None of us probably could compare to Paul. (7:10) So if he needed it, we needed it.

(7:13) Barnabas was known as the son of encouragement. (7:18) He stirred up the early church by encouraging new believers (7:22) and standing up for Paul when others were afraid of him. (7:27) His encouragement helped the church grow.

(7:33) These examples show us that needing stirring up is normal, (7:39) even for strong believers. (7:42) That’s why God commands us to do it for one another. (7:47) So what are practical ways we can stir up one another? (7:54) We can encourage faithfulness.

(7:58) Notice when somebody is here consistently and tell them a simple, (8:03) I’m glad you were here or your presence means a lot, (8:08) can go a long way in a small congregation like ours. (8:12) As 1 Thessalonians 5.11 says, (8:17) Therefore encourage one another and build one another up. (8:24) Another way is speak truth and love.

(8:27) Gently remind each other of God’s promises or lessons from the sermons. (8:33) Ask good questions like, (8:36) How is your daily Bible reading going? (8:39) Or what are you praying about this week? (8:42) These kind of conversations, (8:45) and most importantly the discussions we have after sermons or Bible study, (8:51) always seem to stir up my faith. (8:55) Proverbs 27.17 tells us, (8:58) Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

(9:04) That really stirs me up with our discussions after Bible study or Sunday worship. (9:12) Even today, me and Scott talked probably for a half an hour. (9:16) A lot of times, a lot of us are here a half an hour or an hour or more (9:23) after service or Bible study.

(9:26) And we’re always talking about biblical things. (9:29) So, that’s one way to stir each other up. (9:33) That’s one way we grow.

(9:36) Also serving practically. (9:39) Help with real needs. (9:41) Giving somebody a ride.

(9:42) Bringing a meal. (9:43) Praying with them. (9:45) Or lending a hand with a project.

(9:48) Which a lot of us do. (9:51) We’re great about that here. (9:53) In a small church, these acts of love really stand out.

(9:59) Galatians 6.2 says, (10:01) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (10:08) We can also pray for each other. (10:14) Take time after service or during the week to pray specifically for one another.

(10:20) Share requests and follow up later. (10:24) There is great power when we pray together. (10:28) James 5.16 reminds us, (10:31) Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.

(10:38) The effect of fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much. (10:44) Prayer is not the least we can do. (10:46) It’s the most we can do.

(10:49) So, prayer isn’t a small thing. (10:51) Great things happen when we pray. (10:56) Rejoice and grieve together.

(11:00) Celebrate answered prayers and victories. (11:03) Mourn losses with one another. (11:06) This builds real fellowship.

(11:08) Romans 12.15 tells us, (11:11) To rejoice with those who rejoice. (11:14) Weep with those who weep. (11:18) When we do these things consistently, (11:19) we fulfill God’s command to stir one another up to love and good works.

(11:30) You are all the backbone of this congregation. (11:34) Your steady presence, heartfelt singing, (11:39) attention to the word, (11:41) and your willingness to encourage and pray for one another (11:44) stir the rest of us up more than you know. (11:50) Don’t underestimate the impact of your faithfulness.

(11:54) In a small church, what you do really matters. (11:58) So everybody’s example here encourages others to keep coming, (12:03) to keep growing, and to keep serving. (12:08) So let’s commit to being intentional about encouraging one another this week.

(12:13) And all the more as we see the day approaching. (12:16) And I believe we do that pretty well here. (12:20) So let’s not forget to do that.

(12:23) Let’s realize that every single Christian, (12:25) no matter how well you might think they have it going for them, (12:31) or how strong they might be, (12:33) they still need encouraging. (12:37) This morning we talked about worshiping God every day (12:40) and the importance of gathering on the Lord’s Day. (12:47) Tonight we’ve seen one of the main reasons God calls us to assemble, (12:51) to stir one another up to love and good works.

(12:56) So let’s take this to heart and put it into practice. (13:01) If you’ve been drifting or neglecting the assembly, (13:04) today is the day to make it right. (13:07) So if you need the prayers of the congregation for strength, (13:10) encouragement, or any other need, (13:13) now is the time to come forward. (13:15)