Hebrews 10:24, 25

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We don’t know the identify of the writer of Hebrews – certainly they were Jesus, as opposed to Luke who was a gentile. We know that the first 9 chapters are really written to the nation of Israel, and so it focuses on the law and sacrificial order.

Chapter 10 turns its attention to the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice – it is fulsome, it is for all, it is sufficient for all time.

So….what does this mean to us in our behaviour?

Does it mean we can sin knowing that forgiveness can be found later (if you thought yes, read the book of Galatians)? What does it mean for us who have to live together in this world?

Not on the top 10 of worship songs, I have really come to love the song “He’s got the whole world in His hands”…. First published in 1927, it is a traditional African American spiritual. It’s roots are in the lives of slaves – those who lived under the rule of white men and women without hope of ever having freedom in this world.

He’s got you and me, brother – you and me, sister – the little tiny baby…

He’s got the whole world…

But beyond that the writer to the Hebrews wants us to know that we have an obligation to each other (in this fallen world) to encourage one another.

In fact, he uses the language to spur one another on – toward love and good deeds.

It’s an important part of our being “family”…. Children of God. John talks at great length that  we should be LOVE. There’s little room for anything else here. Now, a separate sermon or teaching on love versus boundaries would be beneficial, but for this morning, I’m focusing on the call to encourage one another.

Objective: to encourage one another,

The behavior: towards love and good deeds.

Fitz and I have been to a few hockey games. We take the LRT downtown, walk over the arena where he pulls out his wallet with the money he has saved (and can I say he is SO proud and excited about having achieved this) and he buys the largest popcorn and pop that $16 will buy…it takes him 2.5 periods btw to eat that popcorn!

All the time he loves to cheer for Edmonton!

And then there’s the soccer games – where we stand on the sideline and cheer away.

Joyce Landorf wrote a book many years ago, Balcony People, in which she suggested that we should stop and take stock of the people who stand in the balcony of our lives and cheer and clap to cheer us on!

Just for a moment – who comes to mind for you? (Just an aside – but maybe this week you might want to mail a card, send an email, or text message to say thanks for standing on the sidelines cheering me on !!

The coach,

the aunt,

the uncle,

the neighbour,

the older collegue at work…

You may know this idea – it’s been around a while now – but using the personalities of the NT, all of us need 3 people in our lives.

We need a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabus.

Why Barnabus – he was “the encourager”.

We all need an encourager and we need to BE an encourager.

NOW – turn to the person next to you – and say to them “you’re weird”.

Okay – now turn to the person next to you and say God loves weird people.

That’s right – God loves you and because He loves you, He call us to love others – even the weird people of our lives – the people who we avoid, the people who rub us the wrong way, the people who we wish would just GO away…

Yup – we are called to love people.

Brian McLaren writes:

 “the purpose of the Christian faith is clear and simple. It is not an evacuation plan for earth but a transformation plan build on the strategy of helping people become loving human beings who build loving societies, following the example of Jesus. After 2000 years it’s about time for the Christian religion to get serious about it’s prime objective.

Romans 15:1-4

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

That’s right – encouragement brings hope into our world.

Now, who this week can you encourage? And who will you thank for being an encourager.