Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Sam Huff's sermon from Hebrews 13:1-7.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Sam Huff's sermon from Hebrews 13:1-7.
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair and I am joined by Bobby Gilles. This past Sunday, Pastor Sam Huff preached from Hebrews thirteen, verses one through seven, in our series called A Life Worth Living.
Bobby: Pastor Sam said that as citizens of an unshakeable kingdom living in a broken world, we, the church, must be devoted to loving one another. Now for those of you who either missed the sermon or need help remembering, let’s do the Midweek Checkup.
Lindsey: Sam began by saying that this passage invites us to two imperatives to what it means to be devoted to loving one another: Be a people of present affection and people with focused affection. First, our affection should invite others to be present with us, and we should pursue being present with others. It's more than just inviting someone into your home or your kitchen table. It is inviting them to come into your life to be present with you…for them to be near you.
Bobby: We are a people of hospitality because God is a God of hospitality. To be at the throne of grace or in the holy place is to be in the presence of God. For sinners and rebels like you and me, the presence of God should be the most terrifying and unsafe place for us to be. But because of the work of Jesus, and Jesus alone, the most unsafe place for us to be is now the safest place we could be. We are 100% welcome in God’s presence, and we come to him as we are.
Lindsey: The preacher of Hebrews says, “Remember those in prison.” We might not experience this kind of persecution, but this is an invitation for us to be mindful of those who are hurting and alone. We all know people, probably in the church, who are hurting or alone.
Bobby: The second way we can continue loving one another is to be a people with focused affection. Have you ever thought that your affections are misplaced because you have wounds that need to be healed or a place where you don’t feel safe, and you are going to the wrong people and things to find that healing, safety, and love that is only meant for Christ to give you?
Lindsey: it is hard to draw near to others and be a healing presence when you have not allowed the Lord to heal you. It is equally as difficult to allow others to be near you in hospitality when you yourself do not feel safe around others. You see, it is nearly impossible to be a person of present affection if you don’t have focused affection.
Bobby: What if this church fixed our eyes on Jesus, lived in gratitude of being citizens of an unshakeable kingdom, and loved one another with present affection and focused affection? What would happen?
It doesn’t produce peppy people who pretend that life isn’t hard, but it gives you the strength to carry on. It produces Hebrews 12:1 people. We throw off the things that slow us down and the sin that trips us up, and we run with perseverance the road that is set before us.
Lindsey: Next Sunday, we’ll conclude our series called A Life Worth Living, and conclude our study of the book of Hebrews. And in Bible Fellowship, we’ll discuss how the Holy Spirit fell on the first Christ followers on the day of Pentecost, from Acts chapter two, since this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. Join us and bring a friend.