This exposition of Luke 18:9-14 was delivered by Brother Roy Emmons at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 22, 2015.
The Publican and the Pharisee
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The Best Meal You’ve Ever Had
This exposition of John 21:9-13 was delivered by guest preacher Bobby Reid at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 22, 2015.
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God’s Grace in Salvation
The Parables of Jesus #03: An exposition of Matthew 13:44-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 15, 2015.
Intro:
He was a gifted teacher. The response of the crowd after Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount was, “This man teaches like no other. He speaks as one who has authority.” On the road to Emmaus the response was, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Great crowds followed him and hung on every word. It is also clear that our Lord was the master of the parable. The use of the common to explain the extraordinary. “The kingdom of heaven is like…” opened the eyes of believers to the wonder of God’s work in redemption. His use of parable was part of his ministry of revealing and concealing. We began looking at the parables a few weeks ago as our Lord spoke of the various soils in their response to the seed that was sown. A man sowed in his field. Some seed fell along the path and the birds came and took it away. Other fell on rocky ground and because there was no depth the plants soon withered and died. Some seed fell among thorns and the thorns choked the life out of them. But some fell on good soil and produced a crop. From this we learned that merely exposure to the gospel is insufficient. Joyful acceptance without being firmly rooted in the truth proves to be deadly. A crowded heart, concerned with the cares and troubles of this life render the Gospel ineffective. While the open and receptive heart brings life eternal and abundant. Next, through the parable o the weeds, the mustard seed and leaven we discovered the sure and certain growth of the kingdom. The kingdom of God prospers despite its being entangled with death. The church grows despite its small, humble beginnings, and the church impacts the culture through its transforming power. This morning we will consider two more parables revealing the wonder of God’s grace in salvation. Our text is found in Matthew chapter 13 beginning with verse 44.
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
We are good Baptist so if you ask, “How are we saved?” We answer, “We are saved by grace through faith.” We are “grace people.” Amazing Grace is our “national anthem!” We are big on grace but I’m not sure we always understand the depth and the wonder of God’s grace. Sure we believe that we are saved by grace. We know that is our doctrinal position but in practice we also give ourselves a little credit. I’m not sure we understand just how gracious God’s grace really is. From the Bible we know that apart from the grace of God we are dead in trespass and sin. We are not sick or even gravely ill – we are dead! We are without life spiritually. There is no good thing that dwells in us, that is in our flesh. We are in no way deserving of salvation. We are deserving of death and eternal damnation. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” “The wages of our sin is death.” All that God owes us is His eternal wrath and judgment but because He is gracious He has offered us life through His Son, the Lord Jesus. To be dead in sin is to be without life. To be dead spiritually is to have no interest in God or the things of God. We are, to use a good old theological term, totally depraved. We are radically sinful. Sinful from the core of our being. Everything about us is affected by sin. Our minds, our will, our emotions, our spirit – everything. The thought and intent of our hearts is only evil all the time. Such people do not, on their own, just decide to “accept Jesus.” Unless the Spirit of God graciously draws we will never come to faith. Unless and until God moves toward us we will never move toward Him. This is background for understanding the parables before us in our text.
In our text we witness man’s response to the gracious drawing of the Spirit of God.
As we work our way through we discover that…
Thesis: These parables gloriously reveal the work of God’s grace in salvation bringing us to Christ and enabling us to freely, unreservedly and wholeheartedly give ourselves to Him.
These are two very familiar parables. The treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value.
I want to point out just two things this morning.
- The drawing of God’s grace varies within individual experience.
- The apprehension of salvation follows a distinct path.
Both recognize the supreme value of the Gospel.
Both determined to possess it.
Both were willing to lose everything in order to gain it.
Both acquired it by faith.
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Surprising Lessons from an Unexpected Source
1 Kings #07: an exposition of 1 Kings 7:1-51. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 8, 2015.
Intro:
Technology is a wonderful thing but it can be frustrating. I love the DVR. We have all kinds of shows recorded that we can watch at our leisure and we can fast-forward through the commercials but DVRs can also be a problem. We can be watching a movie. The tension and drama are building. We are about find out whose responsible for the murder and Rheadon says, “Stop! Rewind it. Look at that.” “What? Look at what?” “Look at that table isn’t it pretty? I love that staircase don’t you?” I don’t know how she does it. It’s background. It has nothing to do with what’s happening in the story. It is on the screen for 2 seconds. She notices that stuff. She’s interested in it – me? Not really. Once I move in I’m done. There is no reason to move things around. Helen Keller could never survive in our home – Rheadon’s constantly moving the furniture around. I get the idea the writer of 1 Kings is a lot like my wife. He seems fascinated with details, especial concerning interior design. That makes 1 Kings 7 a bit tedious for me. Here is all of this talk about dimensions and design and there are no pictures or diagrams. It is clear that this was a massive building with impressive features. I am intrigued by the descriptions of the two massive columns that stood out front and the “the sea of brass” and the description of Solomon’s palace. As I read through the chapter I was interested in what was there and what was not there. Why was this element described but this element left out? It again seems that chapter 7, like chapter 6, is a construction report. Only this time it is more of an interior design plan. Yet there is something important for us as we work our way through the report. Our text this evening is 1 Kings chapter 7.
Text: 1 Kings 7:1-51
Thesis: This rather tedious and ordinary list of temple furnishings provides some surprising lessons.
7:1-2 – The Royal Complex
House of the Forest of Lebanon (2-5)
Hall of Pillars (6)
Hall of Justice (7)
House of Solomon (8a)
House for Pharaoh’s daughter (8b)
Construction notes (9-12)
7:13-51 – Temple Furnishings
Hiram’s work in bronze (13-14)
2 bronze pillars (15-22)
The sea (23-26)
10 movable stands (27-39)
Summary (40-47)
Solomon’s provision of gold (48-51)
There are three things I want to point out along the way.
- The biblical writer’s emphasis clearly highlights his priority. (7:1-12)
- The silent sentinels guarding the entrance to the temple loudly proclaim foundational truths. (7:15-22)
- The writer’s attention to detail is a subtle rebuke of our shallow, superficial approach to worship.
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A Sure and Certain Future
The Parables of Jesus #02: an exposition of Matthew 13:24-33. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday norning, March 8, 2015.
Intro:
It is one of the classic lines in the history of English literature, Dickens’ immortal words opening A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” Dickens was describing the tormented times of the French Revolution. But the words could be used to describe the conditions the church faces in our own day. It is true that great and wonderful things are happening within the church. We are opening new doors around the world. In parts of Africa and China the church is growing at an incredible rate. At the same time persecution is intensifying. Over 450 believers a day die for their faith! That means 164,250 saints a year are martyred for the faith.
We in America, now live in a post-Christian culture. We can no longer assume that people hold to a Judeo-Christian worldview. In a world of relative truth – a person can acknowledge the “truth” of the Christian faith while denying its relevance to their life. There was a time when you talked with an “un-churched” individual and they felt guilty about not being in church. Now church members see little need in regular church attendance. At the same time, the bankrupt philosophies of relativism and existentialism have left people longing for something more. Record numbers of folks are “seeking” spiritual answers. It is the best of times and it is the worst of times.
The vast majority of our churches have plateaued or are declining. And yet we are starting new churches. At the same time we are starting new churches others with long and glorious histories are closing their doors. As Baptist we know that our primary means of starting new works is the church split! Churches that can no longer withstand the internal strife break into 2, or more, smaller congregations. It is the best of times and it is the worst of times. After a while one begins to wonder what the future holds? Sometimes, when I look at the church, I wonder along with the Lord Jesus – “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” It is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to be cynical. But the truth of the matter is – the church is strong. The church of the Lord Jesus is moving onward and upward. I know that not because of the latest research done by the SBC or by any other organization. I know that because of the words of the Lord Jesus. The head of the Church has declared that the church is triumphant. Our text this morning is found in the 13th chapter of Matthew.
Text: Matthew 13:24-33
The Lord Jesus is drawing a line in the sand.
“You are either with me or you are against me.”
There can be no neutrality.
You’re in or you’re out.
Great crowds are following him.
Some out of devotion.
Others out of curiosity.
Some out of hatred – seeking accusation.
And Jesus is speaking to the crowds in parables.
Parables are earthly stories with a heavenly significance.
It is the use of the common to make known the uncommon.
The use of the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary.
This is part of his ministry of “revealing and concealing.”
In our text he uses three stories to illustrate the onward progression of the church.
These parables are snapshots of the growth of the church.
From these we learn:
Thesis: Believers can rejoice in the sure and certain progress of the church.
Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that the church is not perfect.
Not this church or any other visible expression of the church.
The church is full of problems because the church is full of people like you and me!
Yet God is at work in his church.
The Spirit of God is busy conforming the children of God to the image of Jesus.
Genuine children of God are growing in Christ-likeness.
The Bride of Christ is being purified.
At times that growth is explosive and obvious.
At other times that growth is slow and imperceptive.
But there is growth.
There are three truths about the growth of the church revealed in this passage.
- First of all there is the fact that the church prospers even when entangled with death. (13:24-30; 36-40)
- Second, in the parable of the mustard seed, we are reminded that the church prospers in spite of small beginnings. (13:31-32)
- In the parable of the leaven we discover that the church prospers by way of its transforming power. (13:33)
Conclusion:
When taken together this is not just wishful thinking on the part of Jesus.
Jesus did not say, “Wouldn’t it be nice if the kingdom of heaven was like this…”
He said, “This is the way it is.”
In other words the full growth of the church is assured from the moment the seed is planted no matter how unpromising its appearance may be. No matter what opposition it encounters along the way.
Rejoice Christian. Take heart. God is at work in his church and its growth is sure and certain.
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Uncomfortable Truths
The Parables of Jesus #01: an exposition of Matthew 13:1-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 1, 2015.
Intro:
Why are we here? What is the purpose of our gathering? Why is it we set aside this time for coming together? Is it merely to fulfill an obligation? Are we “paying our dues” or “doing time?” Why is it we gather as the church? If we were to take a poll this morning I’m sure we would come up with several answers. We might say that we are here to give glory and honor to God. Some might say we are here to receive God’s Word and to be encouraged – strengthened to face the week. Others might say we are here to declare the Gospel so that the lost might come to a saving knowledge of Christ. And to some degree all of these statements are true. I believe, Scripturally, we are here to bring glory and honor to God. We do that by singing praises, preaching the Gospel and praying. In the process the lost hear the Gospel, the saved are encouraged and we are strengthened to face the days to come. The fact is, what you “take away” from this service depends, in large part on what you “brought to it!” What is driving you? What is it you want? What are you seeking? There are some who think that you come to church for a shot of adrenalin. They come looking for excitement. Others come to experience something beyond the everyday. They are seeking some kind of encounter. Others are seeking understanding or stability. Regardless of what they are seeking most would agree they ought to leave church “feeling better” about things but that is not always the case.
I heard about a preacher who almost got his lights punched out by an irate husband. It was in a marriage counseling session. He confronted the wife about some issues and she began to cry. Her husband, a mountain of a man, stood up and said, “I thought the church was supposed to make people feel better!” Is that the role of the church? No, the church is called to declare the Word of God. That Word will comfort the afflicted and it will afflict the comfortable. It is a two-edged sword. I am often comforted by the truth of God’s Word but sometimes God’s Word makes me very uncomfortable. Our text this morning is one of those two-edged passages. It brings both comfort and discomfort.
Text: Matthew 13:1-23
Jesus is at a point in his ministry when he finds himself surrounded by controversy.
The religious establishment is growing increasingly hostile to him and his message.
The line has been drawn in the sand.
And the gap between the two is widening.
The message of Jesus is “at odds” with the message of Judaism at several points.
Jesus has said, “you are either with me or you are against me.”
It is one way or the other – there can be no neutrality.
It is against this backdrop that Jesus speaks to the crowd a number of parables.
Matthew 13 marks the beginning of Matthew’s third major teaching section.
I want us to focus this morning of the first of these parables.
What is a parable?
A parable is an extended metaphor.
It is the use of something common or ordinary to explain something not so common or ordinary.
As we consider our text we discover that:
Thesis: The parable of the soils demands that each individual who hears the Gospel carefully examination his or her heart.
Self-examination is thoroughly biblical. The apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians to “test yourselves to see if you are I the faith; examine yourselves.” This is a sobering passage that should cause each of us to stop and consider.
This text is about the Gospel in its affect on the hearts of men.
The focus is not on the Gospel or the method of sowing – the focus is on the soils and its affect on the power of the Gospel within the human heart.
There are four great truths I want to call to your attention from this text.
- Mere exposure to the truth of the Gospel is insufficient for salvation. (13:1-4; 19)
- Enthusiasm for the truth of the Gospel is no assurance of genuine life. (13:5-6; 20-21)
- Passing interest in the Gospel profits nothing. (13:7; 22)
- Only the heart that is genuinely receptive to the truth of the Gospel can know salvation. (13:8-9; 23)
Conclusion:
You do realize there is only one true Christian in this parable. The one who produced fruit. Is your heart genuinely open to the Gospel? Are you receptive to the truth of God? Do you allow it to settle down in your life is such a way that it turns you from sin? Does it work in you the fruit of the Spirit?
Perhaps you are worried that your’s is a hardened heart or a crowded heart? What can you do? You cannot change your heart any more that soil can change its nature but there is One who can. The Divine Gardner. He can break up hardened ground. He can uproot rocks and remove thorns. That is your hope – not you but the Gardner.
Listen to Ezekiel 36:25-27 – that is your hope.
Do you remember the Rich Young Ruler?
He went away sad because he had much wealth. His crowded heart refused the Gospel. Jesus said it was hard for the rich to enter the kingdom. The crowd said, “If the rich can’t who can?” Jesus said, “With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible!”
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A Construction Report
1 Kings #6: an exposition of 1 Kings 6:1-38. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 22, 2015.
Intro:
I’m not what you would call, “handy.” It really isn’t my fault, I had a mechanical bypass when I was a child. When I successfully change a light bulb it is a major accomplishment. Needless to say construction doesn’t interest me. I have a hard time relating to it. I cannot visualize it or understand what’s going on. They are building a huge house just outside the entrance to our neighborhood. It has been going on for some time now. As they were preparing the site and as they poured concrete I thought, “I think that’s pretty big but I can’t tell.” When the framing went up – I thought, “I guess it’s not as big as I thought.” Then the walls went up and the roof went on and I thought, “It’s huge!” All of that is to say as I read 1 kings chapter 6 it sounds like that temple was pretty big but I don’t know and to tell you the truth – I’m not that interested. Now you may be one of those who loves to look at blueprints and material lists – me, not so much. So I have to be honest I’m struggling with this study. But as I push on and try to figure out why the story is told in the way that it’s told, I’m enjoying it.
Our text this evening is found in 1 kings chapter 6.
We are going to fly over the whole chapter and take a general survey of the terrain.
In doing so I think we learn something worthwhile.
Text: 1 Kings 6:1-38
I want us to walk away this evening understanding that…
Thesis: The construction report found in 1 Kings 6, while accurately reflecting what was going on, more importantly points to the centrality of redemption, the majesty of God and the absolute necessity of humble obedience.
Do you remember the book that came out back in 1997 – The Bible Code?
The premise of the book was that there were hidden messages throughout the Bible.
Wonderful truths that could be known if you just knew how and where to look.
The problem of course is that if something is a code – what you read is, in reality, worthless.
That which is plain to see, understood by just reading is meaningless, it is a distraction.
I want to be careful because I do not want, in any way, to give the impression that I think there are hidden messages. I believe this book to be the very Word of God. I believe it to be inerrant and infallible. I also believe that it is to be read and accepted for what it says. I don’t think you have to look for hidden messages.
1 Kings 6 is a construction report.
That’s what it is.
It is the straightforward telling of the dimensions, decorations etc.
I also believe that the way it is told is important.
The author while relaying the story tells it is such a way to emphasize important truths.
I want to point to 3 of them.
- The date for temple construction serves to remind us of the importance and centrality of God’s redemptive work. (6:1)
- The detailed account of both the interior and exterior of the temple point to the splendor and majesty of our God. (6:2-10, 14-36)
- The parenthetic interruption of the description of the temple vividly calls our attention to what really matters. (6:11-13)
Conclusion:
God speaks to us about cubits and cherubim, store rooms and cedars but in such a way that we understand his redemption, see his splendor and feel our responsibility.
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A Glorious Benediction
Hebrews #43: an exposition of Hebrews 13:20-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 22, 2015.
Intro:
We were horrified this past week with the release of the video showing the 21 Coptic Christians beheaded near the Libyan coast. Add that to the growing reports of fellow believers under persecution throughout the middle east and we have ample reason for concern. Few Christians remain in Iraq, once a stronghold of the Christian faith. There is reason for concern. Of course in other parts of the world there is, in addition to terrorist threats, the abandonment of the Faith by those who no longer see it relevant. “Christian Europe” is a thing of the past. “Christian America” is disappearing. There is reason for concern. Long-hold theological truths are question if not outright rejected. Biblical standards of morality are dismissed as outdated and unreasonable. There is reason for concern. To order your life according to the Word of God is increasingly difficult for to do so is to swim against culture. One must travel upstream against the current of contemporary thought and morality. When you dare call for biblical standards you will be labeled “troublemaker, narrow-minded and bigoted.” The question is, “Why should this surprise us?” The kingdom of God has always been at odds with the kingdom of this world. We are aliens and strangers here. We are not “at home” – we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. We are in search of the heavenly Jerusalem. I think the problem is that too often we are “at home” here! Having look toward Sodom we then pitched our tent in Sodom’s direction and lately we’ve been seen sitting in Sodom’s gate. It is time we recognize we are at war. However, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal for we wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers. The war is for the minds and the souls of men. We are to order our lives according to the Word of God. We are to live for Christ our king. We are called to holiness according to God’s standard. We are not so different from that band of Hebrew believers struggling in first century Rome.
They wanted to give up.
They wanted to throw in the towel – it was just too difficult.
They wanted rest.
Maybe they made a mistake when they believed.
Life certainly had gotten any easier – it was much harder.
The biblical writer pleaded with them – hang on. Continue to believe. Run the race. Look to Jesus the trailblazer of the faith. Fix your eyes on him and run. For 13 chapters he laid out his argument. Now he comes to the end and pronounces a benediction over them. Our text this morning is Hebrews 13:20-21.
Text: Hebrews 13:20-21
Here at the end of Hebrews the writer gives an appropriate benediction to fearful and restless hearts. These folks are uneasy about the future. He has called on them to continue the race, now he pronounces a blessing/benediction over them. Having asked them to pray for him (13:18-19) he now prays for them. As we explore these two verses we find…
Thesis: This glorious, theologically rich benediction reminds us of the basis of our confident hope and the divine enabling for the fulfillment of our God-given task.
2 things:
- Our hope is anchored in the great work of our God. (13:20)
The God of Peace
The eternal covenant
The Great Shepherd
The writer prays that this God of Peace, who secures our eternal covenant through the blood of Christ, and who raised the Lord Jesus, our Great Shepherd from the dead, equip the church with everything good that you may do his will.
Our hope is anchored in the work of our God.But let’s note one other thing. - Our God-given task is accomplished by His divine enabling. (13:21)
The writer prays for 3 things. 3 glorious things.
He prays that God equip them with everything good that you may do his will.
Working in us that which is pleasing in his sight.
This is all for the eternal glory of his Son.
Conclusion:
Watching the news, surfing the internet and paying attention to the world around us is grounds for genuine concern. Our world is increasingly hostile to our faith. Dark, troublesome days are on the horizon. There is ample reason for concern but not despair. Our God is firmly enthroned. He is not worried. He is not threatened. He has made eternal promises to us, as His people. I’m not saying, “I’m looking forward to this!” I’m not saying, “This ought to be fun.” I am saying, “I belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. I belong to a King who cannot be defeated. I am hidden in Christ who is secure in the Father’s hand – what can man do to me?” This has been the hope of the people of God for the past 2000 years and it is our hope today.
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Lessons from the Mundane
1 Kings #05: an exposition of 1 Kings 5:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 15, 2015.
Intro:
What was I thinking when I decided to preach through 1 kings? I ask myself that every week as I labor through my preparation. Chapter 5 is another of those sections that your eyes just kind of glass over as you try to get through. I find myself wanting to skip over and get on to something important. That’s always a mistake. I’ve really come to appreciate, in recent years, the mundane. The everyday. The common. Let’s face it that is where most of us live. There is something comforting in understanding that God is in the mundane. That God’s sovereignty and His providence is not reserved for the extraordinary. Our text this evening is found in 1 Kings chapter 5.
Text: 1 Kings 5:1-18
You remember David wanted to build God a temple.
He was told that he couldn’t – 2 Samuel 7:1-17.
In 1 Chron 22:7-10 the reason is given – David had too much blood on his hands.
Now the time has come for the building of the temple.
1 Kings 5-9 tells that story.
Chapter 5 is about the decision to build and securing some of the materials.
Not exactly riveting stuff!
Yet there is something of significance for us in this text. As we walk through this chapter we discover that…
Thesis: Here in the mundane and tedious story of temple preparation we find a witness to God’s promise, a reminder of His coming kingdom and the need for godly wisdom.
3 things to note.
- A Witness to God’s Promise. (5:1-6)
- A Reminder of God’s Coming Kingdom. (5:7-11)
- The Need for Godly Wisdom. (5:12-18)
Conclusion:
Putting it all together we are reminded that:
Great works for God’s glory are based on the certainty of God’s promise.
God graciously grants us a glimpse of the glory to come.
God gives wisdom to see the task through.
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Demands of a Biblical Church
Hebrews #42: an exposition of Hebrews 13:17-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 15, 2015.
Intro:
Several years ago I was involved with a group of pastors who met on a regular basis for fellowship and encouragement. It was not a ministerial alliance. We were not organizing cooperative work in the community. In fact we were from a large geographical area. It wasn’t an associational or convention thing either, though I think all of us were Southern Baptist. It was just a group of us who had known each other for years and it was just about fellowship. We would meet for a meal, tell stories and laugh. Occasionally the conversation took on a more serious tone. It was a place where we could be honest. Share our frustrations, our fears, without having to worry about if it would “get out.” I remember one lunch when the mood turned serious. We talked about our backgrounds. Where and how we grew up and how that had shaped us as pastors. One of the men made a statement that broke my heart. He said, “I grew up in churches that hated their pastors with pastors who hated their churches.” I was stunned. That was not my experience at all. I’ve had wonderful experiences in the churches I’ve been a part of. Growing up, on staff and pastoring. As a pastor I spent my first two years in a context where I was a “fish out of water. But those folks loved me and my family. They put up with a huge learning curve and demonstrated great patience. I then spent 3 and a half years in Ponca City and again we still have wonderful relationships with the people there. For the past 24 years it has been my joy to be pastor of this church. I’m not going to say that there have never been difficulties or hurt feelings or disagreements. I’m certainly not naive enough to believe everyone has been happy with me or pleased with my decisions or my preaching. I’m not going to say I’ve never struggled or had my feeling hurt or that I’ve never wanted to quit. The church is about relationships and relationships are messy. But churches that hate their pastors and pastors who hate their churches?
According to studies that have been conducted by our convention and others, 23% of all pastors say they have been fired or run off at least once in their career. When congregations were surveyed 34% said they either fired or forced a resignation of a minister in their recent history. According to a survey conducted by Campus Crusade, 80% of seminary graduates left the ministry within 5 years of graduation. I have dear friends who have been brutalized by their churches. They crossed the wrong deacon and got run out of town. They touched some sacred cow and found themselves looking for another job. Now lest you think I believe it’s always the church’s fault. I’ve known plenty of people who have been brutalized by an authoritarian pastor. I’ve known pastor’s who’ve set of little theocracies and named themselves “Theo!” I’m saying, “It ought not be!” I’m saying the attitude expressed by my friend is a disgrace and far removed from the biblical path.
The little Hebrew church in Rome was fighting for its life. They needed to come together. They could not afford to be divided. As the writer comes to the end of his letter he reminds them of the need to love one another unconditionally (13:1). Of their need to demonstrate genuine hospitality and to care for those who are imprisoned and mistreated for the Gospel (13:2-3). He also pleaded with them to remember their leaders. To hold them in high regard and to follow their example (13:7). In our text this morning he comes back to those leaders and gives us some insight into how we are to live together as pastor and congregation. As leaders and family. Our text is found in Hebrews 13:17-19.
Text: Hebrews 13:17-19
I think this is often a neglected area within the church.
After all if the pastor spends much time on this it seems a bit self-serving.
“Let me straighten you people out on how you ought to treat me…”
I get a little tired of hearing preachers whine about how bad they have it.
It get that.
My job has its own quirks and inconveniences the same as anyone else’s.
I don’t think my job is any harder or easier than anyone else’s – it’s just different.
What I want to do is walk you though this passage and together we will look at what the Scripture has to say about our life together. As I have work through this passage I’m convinced the message from the inspired text is that…
Thesis: The biblical model for pastor and congregation demands a congregation inclined toward respectful submission and a pastor with a deep sense of indebtedness.
There are just two things I want to point out.
- Members of the congregation are called to submit to those in authority over them. (13:17)
- Pastors are called to a deep sense of indebtedness toward those whom they serve. (13:18-19)
Conclusion:
Are you beginning to see what this relationship is to be?
It is not one in which I am nothing more than the church’s employee.
Neither is it I’m the “man in charge” and you best toe the line.
Rather it is a loving, mutual relationship in which we each fulfill the role God has given to us.
Posted in Hebrews, Sermon Podcast, Sermon Series
Tagged Hebrews 13:17-19
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