The Plowman

Surviving the Storms [ 33:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (50)

Hebrews #41: an exposition of Hebrews 13:7-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 8, 2015.

Intro:

Daily we are reminded that we live in difficult times.  Our culture grows increasingly hostile toward traditional, biblical faith with each passing day.  Long-held and cherished beliefs are questioned if not outright rejected.  Those who hold to orthodox Christianity are thought to be unthinking religious fundamentalist who pose a real threat to society’s well being.  If you hold that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman you are a dangerous holdover from the Dark Ages.  If you believe that salvation is to be found in Christ alone you are a hate-mongering bigot that will not be satisfied until all those who disagree with you are imprisoned or silenced.  In short you are the problem!  There are dark clouds on the horizon.  How are we to navigate these troubled waters?  How do we live out the faith in a hostile environment?  The book of Hebrews provides us some answers.  A small, struggling house church in Rome is fighting for its existence.  They are hard-pressed on every side.  Pressured from without and from within.  The biblical writer assures them they will survive.  He pleads with them to look to Christ and continue the race.  Our text this morning is found in chapter 13 beginning with verse 7.

Text: Hebrews 13:7-16

Chapter 13 is, to some degree, a laundry list of ideas.
The writer has much to say but little time to say it.
Thus they are more like bullet points.

He speaks of church ethics – our responsibilities to one another:
Chose to love unconditionally
Demonstrate hospitality
Care for those who are imprisoned or mistreated

He then speaks of personal issues:
A high view of marriage and a commitment to sexual purity
Guarding against covetousness and learning to be content
Resting in His gracious care and provision

In this morning’s text we are given some principles for weathering the storm.  From these verses we learn that…

Thesis: Surviving life’s uncertain and troubling storms demands a fixed reference, an enlightened understanding of the Gospel and a sustaining lifestyle.

There are three (3) things I want to point out from our text.

1. Surviving the storms demands a fixed point of reference.  (13:7-8)
2. Surviving the storms demands an enlightened understanding of the Gospel.  (13:9-14)
3. Surviving the storms demands a sustaining lifestyle.  (13:15-16)

Loving Christ: Marriage, Money and Mindset [ 37:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (49)

Hebrews #40: an exposition of Hebrews 13:4-6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 1, 2015.

Intro:
It seems a bit out of place.  I realize that the writer is coming to the end of his letter and he wants to get a few last things in but how does this fit in with “survival” truth?  The Hebrew church is fighting for its existence.  Hard-pressed they are on the verge of collapse.  Why this word about marriage?  Why say anything about marital relations in that context?  It would seem love of money would be down the list of concerns.  Are there not more pressing matters?  It is because the writer understood that while persecution by Rome and rejection of their families served the undermine the church the real danger is that which comes from within.  With personal moral failure comes a theological shift.  Once you’ve fallen spiritually you adjust your theology so that your failure is not as bad as you thought.  Once theological truth is compromised the integrity of the church is weakened and collapse is inevitable.  So what we find in verses 4-6 in the 13th chapter of Hebrews are not “throw away” truths.  These are not minor or insignificant matters.  This is not a random list of rules for Christian behavior.  This is about how we are to live as the people of God.  This is how we demonstrate our love for Christ and our obedience to His commands.  These things are essential to our well being as believers and our survival as the Church.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 13 beginning with verse 4.

Text: Hebrews 13:4-6

The consistent message of the writer to this struggling congregation is, “You will survive.”
Though surrounded by pagan ritual and awash in a secular culture, you will make it.
It appeared the whole world was going in the opposite direction.
It seemed it was the little church against the world.
The message was trust God and move forward.
Look to Christ and continue the race.
A better world awaits you.

The writer address church ethics in 13:1-3.
Choose to love one another unconditionally – “Let brotherly love continue.”
Show hospitality to strangers.
Care for those who are imprisoned and are mistreated for the Gospel.

Now, in this text, he turns to personal ethics.
As we work through these verses we find that…
Thesis: Loving Christ and living for His glory demands we think biblically about core issues such as marriage, money and mindset.

Let me point out 3 things.

1. Loving Christ and living for His glory demands a high view of marriage and a commitment to sexual purity.  (13:4)
2. Loving Christ and living for His glory demands that we rigorously guard against covetousness while learning the secret of contentment.  (13:5)
3. Loving Christ and living for His glory demands we rest in God’s gracious care and abundant provision.  (13:6)

Making It Through, Together [ 43:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (45)

Hebrews #39: an exposition of Hebrews 13:1-3. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 25, 2015.

Intro:

At times life is overwhelming.  Shakespeare said, “Sorrows seldom come as single soldiers, they come as a battalion!”  It’s seldom, if ever, one thing.  When life comes crashing down we usually say, “Well, what’s next?”  The little church in Rome was bruised and bleeding.  They had been through so much and there were dark clouds on the horizon.  No wonder they wanted to quit.  No wonder they questioned whether they had made a mistake in believing.  The inspired narrator pleads with them to continue in the faith.  He also makes it abundantly clear that they are not to go it alone!  They are not to, “Pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and do the best they can.”  They are to look to Christ.  They are to trust in the grace and power of God and they are to lean on one another.  The writer has gone to great lengths to show that Christ is better than the best that Judaism and the world has to offer.  We have a great high priest who has entered in, behind the veil into the very presence of God and He intercedes for us night and day.  We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses – men and women of faith whose lives testify to the power and grace of God.  Their example cheers us on.  In chapter 12 he reminds us we have not come to the fire and smoke of Sinai but to Mt. Zion, the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem where we find grace and forgiveness through our mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our text this morning in found in the 13th chapter of Hebrews beginning with verse 1.

Text: Hebrews 13:1-3

The consistent message throughout Hebrews is that our faith is a “communal” faith.  I’m not suggesting we go by a piece of farm land and move in together – I mean that we are part of a community.  We are a body, a family.  We are responsible to and for one another.  In the 13th chapter the writer gives a series of exhortations and concluding remarks.  It is something of a laundry list – covering a variety of subjects.  He gives moral advice related to our social life, our private life and our religious life.  The point is that our faith impacts every area of life.  We cannot compartmentalize and say well my faith impacts my family and my church but not really my professional life.  It impacts the whole of your life.

This morning I want us to focus on his admonitions found in the first three verses.
As we work our way through this text we discover that…

Thesis: Our love for Christ and our obedience to His commands is clearly seen in our treatment of others.

1. There are 3 things I want to point out along the way.
2. Obedience to Christ demands we chose to love one another unconditionally.  (13:1)
3. Obedience to Christ demands we show genuine hospitality.  (13:2)
4. Obedience to Christ demands we care for those who suffer and are mistreated because of their faith.  (13:3)

Conclusion:

This is why we need the church.  This is why you must not live this life with just you, your Bible and your personal Lord and Savior but you live this life as part of the body of Christ!

Choosing to love one another unconditionally.
Demonstrating genuine hospitality.
Caring for those who suffer and are mistreated because of their faith.

Finishing Well: Part 2 [ 34:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (53)

Hebrews #38: an exposition of Hebrews 12:18-29. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 18, 2015.

Intro:

I’m convinced there is a crisis within the Church.  We live in a time when many cry out for “relevant” preaching/teaching.  “I need something practical.  Something to help me get through the day.”  The problem is, for many, that means a sermon about “how to be happy” or “how to raise positive kids” or “how to be the best you.”  I’m not saying that none of that matters.  I’m saying the need is for something much deeper and more substantial.  The truth is when your faith is under attack and your fighting for your existence being the best you is not the most pressing concern!  Contrary to popular opinion, truth matters.  Doctrine matters.  Theology matters.  The book of Hebrews was written to a church in crisis.  They have had their property plundered.  They are being persecuted.  Their lives are being threatened.  They have been rejected by their families and what does the writer do?  He gives them doctrine!  Hebrews is very theological.  He deals with weighty matters.  Why?  Because they needed to be thoroughly grounded in the truth if they were to withstand this great testing of their faith.  This is not a game we are playing.  This is life and death.  This is about eternity.  The writer of Hebrews pleads with the struggling believers to run with endurance the race that is before them.  Push beyond the pain, the struggle, the agony – not in their own strength, not by sheer determination but by faith and by the grace of God.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews the 12th chapter beginning with verse 18.

Text: Hebrews 12:18-29

At first glance it seems the author has changed the subject.
I’m looking for the transition – where is the sign saying, “Now for something different?”
He was talking about running the race what’s with this mountain you can’t touch?
How does this fit?

It fits because this whole section is about trusting God.
It is about resting in Him.
The writer is reminding them of who God is and why He can be trusted.

As we work our way through I want you to understand…

Thesis: Finishing well requires theological balance and practical obedience.

There are three (3) things to note in our text.

1. Finishing well demands a firm grasp of the absolute holiness of God.  (12:18-21)
2. Finishing well demands a thorough understanding of the wonder of God’s grace.  (12:22-24)
3. Finishing well demands reverent, obedient worship.  (12:25-29)

Hardship and Holiness [ 40:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (54)

Hebrews #36: an exposition of Hebrews 12:4-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 4, 2015

Intro:

I have a natural aversion to pain.  I don’t like it!  In any form.  I don’t like hardship.  I want life to be smooth with as little interruption and change as possible.  All of this to say, “I’m regularly disappointed.”  Life in this sin-cursed world is often everything I don’t want it to be.  I’m often surrounded by pain and heartache.  I regularly deal with people who are in crisis and faith in Christ does not change any of that.  Faith in Christ is not a magic potion or talisman warding off pain and heartache.  As long as we live in this world there will be sickness, disease, pain, disappointment and heartache.  “Thanks pastor, nothing like starting the year off on a positive note.”  My intent is not to sound a sour note but to inject a little reality.  Too often it is assumed that faith is like a good luck charm.  If you hold on tight and say the magic words, bad things won’t happen to you.  There is a whole strain of theology that believes if you exercise faith you will walk in health and experience prosperity.  I’m not sure those folks have read Hebrews 11 or 12.  At the end of chapter 11 we read about men and women of faith who were tortured while others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  Some were stoned, others were sawn in two, or were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated…wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth (11:35-38) all the while “walking in faith.”  Not exactly your best life now.  Then in chapter 12 we learn that suffering and hardship or normal even necessary components of the Christian life.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews 12 beginning with verse 3.

Text: Hebrews 12:3-11

I’m not a masochist – I don’t like pain.
I don’t suffer from a guilt complex and feel the need to be punished.
I am convinced that the Scriptures teach that God is sovereign even over my pain and heartache.  Further, that God lovingly and sovereignly works all things to my good and His glory.

Specifically we discover in this passage that…

Thesis: Suffering and hardship are normative in Christian living and necessary for growth in holiness and righteousness.

There are three things I want to point out as we explore this text.

1. The Christian life always involves struggle and hardship.  (12:3-4; 10:34; 12:11)
2. God is not a passive observer of your struggle.  (12:5-8)
3. Our loving Father sovereignly uses your struggle to your good that you might grow in holiness and righteousness.  (12:9-11)

Conclusion:

I still don’t like pain.  I do not enjoy heartache but I’ve come to see that suffering and hardship are normative in Christian living and necessary for my growth in holiness and righteousness.  Therefore I’m going to trust in God’s sovereign, providential hand.