Coals Close Together

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Hebrews 4:14-16
• Hymn — Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
• Prayer of Invocation
• Hymn — Holy Spirit, Our Messiah (#401)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Westminster Larger Catechism Q&A 63
• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:23-25
• Prayer
• Sermon
• Hymn — Blest Be the Tie That Binds (#409)
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26

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Sermon Title: Coals Close Together

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

I. Why Christ Graciously Gives to Us One Another

A. Because he knows his people

1. Christ assumed our nature and experienced our weakness — Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 4:15
2. Christ knew the joy and heartache of family, friendship, betrayal, and grief
3. In Gethsemane, Christ himself desired the close company of friends — Matthew 26:38
4. Because he experienced the benefits of fellowship, he knows what his people need

B. Because of our need in our pilgrimage

1. The narrow path of the Christian life is full of trials and toils — not good to walk alone
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 — two are better than one; a threefold cord is not quickly broken
3. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress: contrast between Christian walking largely alone (Part 1) and the company of pilgrims traveling together in Part 2 illustrates the strength of fellowship
4. Context of Hebrews 10:23-25: Christians must hold fast their confession of Christ while waiting for the day of his return — a road that is hard and not meant to be walked alone

II. What Christ Graciously Gives to Us in One Another

A. One another, that we might know one another — Hebrews 10:24

1. "Let us consider one another" — take thought for one another
2. Knowing a fellow Christian means asking: Where are they weak? Where are they stumbling? What gospel word do they need?
3. We must do the hard work of opening up; sin loves darkness — being known lets gospel light in
4. Wisdom is needed in what we share and with whom, but there should be Christians who know you well

B. One another, that we might spur on one another — Hebrews 10:24

1. "Stir up" (Greek: paroxysmos) — to provoke positively; to move what is inactive
2. Christians need others to urge them on to love and good works, obedience to God's law
3. Like a parent giving a gentle nudge to a fearful child, or a spur to a stubborn horse

C. One another, that we might encourage one another — Hebrews 10:25

1. Sometimes we walk with drooping heads — weary from ongoing battle with sin and doubt
2. "Encouraging" (Greek: parakaleō) — same root as the Spirit's title, Helper (Paraclete)
3. The ministry of coming alongside: a kind hand and a gospel word spoken into the ear
4. The word is the chief means of grace; fellowship is the place where the word is brought to bear in lives lived one toward another

D. One another, that we might commit to one another — Hebrews 10:25

1. "Do not neglect to meet together" — the public gathering of believers is chiefly in view
2. The early church devoted themselves to fellowship from the very start — Acts 2:42
3. The gathering reverberates into the rest of the week: spurring on and encouraging happen when Christians gather under the Word
4. Christians are like hot coals — coals close together burn on and on; a coal separated from the fire grows cold
5. David Mathis: "Christian faith is a community project. Our hearts harden and our faith fails as we distance ourselves from the fellowship of Christ's people."
6. When the day of Christ's return comes, only the context of our need changes — we will enjoy fellowship with Christ and one another perfectly and forever