“Your Great Name”

Our key text for this Sunday is Hebrews 10:24–25:

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Depending on what browser you’re reading this on, you may notice that I’ve bolded the words love, good works, and encouraging. This Sunday, we’re talking about how the church should build each other up and create a culture of encouragement with the goal of motivating each other to love and good works. 

Here’s the issue: most Christians are known more for what they stand against than for what they stand for. Just go to YouTube, and it won’t take long to find a video pointing out why someone else’s theology or approach to ministry is wrong.

This doesn’t mean we abandon standards or convictions. We cannot pick and choose only the biblical standards we like; we need to be obedient to all of Scripture.

But ask yourself this question: “Does the way I deal with people who have different convictions than me encourage them toward love and good works?”

Maybe it’s the stage of life I’m in, but when I think about disagreements, I think about siblings who fight—so focused on being right that they lose sight of the fact that they are family.

When we focus on being right in our disagreements with fellow Christians and forget that we are family, we hurt our witness to the world.

Jesus says in John 13:35 that people will know we are Christians by our love for one another.

What greater testimony to the world is there than seeing two Christians who disagree yet still love one another?

The church in Acts was completely devoted to one another, and Scripture tells us, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 

Look at Acts 2:42–47:

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

A lack of unity hurts our mission.  The mission of the church is clear:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

A lack of unity in the family of God will hurt our ability to make disciples.

I want you to read the lyrics from one of the songs we’ll sing this Sunday:

‘Lost are saved find their way
At the sound of Your great Name
All condemned feel no shame
At the sound of Your great Name
Ev’ry fear has no place
At the sound of Your great Name
The enemy he has to leave
At the sound of Your great Name”

‘All the weak find their strength
At the sound of Your great Name
Hungry souls receive grace
At the sound of Your great Name
The fatherless find their rest
At the sound of Your great Name
The sick are healed the dead are raised
At the sound of Your great Name’

As Christians, where is our hope found? It is found in Jesus—and in Him alone. Not in our abilities, not in our skills, and not in our power. This song should remind us of a vital truth: salvation is a gift from God, not something we achieve or earn.(Ephesians 2:8–9). That includes winning an argument 

Yes, we need to be ready to have conversations, but as 1 Peter 3:15–16 reminds us, we are to do so with gentleness and respect—never losing sight of the fact that all who have made Jesus Christ Lord and Savior of their lives are family.

This is the picture we are given in Revelation 7:9–10:

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Adam