It Is a Terrifying Thing

In one paragraph

Tanya and Pastor Carl both spoke this Sunday. Tanya shared photos and stories from the February and March trip to Kenya, calling the church toward a return trip in August. Pastor Carl then preached through Hebrews 10, pressing the congregation to sit with a serious warning before moving on to the encouragement that follows next week. The recap of the previous week's three "let us" statements from...

Read together

1. 1 Corinthians 1:9 quoted at the opening to remind the congregation that God is faithful, who has called them into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ
2. John 8:36 read before a song: if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed
3. John 14:2 read before a song: in my Father's house are many dwelling places, I go to prepare a place for you
4. Hebrews 10:19-25 reviewed from the previous week as the basis for the three let-us exhortations: draw near, hold fast, stir one another to love and good deeds
5. Numbers 15:30-31 cited to show that willful, defiant sin was treated far more seriously than ignorant sin under the old covenant
6. James 4:17 quoted to show that knowing the right thing and not doing it is also sin, applying the warning to church people
7. Deuteronomy 17 cited as the old covenant basis for the two-or-three witnesses rule, noting death by stoning on that testimony
8. Deuteronomy 19 cited again to confirm the two-or-three witnesses standard for establishing a matter
9. Isaiah 26 quoted to show that fire will devour God's enemies even when people do not see His hand lifted
10. Hebrews 10:26-31 the solemn warning against willful sin after receiving the truth, calling it a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God
11. Deuteronomy 32 quoted twice: vengeance is mine and retribution in due time their foot will slip, and the Lord will vindicate his people
12. Romans 12:19 cited as the New Testament echo of vengeance is mine, offered as comfort to those who are right with God
13. Hebrews 10:32-39 identified as the natural next section giving encouraging confirmation and the contrast between those who shrink back and those who persevere in faith

Talk about it

1. Tanya described Roseanne stirring up this congregation to go to Kenya, and that ripple eventually reached pastors, youth leaders, and programs years later. When have you seen one person's faithfulness set off a chain of good works you never expected?
2. Pastor Carl walked through the three 'let us' statements from Hebrews 10: draw near, hold fast, and stir one another up into love and good deeds. Which of those three feels hardest for you right now, and why?
3. The sermon drew a sharp line between the old covenant, where the weight of sin falls on the person, and the new covenant, where Christ bore it. How does that difference actually change the way you approach God on a day when you know you've failed?
4. Pastor Carl talked about willful sin, the part of life where someone might be yielding to God ninety-four percent of the way but quietly holding something back and saying, 'This is mine.' Is there anything like that you've been holding onto, and what makes it hard to let go?
5. The sermon closed without moving on to the encouraging confirmation in verses 32 through 39, and left the warning sitting for the week. What does it stir up in you to sit with the phrase 'it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God' before hearing the encouragement that follows?