Connected: Cultivating Relationships within the Church (1) - February 16, 2025

It is my privilege to invite you to today's sermon podcast.

I have made the Apostle Paul's prayer request my own.

When he states in Ephesians 6.19, Pray also for me, that whenever I open my

mouth, the words may be given to me, so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

May today's sermon come alive to you and aid you in your understanding of God's plan for your life.

I have a feeling this morning, and it will be proven fact, I think,

that I don't have my sermon outline with me.

Good thing it's on the back of the bulletin, right?

No, this will be a continuation, but I just do want to share with you.

We've been talking about being connected.

Last week, we talked about the foundation for that connection being,

or not last week, two weeks ago, was being connected to God.

And I want to expand on that a little bit, but show you the connection.

Because God is always trying to connect with us. God is always reaching out.

We believe in the Church of the Nazarene, something called prevenient grace,

and that is the grace that goes before, the grace that blazes a trail before

us to remove any obstacles that we have from turning and accepting Christ,

turning and having that relationship restored with God.

It's a powerful description of the grace that each of us experiences,

that those even that are not in the faith experience that grace of God,

where He is saying, come to me, come to me.

We think about the scripture that we're going to look at this morning in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews chapter 10, verses 22 through 25.

Hebrews 10:22–25

This is one of those sermons that pastors preach, and they seem to harp on a

little bit one aspect of it when, you know, someone's missing church a lot.

But there's more to it than just that.

And I hope this morning that you can catch part of that. We will not be able

to, in the time we have, get through the whole sermon, so I will at least get

through the first point and hopefully make at least one point this morning in it.

That way, we'll continue in our celebration and what God is doing today.

Well, the scripture in Hebrews 10, verses 22 through 25 says this,

Hebrews 10:22–25

If you're willing and able, would you stand as we honor the word of the Lord this morning?

Scripture says, Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full

assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from

a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing,

but encouraging one another and all as you see the day approaching.

Let's pray together. Father, thank you for your word. May it touch our lives and hearts.

And Lord, may it not just feed us, but Lord, energize us to reach out to others

with the gospel, the good news that Jesus saves and that God,

through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed.

It's in Jesus' name that we do pray this today. Amen. You can be seated.

When we think about connection, when we think about the relationships we have

in the church, sometimes that can be a mixed story.

I think if we took the next week and we had everyone stand up and share a story

about how or when they were hurt by someone in the church, we might have a lot of people.

But I would gander and I would guess that if we also did the same thing,

but we ask, how has God blessed you through the church?

We might have to be here for a month or two or three.

The church is a family. And I don't know about your family, maybe not,

but sometimes family gets into some feuds.

Sometimes family tends to fight about silly things or maybe serious things.

And it happens. And I don't know about your family, but I know in mine,

sometimes feelings get hurt.

I know that when I became the dad of daughters, it was different than being the dad of boys.

And I've shared this with you before. The way I had to parent my daughters was way different.

I mean, I could say the wrong thing and there'd be tears going on in my house for like the next week.

And that's kind of hyperbole to say that. But boy, the whole week they would

hold a grudge against me for something I said.

When I could have told Adam or Noah the same thing and they're like, okay, dad.

And so the ways that we had to do that is different. And, you know,

God desires a relationship with each of us, but God also has his plan for us

to be part of his body, the church.

And he wants us to connect with one another. I know maybe as a church becomes

larger, it becomes more difficult to do that.

I know in our staff meetings, we're always saying, how can we connect more people then?

How can we have these on-ramps for people to become involved,

to learn and to grow, and just to be a part of the great things that are happening here.

And I think the first part this morning, and the point I want to make quickly

is just that first point there.

This might also be called the lettuce sermon.

Now, not the lettuce sermon like the lettuce that you eat in your salad, but let us.

And so together, all of us, let us do these things, the writer of Hebrews tells us.

The first thing he says in the scripture here, in verse 22, let us draw near to God.

We think about what it means to draw near to God. Yeah, we know God's pursuing us. God chases us.

God is removing obstacles to make the way to him.

But we still have a responsibility. We still have something we need to do.

And I think it bears out right here.

The author of Hebrews says, let us draw near to God.

You notice it just doesn't say just come to church.

We can come to church and be as far away from God as we ever were.

Or we can come with the motivation The mindset that we want to connect with God.

That we want to be there with God. And there's some simple tips here,

which the author of Hebrews says how to do this.

First of all, he says, with sincere hearts.

Let us draw near to God with sincere hearts.

James 4, 8 says this, Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.

We have some hints in James that tell us how do we come near to God.

Well, it says the promise is, if you come near to God and you're seeking him

with sincere hearts, you really want to connect with him, then God's going to meet up with you.

He's going to meet you, but that has to be your motivation.

Did you come this morning wanting that connection with God?

Hey, we're going to connect with others. We already have. We've already celebrated

some great things, but have you connected with God today?

Draw near to God. That's the first step in connecting with others in a church,

with others in a faith community, is that we first make sure our connection

is with our Heavenly Father, that we've made that connection through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Once that happens, we've got the green light as far as it goes with relationships with one another.

So we draw near to God with sincere hearts, but also with something else.

And the scripture says with assurance, not insurance, but assurance.

Assurance is knowing that you know. I love what Psalm 145, 18 says,

the Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

What God knows are motivations.

God can call us out in a heartbeat if our attitude is wrong. God can call us on the.

If we're saying one thing and yet doing something else, if we're trying to butter

someone up for something, but yet it's for selfish motives or selfish reasons,

when we come to God and when we draw near to God,

the encouragement is that we come with sincere hearts, but we also come with

assurance that we know that God is drawing near to us, that we know God hears us as we call upon him.

And how do we do that? Well, the scripture gives us one more indicator,

and we'll close up with this.

It says, to come with a cleansed conscience and a clean body.

Now, our baptismal candidates have one of those two down. Really good,

but I think they really have both.

When we think about what does it mean to come with a cleansed conscience,

it means we've been washed by the blood.

It means the guilt is gone. The forgiveness has been made available,

and that we don't have to worry anymore because we know having assurance and

having a sincere heart with which we've sought God,

that our conscience is clear.

And when we bow before the Lord, there's nothing that comes between God and

us, nothing that we've put in the way.

Remember, I said God clears out the obstacles. So how do obstacles get in the

way? Well, sometimes we put them there.

Sometimes the enemy is trying to get us to do something to shut off that connection we have.

But when we draw near to God with sincere hearts, with assurance,

with a clean, cleansed conscience and clean body, but we really fulfill what

Jesus said in Matthew, Matthew 11, 28 and 29, come to me, all you who are weary

and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Jesus says, lay your burdens down, clear your conscience, and just come to me.

Just come to me and find that rest. Folks, this morning, before we get out of

here, we've had a full day and kids have spent their goody bucks in the children's

church, so who knows what they're bringing home.

How's your conscience today? Is it cleared? Have you asked God to forgive you?

And are you trusting him that he has? Because if that's the case, boy, move forward.

Move forward in what God has for you. Don't let anything hinder you or hold you back.

If God's forgiven you, I know we still remember, but God has blotted it out.

It doesn't count against you. It's not on your record. So who keeps bringing it up?

It's not God. Evil one. It's the accuser of the brethren.

Points his little bony finger at you. Hey, remember when you did that?

What's his end game in that? It's to stop you from moving forward with God.

It's to stop you from progressing and living into the fullness of who God is

and the plan that God has for your life. So don't let it happen, folks.

Next week, I'll hit the next three points, important points.

So I hope you'll come back and hear it or at least get the live stream or the audio version.

You know, when we think about this. Let us draw near to God.

I hope that you've at least know that you've been close to God today.

I hope that you felt that too.

As you talk to the baptismal candidates and our new church members,

I just pray that you sense God's moving in their life.

I had the privilege to be with them and spend some time with them.

And, you know, God is doing a work.

Is God doing a work in the rest of y'all's life that you can share together?

I have a feeling that he is. Probably won't be too far to look to share something

back with them, but do that.

As we close today, I just want you to have the full faith that this church body,

this church community is something that...

God has placed here and he's placed you in it for a reason. You're not here by mistake.

You're here because he wants you to impact the lives of other people.

And I'll honestly close with this.

It's like my fifth conclusion, I think.

Today is a special day, not just because we've had baptisms,

not just because we've had members come into the church, but it's a special

day because you are here and because the right mix of people is here.

This is a unique time that will never, ever happen again in the same way.

And so this is a special time that God has gathered us together.

And so why, when we think about the rest of this passage, why is there the warning

there to say, hey, don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together?

I think the warning is there because God wants us to experience these unique

family moments together, to count on them,

to remember, hey, remember when that couple visited and how awesome they were

and how we got to share in the prayers together, how we got to share in our

common interests, how we got to encourage one another, build one another up. This is a unique time.

That's why Sunday is my favorite day of the week.

Of course, my family says, yeah, you got it hard. You just work one day a week.

I said, yeah, but it's the other

six that lead up to the celebration time because these are unique times.

These are unique times, family times, we're together. And so I said all that

to say, thank you for being here today.

Thank you for taking the time out in ugly weather to come and to worship God,

to share with these in the special moments.

But also I pray that God has spoken to your heart a little bit,

that God's word, you'll allow it to penetrate and really to get down deep,

to help grow the gospel seed in your life, to bear the fruit that you can share with others.

Let me pray for you, and then I know we're going to have the benediction,

and then we'll go our separate ways.

But, church, I just got to tell you, I love you.

We love you. And, you know, God has you here for a special reason.

You might not know what it is yet, but don't stop coming. Don't let the enemy get in your way.

Let me pray for you, and then we'll have the benediction and then have some

fellowship as we leave. Father, I thank you so much, God, for this day.

And Lord, the sermon will continue next week, God.

And Father, just see how we can be better connected together with these bonds,

the bonds that first come from you, God, of that agape love.

But Lord, how we can join our hearts together and have a strong family.

Life is already here, but Lord, with an open door for others to join this family as well.

God, as we go out, we think about the world and those that are needy and lonely.

And, Father, those that are not just physically seeking, but spiritually seeking.

And, Father, would you bring those people into our path this week,

into our life, God, so we can share your love with them, God,

so we can share the good news of Jesus with them.

And, Father, we just pray when we come back next week excited.

Lord, that we can just celebrate.

And, God, celebrate who you are.

And, Father, we just ask you to go with us now as we prepare our hearts to say

the benediction together. Lord, it gives us our pattern for not just prayer, but living even.

And so, God, we just pray that you'll be with us as we leave. In Jesus' name, amen.

I want to thank you for joining today's sermon podcast. You can find a copy

of today's sermon, as well as other sermons, and the sermon outline from today

on our church's website,

www.mvcnaz.org.

It is my prayer also that you will seek out a church home that recognizes the authority of the Bible.