Sermon Tone Analysis

*/Hebrews 10:19/**/ through Hebrews 10:25 (NRSV)/*

19Therefore,

my friends,

since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary

by the blood of Jesus,

20by the new and living way

that he opened for us

through the curtain

(that is, through his flesh),

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22let us approach

with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

with our hearts sprinkled clean

from an evil conscience

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23Let us hold fast to the confession

of our hope

without wavering,

for he who has promised is faithful.

24And let us consider how to provoke one another

to love

and good deeds,

25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,

but~/ encouraging one another,

and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

\\ */Hebrews 10:19/**/ through Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)/*

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

*Introduction:*

~*~*~*       At Asbury 1-27-88. . .

On the way to class I came upon a young man with a smile on his face.

Two flights of steps lower outside the library was a dog barking.

"Come on, Come on," the young man coached.

He was trying to get the dog to come up the walk way in front of the library.

As I came closer I said, "Is he afraid to come up the steps?"  "No," he replied, "he's barking at a bird in that tree."

I commented that sometimes it Is difficult to tear ourselves apart from the IMPORTANT things in life.

As I left, the young man continued to coach the dog to leave the bird and follow him.

Later as I mused about this incident, I was brought to the realization that possibly God has to pause and coach us to leave behind some of the things that we see to be important in order to continue following him.

The Writer of Hebrews is calling us.

"Come On!"

He says.

See what is really important.

He coaches us forward, encouraging us in the Christian Walk.

I.      Come In By Grace (vv.

19-21)

A.     A Costly Entrance

Salvation is free, but it is not cheap!

~*~*~*When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage.

When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize.

When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor.

This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.

G.W. Knight, Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters,  p.

53.

B.     A Continuing Entrance

~*~*~*   "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."

Hebrews 6:19 In this world of sin and death, we need a strong anchor to keep us from drifting into an ocean of fear.

Knowing that Jesus prays for us is such an anchor to all who trust Him as Savior and Lord.

The 16th-century Scottish preacher, John Knox, depended on this truth, especially during his final days on earth.

As Knox lay seriously ill, his wife would read John 17, a chapter of Ephesians, and Isaiah 53 (prophecy of Christ's death).

A little before noon on what would be the last day of his life, Knox asked her to read I Corinthians 15, that great keystone chapter on the resurrection.

As she finished, he remarked, "Is that not a comforting chapter?"

Four hours later, recognizing that his earthly stay was almost over, he said to his wife, "Go, read where I cast my first anchor."

Immediately she knew what he wanted.

She turned to John 17 and read one last time the comforting reminder that Jesus is the Christian's high priest.

C.     A Confident Entrance

~*~*~*  Herbert Hoover was one of the most vilified and maligned presidents in the history of our nation because the Great Depression began during his Administration.

He did not seem to become cynical or bitter.

He went on serving his country to the end, maintaining his dignity and serenity.

His wife once explained it like this:" Bert can take it better than most people because he has deeply ingrained in him the Quaker feeling that nothing matters if you are right with God."

-- Exploring the Christian Way by Vernon O. Elmore p.14

 

~*~*~*Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby.

The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep.

The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace.

The difference is caused by the confidence factor.

If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be?

Would you smoke and pace?

Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say--will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?

Hebrews 10:22, 1 John 2:3

 

~*~*~*After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, some one said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?"

"Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world."

"Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?"

Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation.

"But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?"

It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled.

Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.

Latimer wrote Ridley once that when he was settled and steadfast about his own salvation he was as bold as a lion, but if that hope became eclipsed he was fearful and afraid and was disqualified for service.

Many are disqualified for service because they are continually doubting their own salvation.

Hebrews 10:22

 

Moody's Anecdotes, pp.

101-102.

II.

Come Near In Faith (v.

22)

A.     With Nothing To Hide

~*~*~*  "A young man once said to a preacher, "I do not think I am a

sinner."

Then the preacher asked him if he would be willing for

his mother or sister to know all he had done or said or thought,

and all his motives and desires.