Reading: Hebrews chapter 5 verse 11 to chapter 6 verse 3.
Ill:
Children’s Wisdom
• Patrick aged 10
• “Never trust a dog to watch your food”
• Michael aged 14
• “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer him”
• Joel, aged 10
• “Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a cricket bat”
• Andrew aged 9
• “Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Polo mint”
• Taylia aged 11
• “When your mum is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair”
• Armir aged 9
• “You can't hide a piece of broccoli in your milk”
• Mitchell aged 12
• “Don't sneeze in front of your mum, when you're eating a cracker”
• Michael aged 14
• “Never tell your mum her diet's not working”
Ill:
• It might not be considered wisdom;
• But I would guess everyone in this room has said it at sometime to someone;
• Those immortal words; “Grow up!”
• Or a similar phrase; “Why don’t you act your age?”
Growth is important to all of us:
• Ill: From the moment you were born you were weighed and measured.
• Ill: As children how many of you had a growth chart or marks on the wall/door frame?
• Growth is the sign of a healthy child;
• And if a child is stunted in their growth it usually it means that something is seriously wrong
Note:
• What is true in a physical sense has a spiritual parallel.
• You come into God’s family the same way you entered your physical family;
• By being born into it - i.e. ‘Born again’ – i.e. a baby.
• Now in the physical realm;
• We grow into healthy children, teenagers, adults by taking in nourishment, by exercising etc.
• It is an automatic process that happens without us really noticing.
• Ill: Our own kids every so often their clothes don’t fit – growth spurt etc.
• Now in the spiritual realm the experience can be very different;
• The number of years you have been a Christian does not mean you are growing!
• True you are growing older but you are not in practice growing up!
• i.e. becoming spiritually mature.
Ill:
• A man, after 25 years with one company,
• Was still doing the same old job and drawing the same salary.
• Finally he went to his boss and told him he felt he had been neglected.
• “After all,” he said, “I’ve had 25 of experience.”
• His boss sighed and said:
• “You haven’t had 25 of experience, you’ve had one experience for 25 years.”
Note:
• This passage in the book of Hebrews;
• Helps us to recognise if we are maturing or stagnant in our spiritual growth.
• These verses are really tragic;
• The picture they present to us is more like a nursery school than a Church.
I want to split the passage under 4 headings:
(1). These Christians were dull and deaf (vs 11).
N.I.V:
“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn”.
N.A.S.B:
“Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain,
since you have become dull of hearing”.
Ill:
• An elderly man stopped at a hearing aid centre and asked about prices.
• The salesman said “We have them from £25,000 down to £1.50,”
• The elderly man asked; “What’s the £25,000 one like?”
• The salesman said “It’s as a clear as can be and it also translates in 12 languages.”
• He then asked; “And what about the one for £1.50?”
• “It’s this button attached to a string,” said the salesman, pushing it across the counter.
• “How does it work?” asked the man.
• “It doesn’t” replied the salesman said;
• “But if you put the button in your ear and the string in your pocket,
• You’ll be surprised how loud people talk!”
• These Hebrew Christians had become voluntary hard of hearing;
• They had plugged their ears to avoid the truth.
• In fact the Greek word translated in the N.I.V “slow to learn”,
• In the N.A.S.B as “Dull of hearing”.
• Is only used twice in the entire Bible;
• It is used here in verse 11 and one more time in the letter (chapter 6 verse 12).
• It means “thick, slow, sluggish, indolent, lazy”.
• The original term is from two words; “No” “Push”.
Ill:
• A dull preacher would be one with “No push”.
• We might say; “his get-up-and-go… got up and went!”
• But actually the problem in this Church is not with the preacher but the congregation;
• They were “dull” hearers.
Ill:
• A literally translation even has a touch of humour in it,
• “You have become dull in the ears!”
• The meaning is that you have become sluggish or apathetic in your listening.
• In fact the language used suggests a settled state of dullness.
• It is not that they were dumb but rather that they were numb.
Ill:
• Each May half-term I run a Holiday Club in Hounslow on the edge of London.
• If you know Hounslow you will know it is right on the end of Heathrow airport.
• As you walk around every five mins a plane suddenly zooms over your head;
• As it comes in to land or as it is taking off.
• I say to the locals “How do you stand the noise?”
• Their reply is always the same, “We don’t even notice it any more.”
• They have become so accustomed to the planes;
• That they rarely become aware of them any more!
• Likewise:
• It is easy for people to hear the Word of God ,
• And then hear it, and hear it, and hear it;
• Until it becomes so commonplace that it becomes hollow to them.
• Ill: We just hear sermons about God but don’t hear from God!
Quote:
• The great Puritan writer Richard Baxter offers these words of advice,
• (As quoted by J.I. Packer. A Quest for Godliness)
• “Make it your work with diligence to apply the word as you are hearing it…
• Cast not all upon the minister,
• As those that will go no further than they are carried by force…
• You have work to do as well as the preacher,
• And should all the time be busy as he…
• You must open your mouths and digest it, for another cannot digest for you…
• Therefore all the while be at work, and abhor the idle heart in hearing,
• As well as an idle minister.”
Let me suggest 3 things:
• (1). As well as hearing the Word of God (a sermon) preached;
• You should keep our Bibles open and follow the argument from the text,
• (2). Every Christian ought to take notes, or get a copy of the message on CD,
• So that later at home they can review what was said;
• (3). Application –
• Ask God to help you see exactly how he wants you to apply this truth in your own life.
(2). These Christians were slow to learn (vs 12).
N.I.V:
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again”.
The Message:
“By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one”.
Ill:
• The children in their local school had their yearly class photograph taken;
• And the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
• "Just think how nice it will be in a few years time;
• To look at it when you are all grown up and say,
• ‘There’s Jennifer; she’s a lawyer,’ or ‘That’s Michael, he’s a doctor.’"
• A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there’s the teacher; ...she’s dead."
Notice:
• He phrase in verse 12 “You ought to be teachers”;
• Is not saying that we ought to all become public teachers or preachers of the Bible.
• What the writer is saying is that all Christians ought to be able to explain to other people;
• The basic truths of the Christian faith.
Question: Can you?
• Ill: Easter is fast approaching can you explain why Jesus died on the cross?
• I mean of course not just the narrative (story) but the meaning behind it?
• i.e. he died as a sacrifice, a substitute, a ransom etc.
• ill: Can you give a reasoned explanation of the resurrection –
• i.e. What happened - why did it happen – what are the implications of that event?
The writer of this letter says to his readers:
• “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.
• Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word”.
Ill:
The Greek word that is used for ‘basic’ or ‘elementary’ truths has a variety of meanings:
• Ill: In grammar it means the letters of the alphabet – the ABC.
• Ill: In physics it means the four basic elements of which the world is composed.
• Ill: In geometry it means the elements of proof like the point and straight line.
• Ill: In philosophy it means the first elementary principles with which students begin.
• I am sure by now that you have got the point:
• With sadness in his heart the writer tells these Hebrew Christians
• That after many years of following Jesus they still have not got beyond the rudiments!
• Instead of teaching others they still needed to be taught the basics themselves.
Ill:
• A man, after 25 years with one company,
• Was still doing the same old job and drawing the same salary.
• Finally he went to his boss and told him he felt he had been neglected.
• “After all,” he said, “I’ve had a 25 years of experience.”
• His boss replied, “you haven’t had a 25 years of experience,
• You’ve had one experience for a 25 years.”
The challenge is:
• Don’t just grow older (that happens automatically);
• But make sure you are growing up (that takes effort and discipline!)
(3). These Christians were not fully formed (vs 13-14).
N.I.V:
“You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
N.L.B:
“You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
• These Hebrew Christians were immature and not fully grown;
• Despite their years they were spiritual babies and not adults.
• The point is because we grow older does not in practice mean that we grow up!
• Ill: many of our Churches are full of grey haired babies!
Ill:
• Babies desire to be fed, burped, changed and entertained.
• Babies become accustomed to being babies.
• They like the cuddly comforts of the crib.
• They like to partake of a diet of milk;
• Not only is it sweet, but it goes down smoothly and is easily digested!
• But there comes a time in the life of every infant;
• When they grow beyond the milk stage and develop a taste for solid food.
• Should this not happen it is always a matter for grave concern for the parent/medical staff
God want healthy children:
• He wants us to grow! To become mature, fully grown adults.
• Notice in verse 14 there are three marks of maturity.
(1ST). MARK OF MATURITY IS GOOD FOOD – “SOLID FOOD”:
• Solid food is something you can sink your teeth into”
• Ill: Old joke – ‘You know you are getting old when you sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there!’
• Solid food is not a formula warmed to body temperature and bottle-fed;
• It is something that takes work, it takes time and preparation.
• It is not something to pacify your palette;
• It’s substance to produce a strong, healthy body.
(2). MARK OF MATURITY IS RIGHT KIND OF ACTIVITY – “TRAINED THEMSELVES” OR “PRACTICE”:
• Training or practice is what we need to apply the Word of God to our lives;
• The discipline of feeding ourselves on a regular basis.
• We cannot expect to be suckled on Sunday morning;
• And then not have another feeding all week!
Ill:
DVD Clip – you do the maths?
• Training or practice is what we need to apply the Word of God to our lives;
• The discipline of feeding ourselves on a regular basis.
• We cannot expect to be suckled on Sunday morning;
• And then not have another feeding all week!
(3). MARK OF MATURITY IS KEEN SENSES – “DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL”
• Knowing right from wrong are another sign of maturity.
• Ill: Babies and small children; “Don’t touch that”, “Don’t do that” etc.
• Ill: Tragedy of the Jamie Bulger case;
• Question: When do they become responsible for their own actions!
Quote: J. Stowell in his book ‘Fan The Flame’.
• “Discernment in Scripture is the skill that enables us to differentiate.
• It is the ability to see issues clearly.
• We desperately need to cultivate this spiritual skill;
• That will enable us to know right from wrong.
• We must be prepared to distinguish light from darkness, truth from error,
• Best from better, righteousness from unrighteousness,
• Purity from defilement,
• And principles from pragmatics.”
• Note: There are no short cuts to this quality – it is the result of a disciplined life!
• ill: No short cuts to slimming it takes will power and good eating habits.
(4). These Christians were given two choices (6:1-3)
Ill:
• British prime minister Herbert Asquith;
• Once spent a weekend at the Waddesdon estate of the 19th-century Rothschild family.
• One day, as Asquith was being waited on at teatime by the butler,
• The following conversation ensued:
• “Tea, coffee, or a peach from off the wall, sir?”
• “Tea, please,” answered Asquith.
• “China, India, or Ceylon, sir?” asked the butler.
• “China, please.”
• “Lemon, milk, or cream, sir?”
• “Milk, please,” replied Asquith.
• “Jersey, Hereford, or Shorthorn, sir?” asked the butler.
The choices in these verses are not that complicated:
• After providing his readers with a diagnosis of their spiritual condition;
• The writer of this letter presented his readers with two options:
• Either move forward (grow up and become mature)
• Or fall back (stay as a baby and become ineffective as a Christian).
(1). The right choice (6:1-2):
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity”.
Question: What are those elementary teachings?
Answer: Verse 2
• “Repentance from acts that lead to death”;
• ill: Turning away from things we know are wrong (sinful i.e. death – cut off)
• “Faith in God”
• ill: how to become a Christian.
• “Instruction about baptisms”
• ill: conversion a Siamese twin!
• “The laying on of hands”;
• ill: Which was a symbolic gesture of receiving God’s anointing.
• “The resurrection of the dead”
• ill: eternal reward for believers
• “Eternal judgment”
• ill: eternal punishment for unbelievers.
Quote:
• These elementary teachings cover conversion (repentance),
• Conviction (faith),
• Confession (baptism),
• Confirmation (laying of hands)
• And consummation (resurrection of the dead).
These are important truths but they are only elementary teachings.
• The author of Hebrews told us we should leave these behind.
• We should be preparing to move on to our next class.
Ill:
• Arlo & Kathy are soon to meet their new teachers.
• Because they are growing they are moving on in their knowledge and education.
• Instead of them regurgitating the same old elementary truths.
• They are moving on to enjoy a vast wealth of new experiences.
Ill:
• A young man who just graduated from university rushed outside and shouted,
• “Here I am, world, I have my PHD.”
• The world replied,
• “Sit down, son, and I’ll teach you the rest of alphabet.”
Quote:
• The Philosopher Will Durant who said,
• “Sixty years ago I knew everything. Now I know nothing.
• Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
• I admit that the more I know, the more I realize how little I really know.
• ill: A preacher for over 25yrs;
• The more I study the Bible the more I realise how little of it I actually know!
Ill:
• Like paddling a canoe upstream, we can’t stay still, we try hard to move forward,
• If not, the current will carry us downstream.
• Hence the author exhorted his audience to strive for maturity/perfection,
• If not, they risked backsliding.
(2). The wrong choice:
• What about the wrong choice then?
• This is what happens to those described in verses 4-8.
• So you had better come back next week to find out what they are!
