For the past two Sundays my sermons from the book of Hebrews have focused on God’s instruction to us as we consider how to live faithful lives and pursue growth in the new year. I hope this might help you in some way. There are 30+ instructions in Hebrews telling us how to take action for our own personal growth and for the good of other church members. Here are some of them
Actions for the believer to take for his/her own good:
Do not:
2:1 Do not drift away from God’s word.
3:12 Do not allow an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
3:8, 3:15 4:7 (3 times) Do not harden your hearts.
10:35 Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
10:39 Do not shrink back.
12:3 Do not grow weary or fainthearted.
12:5-6 Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
12:25 Do not refuse Him who is speaking.
13:9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.
Do: (concerning our own heart, mind, and faith)
6:11 Show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.
10:38 But my righteous one shall live by faith.
12:1 Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
12:12-13 Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.
(concerning our own maturity in the word)
2:1 We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard.
4:14 Let us hold fast our confession.
6:1 Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.
(concerning good examples & leaders within the church)
13:7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
(concerning God Himself)
4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Actions for the believer toward fellow church members:
3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
10:25 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.
13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
