“LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER”

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Introduction:
  I. Three weeks ago, we noticed two things that all 
     Christians are to have in their lives.  The second 
     all Christians have, but not so with the first.
 II. “Boldness toward God” – We saw that this is 
     conditional. 1 John 3
III. A High Priest” – who is Jesus Christ sitting at the 
     right hand of God.
 IV. Having these two things, therefore, “let us:”
     A. “Draw near to God.”
     B. “Hold fast the confession of our hope.”
     C. “Consider one another.”
  V. Today, we will study “Consider one another.”

Body:
  I. “Let us consider one another.”
     A. “Let us” – present tense (keeping on doing so).
     B. “Consider one another”.
        1. Definition of “consider” (Greek – karanoeo)
           a. Vine: to perceive clearly.
           b. Thayer: 1. to perceive, remark, observe, 
              understand. 2. to consider attentively, fix 
              one’s eyes or mind upon.
           c. Green: to perceive, understand, apprehend; to 
              observe, to discern.
        2. “Let us consider”: 
           a. It implies as obligation on us, 1. to think 
              of other people as well as ourselves even 
              when we ourselves are in distress; 2. to 
              weigh well the dispositions, talents & and 
              characters of our brethren, make due 
              allowance for all their infirmities natural & 
              moral, trying to find out what they are best 
              fitted for; 3. to pray for them and encourage 
              them in all that is good and useful.
           b. The basic idea is that we are not to be
              selfish.  Rather we are to think about the 
              cares and concerns of others.  We are to look 
              at the lives of our brothers and sisters in 
              Christ, not as busybodies, meddlers, etc. but 
              rather with a view of seeing how we can help 
              each other.
           3. Other Scriptures:
              a. Philippians 2:1-4
              b. Ephesians 4:1-3
              c. 1 Corinthians 10:33
              d. Romans 12:10
              e. Romans 15:1-2
              f. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
              g. Galatians 6:2, 1 (James 5:19-20)

 II. “to provoke…”
     A. Definition of provoke.
        1. Vine: denotes a stimulation.  See contention –
           lit., a sharpening of the feeling or action (…).  
           Denotes an incitement, a sharp contention.
        2. Thayer: 1. an inciting, incitement 2. 
           irritation.
     B. The word means to arouse, to excite, to call into
        action, to stir up.  We are to consider one another 
        with the idea of producing love and good works in 
        our lives.

III. “Unto love and to good works.”
     A. “Love”
        1. Definition:
           a. Green: love, generosity, kindly concern,
              devotedness.
           b. Thayer: 1. affection, good-will, love, 
              benevolence.
        2. Scriptures:
           a. Matthew 22:36-40
           b. John 13:34-35
           c. John 15:12
           d. Galatians 5:14 (“Thy shalt love thy neighbour 
              as thyself”).
           e. Galatians 5:22-23
           f. 1 Thessalonians 1:3
           g. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
           h. 2 Peter 1:5-7f.
           i. 1 Timothy 1:5
           j. 1 John 3:14-18, 23
           k. 1 John 4:7-21
           l. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
     B. “good works”
        1. “good” – this word signifies lovely, beautiful, 
           excellent, worthy, noble. (Greek – kalos)
        2. “works” (Other Scriptures that teach we are to 
           work).
           a. Ephesians 2:10 (good – agathos (Greek))
           b. 1 John 3:16-18
           c. 2 Timothy 3:16-18.
        3. We must incite our brethren to all that is
           lovely & excellent by our example, by due 
           encouragement, by exhortation and, if need be, 
           by solemn warning against wrong habits and 
           courses.

Conclusion:
  I. Because we have boldness toward God and a High Priest, 
     in addition to drawing near to God and holding the 
     confession of our hope, we are to consider, help each 
     other to excite everyone into loving God and each 
     other and our neighbors and our enemies more and more 
     and to do good works.
 II. But if you are not a Christian, you do not have
     boldness toward God and a High Priest.
III. Don’t you want both?