1. Go Beyond "Spiritual Immaturity"
Hebrews 6

2. The High Stakes in Hebrews
From Immature into…
Fruit
Death
“keep on loving others as long as life lasts”
“a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls”
“If a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless”
Adikomos means ‘empty’
DIFF. = “Keep..Loving” v. “Useless”
AP: GOSP: This is What GOD DOES

3. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.
From Last Week:
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14 (NASB)

4. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

5. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
Only the beginning!
Not to be dwelt upon
Baptism
Appointing leaders
Important…
“Membership drives”
“Structures”
But too many regulations!
“Just gimme that ol’ time religion…”
Weak teachers at work!
Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
Grace
Rituals (all 2!!)
End Times
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

6. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
Settle These Issues!
Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. Philippians 3:15 (NLT)
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

7. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
MATURITY IS: “Enter God’s Rest”
Moment-by-moment exercise of faith
Understanding God’s Principle of Activity
“Coming of Age”: Spiritual Adulthood
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

8. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
Maturity Achieved by:
“Practice” (5:14)
“leave behind elementary truths” (5:14)
“Not starting over again and again…” (6:1)
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

9. Hebrews 6:1-3 FRUITFUL LIVING “From ‘Milk’ to ‘Meat’”
“Meat Truths” Ahead!
The “setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness” (7:18)
“the Law made nothing perfect!” (7:19)
MOSAIC COVENANT Replaced!
A whole different world!
Nothing makes sense anymore!
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

10. The Tragic Stumbling-Block in Hebrews
(“mature now!”)
We’re Hebrews!
God’s “Chosen People”
Very secure…
Know all about the Christ
But still immature!

11. The Tragic Stumbling-Block in Hebrews
(“mature now!”)
We’re Hebrews!
“JC” is Pretty Cool Until…
He shakes our traditions and assumptions
He reaches into our precious home lives…
“Following JC” starts to cost something…

12. The Tragic Stumbling-Block in Hebrews
(“mature now!”)
We’re Hebrews!
“JC” is Pretty Cool Until…
They Got Shook UP!
Abandon Everything!

13. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

14. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened…
Three Questions:
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Why is it impossible?

15. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
“I need a savior…”
“Enlightened”
Know a personal relationship
“Tasted Heavenly Gift”
Companionship with God
“Partakers ..Holy Spirit”
Joy of the promises of God
“Powers..Age to Come”
Their case is hopeless!
“Cannot restore”
GOSPEL: YOU NEED ENLIGHTENED…

16. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
Possibly “Hebrews” unable to accept change.
Possibly Non-Christians unable to accept change.
Possibly Christians unable to accept change.
Get stuck in their growth
Wasting life away…
“Enlightened”
“Tasted Heavenly Gift”
“Partakers ..Holy Spirit”
“Powers..Age to Come”
“Cannot restore”
Same
“Hebrews” == MOST Sense…
GOSP: Non-Xians==See OFTEN!!
> “I’ve Got It MADE!”
> “Don’t NEED no GOD!”

17. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
“Enlightened”
“Tasted Heavenly Gift”
“Partakers ..Holy Spirit”
“Powers..Age to Come”
“Cannot restore”
It can’t mean:
Watch your cuss words! (God’s counting)
It’s easy to “lose it”
“It’s too late for me…”
Watch..Words==Salvat. By WORKS
EZ: “Fall Away” == STRONG WORD
> Determination / Deliberate
“2 Late” == Chloe’s MOM
> Never “ENLIGHTENED” … etc.
Gospel: ~Matter How “Dirty” U ARE
> Issue== WANT GOD?

18. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Moment of Faith
“Conversion Joy”
“Milk Drinkers”
Facing Personal Cost
Get “All Shook Up”
“Meat Eaters” – Learn REST
“2 Points of Crisis”

19. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Conception
Gestation Period
Delivery
“Entering God’s Rest”
Conception Never reaches DELIVERANCE!
My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— Galatians 4:19 (NASB)

20. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
New Christians are “Embryos”
Fed by the Faith of Others
Seem to start well…
But they never “own” their faith.
So they get perpetually stuck.

21. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
New Christians are “Embryos”
Fed by the Faith of Others
Seem to start well…
But they never “own” their faith.
Examples
The seed on “rocky ground”
“Triumphal Entry”
Judas Iscariot
Seed on “rocky ground”
> “Receive the word w/ joy..”
> Until “persecution arises”
“Triumphal Entry”
> Populated by such people
> “Oh Jerusalem!” He wept!
> Where was the multitude?
> They were there: “Crucify!”
Judas: given power to heal, sent out w/ the > Despite the power, there was no faith > He went out into the darkness.

22. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
New Christians are “Embryos”
Fed by the Faith of Others
Seem to start well…
But they never “own” their faith.
Examples
The seed on “rocky ground”
“Triumphal Entry”
Judas Iscariot
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:19
1Jn.2:19 == EXPLAINS IT

23. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Why “Impossible to bring back…” ?
The Key: “If God Permits”
Harsh? NO! This is because…
“I swore in my wrath ‘They’ll never enter my rest…’”
– Heb 4:3

24. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Why “Impossible to bring back…” ?
The Key: “If God Permits”
They become “enemies of the cross of Christ…”
Crucify / Open Shame == ATTACK XIANS
> More Grace/Effort ==More THORNS
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:18
…and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Hebrews 6:6 (NASB)

25. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Are these Christians?
How do they “fall away”?
Why “Impossible to bring back…” ?
The Key: “If God Permits”
They become “enemies of the cross of Christ…”
More “help” only produces thorns…
LESSON: Don’t B an ENABLER!
When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. Hebrews 6:7-8 (NLT)

26. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
I recently de-converted from Christianity, the faith I have been brought up in for the past 17 years. I wanted to give an explanation as to how I came to this, and why. At 16, I “gave my life to Christ” and was baptized. After that event, I was in evangelist mode. I passed out Gospel tracts, witnessed to people, read my Bible everyday, studied apologetics, etc. I was quite sincere in this, but about 5 or 6 months ago, I began to experience doubt.
EXAMPLES: “Mark Died”
READ GIRL’S TESTIMONY
APP: esp. w/ Xian Families
> “Receive JC” Easily
> “Junior High CAMP” experience

27. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
Part of this was due to my study of the Old Testament, which prior to this I had avoided reading. In the Old Testament I encountered a God I had not seen before. You described his behavior quite eloquently in chapter 2 of your book. I sought explanations for the cruelty of a God whom I had henceforth believed to be “loving” and “just”. None were satisfactory. This gnawing skepticism led up to the day I went to the public library and checked out a copy of “The God Delusion”.
EXAMPLES: “Mark Died”
READ GIRL’S TESTIMONY
APP: esp. w/ Xian Families
> “Receive JC” Easily
> “Junior High CAMP” experience

28. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
All of my life, I have been taught that the world is 6,000 years old, created by the Judeo-Christian God, and I believed it without question. Needless to say, when I began reading “The God Delusion” I was floored. I started to see the world as it really is, and appreciate my life far more than I did as a Christian. I want to thank you for this book, which has helped remove the shaded glasses I have been wearing, and view the world in it’s full light. Best wishes to you.
EXAMPLES: “Mark Died”
READ GIRL’S TESTIMONY
APP: esp. w/ Xian Families
> “Receive JC” Easily
> “Junior High CAMP” experience

29. The Knottiest Passage in Scripture: “Death at Birth”
People I’ve Known…
They went out from us, but they were not really of us... 1 John 2:19
EXAMPLES: “Mark Died”
> SAVED? Who Knows?
> * “Went OUT…”
APP: esp. w/ Xian Families
> “Receive JC” Easily
> “Junior High CAMP” experience
SOME OF US ARE HERE!!
> Won’t MAKE IT

30. Beyond Immaturity to Fruitfulness! (6:9-12)
Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.
BETTER THINGS…

31. Beyond Immaturity to Fruitfulness! (6:9-12)
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

32. Beyond Immaturity to Fruitfulness! (6:9-12)
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. ..
He Sees True Evidence of Their Salvation:
Their Love
Deeds of Compassion
Not Just Words. 3 1 2

33. Beyond Immaturity to Fruitfulness! (6:9-12)
Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Hebrews 6:11
What does it mean?
Do you live in uncertainty?
Troubling doubt?
Guilt?
Wake Up!
Get Serious! Learn to “enter God’s Rest”!
“Keep on loving others as long as life lasts!”
You’ll have a “full assurance of hope” that makes others look to you!

34. Atlanta 4” Snow Control Dar & I Drove Here: Family Vacation 1993
Starting in Orlando, Florida…
Dar & I Drove Here:
Atlanta 4” Snow Control