Warning Against Falling Away
9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 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. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Dull of Hearing
Text: Hebrews 5:9-14
Introduction:
A. A teacher asked her young Bible class who made the walls of Jericho fall down. A little
boy answered, “I didn’t do it, teacher!” She thought that was funny and told a deacon.
He replied, “His family are good people, and I think he’s telling the truth.” Astonished,
she then told an elder, who replied, “Let’s not cause any trouble. Tell us how much it
costs, and we’ll get it fixed.”
B. There are many members of the church who should be mature Bible students but are only
spiritual babes.- text
C. The purpose of this lesson is to encourage us to become mature students of Scripture.
I. What causes a long-time disciple to be in knowledge a babe?
A. A child should grow.- Hebrews 5:12
B. But some are “dull of hearing.” – Hebrews 5:11
C. Why are some dull of hearing?
- indifference – 1 Peter 2:2
- misplaced priorities – Luke 8:14
- hardness of heart – Matthew 13:13-15
II. What are the characteristics of one whose spiritual growth is retarded?
A. He is unable to receive difficult truths. – Hebrews 5:11
B. He is unable to teach others.- Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 3:15
C. He is unable to distinguish between good and evil. – Hebrews 5:13-14
D. He us unable to detect false teaching. – Ephesians 4:14
E. He does not appreciate plain preaching of the truth.- 2 Timothy 4:3-4
III. What dangers does the immature disciple face?
A. letting slip that which he has already learned – Hebrews 2:1-3
B. falling away – Hebrews 6:1-6
IV. What problems do these babes cause for others?
A. They are the source of most of the problems in the local church. – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
B. Their attitude affects others around them. – 1 Corinthians 5:6
V. How can these babes become mature?
A. proper food – 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 6:1
B. proper exercise – Hebrews 5:14
Conclusion:
A. Were Dan and Beersheba husband and wife or brother and sister?
B. We must all strive to grow to maturity. – Hebrews 6:1
C. So let us diligently study God’s Word. – 1 Peter 2:2
APPLICATION
- Your attitude determines your latitude.
- Stay close to Jesus and away from sin.