Why would we do those things?

This Sunday we are looking at another list, sort of. The group of things in question are in Hebrews and the (anonymous) author of Hebrews doesn’t present lists quite the same way St. Paul does. I was musing in one of the sermons today that I think Paul would have liked power point and slides of lists and such things. In Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 we have a number of things that we are directed to do. None of these things are particularly unusual, let alone weird. The ones we talked about this morning are: show hospitality, be empathetic, be faithful, don’t love money, be content. Who in their right mind could be against any of these things? They are all good things but I wanted us to go beyond a simplistic “these are good, so there” mentality and actually ask why do these.

The two sermons are both attempts to answer the question ( the sermon title is “Some things to do, but why?”) from a couple of different perspectives. The first perspective is all about how these things are good for us. The second perspective is taken directly from Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (NRSV); they are pleasing to God.

We did spend a little time talking about how these things are not always easy, note the use of the word “sacrifices” in Hebrews 13:16, but they are always worth it.

I hope you find some encouragement in these words and the Scripture that underpins them.

Knox Presbyterian Some things to do, but why?