Hebrews 3:16-4:13

"Rest and Relaxation...at Last!" - Hebrews 3:16-4:13

I love the diversity that we experience at CCFluvanna. You all have come from such a variety of religious backgrounds, or maybe CCF is your first church experience!

For many religious people, spiritual life and upbringing were connected to obligations and duties of the faith. The underlying message is that you are saved by Jesus, and maintaining religious duties such as sacraments, food laws, or a dress code.

If this person is asked, "Will you go to heaven?", the answer might be, "I don't know", or "as long as I do x, y, and z." This person will not feel a sense of deep assurance, always wondering if they have done something to jeopardize their eternal salvation.

In this section, the word "rest" occurs 10 times! Clearly, God wants His children to rest! But from what? And how? What would it feel like to experience religious relaxation? Is it possible to just relax about my spiritual life? What a dream that would be!

If legalism, traditionalism, or superstition have been your experience, then you need to hear what the Spirit says about "resting" in Jesus. And maybe you even hear the voice of an old cartoon character in my sermon title saying to you .. "west and weewaxation at wast".

Steve