Hebron strives to be a biblically-based, Christ-entered community of disciples, a Reformed, (classically) evangelical church in the Presbyterian tradition, worshipping, growing, and serving Christ in the East Hills of Pittsburgh.
How do you take something marvelously complex, wonderful in all its God-given dimensions, multifaceted in every detail, and provide a simple, yet effective description? When someone asks you to describe your closest relationship, your appreciation for a piece of art, or the feeling of pure tranquility, often words do not do it justice. And so it is when we describe God’s Church, and/or our expression of it here at Hebron. What is Hebron? How do you talk about it, meaningfully and simply?
Some weeks ago, we began a sermon series elaborating on this very thing; how do we understand what Hebron is and should be in light of the Scriptures and God’s call on our lives? Using the above description, we have talked about various qualities.
First, “Biblically-based” reminds us that we function under the authority of the Word of God, the Scriptures, and that those writings are the infallible rule of faith and life for the believer. While other things provide insight and context, our faith rests firmly on the Word of God. The Bible is the ultimate source of all true knowledge. We learn things from many different sources—parents, friends, society, and experience. But the only reliable, absolute and trustworthy source is Scripture itself. Being the Word of God, the Bible has absolute authority to direct our lives. Other legitimate authorities (parents, government, gravity) exist, but ultimately the Bible is the final authority for the practice of our faith.
Question: Are you living this truth in your own life? If Hebron Church seeks to be biblically-based, is that reflective in your own life? How do you submit to its authority? How are you shaping your understanding of the world by its teachings?
Second, “Christ-centered” is both a description of the core of the biblical witness—Jesus Christ—and the orientation of all our worship, our service and our maturity as His people. While it should be self-evident, it nevertheless needs to be clearly stated: we exist for Jesus Christ. He is the source of our being, the focus of our attention and praise, and the direction of all our lives. It is all too easy, given the influence of sin to think of ourselves as the center of our world—we focus mostly on ourselves, cater to our needs, attentive to our desires. But we do not sit on the throne, our Lord Jesus does, and He deserves all our devotion.
Question: Is it clear from your everyday life that Christ is at the center? Is your stated commitment to Christ as Lord evident? Is it evident here at Hebron?
We have a tremendous blessing being a part of this church, and there is much more for God yet to do in our lives individually, and in our fellowship together. Please join me in prayer for our congregation—all to the praise of His glory! Henry