The Right Youth Group II: The Right People (Part 1 of 2)

Hebrews 5:11–6:3, 4–6, 9–12

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant and is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And of this we will do, if God permits.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Becoming the Right Youth Group

Last week we started a series entitled The Right Youth Group. The goal is to help us identify the right youth group to attend and to strive to be that right youth group ourselves. We saw that it begins with the right message about Jesus Christ. Without it, we will drift away and shipwreck our lives.

It's absolutely essential for us to be obsessed with the message of Jesus Christ—his death on the cross for our sins, actually saving us. The book of Hebrews warns us through its warning passages to focus on this message and become the right youth group.

Our passage tonight teaches us how to be the right youth group by showing two categories of people and groups to avoid—and one category to emulate. It even gives assurance of salvation.

1. The Right Youth Group Is Not Dull

Look at Hebrews 5:11–14. The author wants to teach about Melchizedek—King of Righteousness, King of Salem (Peace)—a deep theological concept with rich Old Testament symbolism. But he can't because they are "dull of hearing"—lazy listeners.

These were Christians for about 30 years (from Jesus' ministry around AD 30–33 to the book's writing around AD 64–68), yet still needed milk, not solid food. They were unskilled, like infants, unable to discern good from evil.

Sermon-listening isn't a spectator sport. Some treat church like McDonald's: show up, get fed, leave. No different from fast food. But the right youth group doesn't do that. Sermons give marching orders for faith. Not engaging prevents growth and enjoyment of God.

My newborns didn't enjoy me much—they were infants, still growing in brain, emotions, communication. Likewise, spiritual infants miss greater sanctification and joy in God.

The right youth group preaches the gospel-centered message that encourages growth together, enjoying God and his people. Like Moses begging to see God's glory (Exodus 33)—so valuable it changed him physically, though he could only see its effects. Demand more of God! Don't settle for good grades or fashion; pursue God because he's worth it.

John Hus, an average student, was burned at the stake for his faith, paving the way for the Reformation against false teachings like buying time out of purgatory. Mr. Average changed the world through diligence in truth.

The right youth group works hard to learn about God and grow.

2. The Right Youth Group Does Not Desert God

Now Hebrews 6:4–6 describes those who desert God: enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted God's word and powers of the age to come—yet fallen away. Impossible to restore them to repentance; they crucify Christ again, holding him up to contempt.

These first-century apostates had profound experiences—more significant than many modern ones. How tragic if 21st-century Christians can't match that! Have you been enlightened by Jesus' message? Tasted heavenly gifts? Shared in the Holy Spirit? Tasted God's word? Powers of the age to come?

When did someone you know fall away? Is staying a Christian attractive, or just a casual subscription like Netflix?

Statistics show 86–95% of youth group attenders fall away by age 25. Imagine that here—8 out of 10 gone. How do we beat it? Be the right youth group that doesn't desert God.

These experiences are common in church—even without true salvation. They're the minimum for any gathering of saints. But deserting after them is impossible to reverse.

So we've seen two youth groups to avoid: the dull one (lazy learners) and the deserting one (apostates). How many friends would join "The Dull Youth Group" or "The Deserting Youth Group"?

The Right Youth Group Is Dedicated

This is simple math: nobody deserves it. They chased after the cares and pleasures of the world. Everybody wants to leave the deserting youth group. The right youth group is dedicated.

Notice Hebrews 6:9:

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.

The author has been speaking about people who professed to be Christians but weren't actually saved. Though we're talking about the wrong youth group—what not to be in—a youth group of Christians who gather together, he says in your case, beloved, we're confident of better things than just being enlightened, better than tasting the heavenly gift, better than sharing in the Holy Spirit, better than tasting the goodness of the word of God, better than tasting the powers of the age to come. We're confident of better things—things that belong to salvation.

We're convinced you are legitimate believers, the kind of group people should want to be part of. There's proof, evidence. It's not hard to look at your lives, your group, and say, "That's the right kind of group"—a bunch of Christians with immeasurable enjoyment of God and pursuit of his righteousness.

Here's why we're convinced. God is not unjust to overlook your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. What marks the right group? Work and serving the saints, which shows genuine love for God.

For a youth group, someone would recognize it's the right one by seeing individuals who work in serving each other, motivated by love for God. The people of God demonstrate love for God by taking care of other people of God. That's a youth group where nobody walks in, sits in a corner, and says, "Everybody come serve me, give me attention." Don't be the center of attention without effort to make a friend.

The person who comes in, even if not part of the cliques, says, "I don't care about cliques. I care about God. God sent his Son to save me from my sins. Biblically, I demonstrate love for God by finding that person's needs and meeting them."

Picture a youth group where you walk in obsessed with finding someone to minister to, especially in sins and struggles. You want the grace given to you in your sins demonstrated to someone else. You're so focused on others because you love God so much that others focus on you, and you reap the benefit anyway. It's service out of love for God.

The right youth group loves God, and that desire grows in everyone. Verses 11-12 say:

We desire that each one of you show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

We desire you to show the same earnestness of those who demonstrate love for God by ministering to the saints. That gives full assurance of salvation—not 2% assurance, not 50%, but full assurance. Those who don't demonstrate love for God by serving his saints miss out on assurance. They doubt it's authentic because they don't serve.

"Saint" simply means someone dedicated to God. The right youth group is dedicated to God.

Questions for Reflection

Are you sluggish toward the things of God? Measure it by time spent studying him, learning about him, growing in knowledge of him. Everything you need for life and godliness comes through knowledge of Jesus Christ. To not be ineffective and unfruitful, grow in that knowledge.

Are you sluggish toward Christ but not toward activities? If you always choose basketball, movies, or sports practice over youth group, it exposes lack of love for God. The warning in this passage is for you. Heed it.

The author desires you show earnestness—not moping around. There's zealousness, eagerness, motivation to be around God's people, take care of them, demonstrate love for God, and gain full assurance to enjoy God and his people.

Think of times parents ask you to take out the trash, clean your room, or pull weeds. Obedience while ticked off, cussing under your breath—is that attractive? It's not enjoyable for you; anger is the opposite of enjoyment. What's better is earnestness, eagerness, and enjoyment. Come to the right youth group with earnestness, not moping.

Second question: Are you content being a spectator, not proving your salvation? Spectators miss assurance—proof you'll end up on eternity's shores. That happens through serving, being part of each other's lives. That's the right youth group to strive for.