Hebrews 5:11

Order of Service

• Sunday School Teaching — Hebrews 5:11–6:3
• Discussion
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: Growing Up in the Faith

Scripture: Hebrews 5:11–6:3

I. The Problem of Stunted Growth (5:11–14)

A. The warning: these hearers have become "dull of hearing" (v. 11)

1. After enough time as Christians, they ought to be teachers — but they need to be re-taught the basics
2. The normal course of growth: from milk (infancy) to solid food (maturity)
3. Those who remain on milk are "unskilled in the word of righteousness" (v. 13) — unable to articulate the basis of their salvation

B. The danger of remaining immature (v. 14)

1. Solid food is for those whose "powers of discernment are trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil"
2. Without discernment, believers become susceptible to false teaching and moral drift — like a boat tossed by every wind
3. Parallel in Ephesians 4:14-15: "no longer children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine"
4. Those who treat theology as irrelevant confuse childlike faith with childish faith

II. The Path to Spiritual Maturity (6:1–3)

A. The exhortation: "Leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity" (6:1)

1. Six foundational doctrines laid out in three pairs — not to be abandoned, but to be built upon
2. A foundation is necessary for a house, but you don't live on the foundation alone

B. The three pairs of foundational doctrine

1. Repentance from dead works and faith toward God — foundation for justification: the beginning of the Christian life, conversion, being declared righteous through faith in Christ
2. Instruction about washings and the laying on of hands — foundation for sanctification: ongoing growth in grace and holiness by the Spirit
3. Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment — foundation for glorification: the hope of the believer, resurrection connected to Christ's own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)

C. The goal: go deeper, not just wider

1. Build on the foundation — understand justification, sanctification, and glorification more deeply
2. This is exactly what the writer will do in chapter 7: go deep into Christ's Melchizedekian priesthood for our assurance and confidence