It was tough to be a Christian in the first-century Roman Empire, as it was for John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, and the early Methodists. The early Christians needed each other’s support and strength to stay spiritually on track. And Wesley echoed Hebrews in stressing the importance of living our faith in community—we are to encourage one another, “sparking love and good deeds.”

• We all need encouragement to keep us going at times. That’s what the writer to the Hebrews had in mind: “let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds” (verse 24). What factors in the world you live in make you want to seek out fellow Christians? When have you needed someone you trust to give you a boost in your life of faith? When have you done that for someone else?
•  “Let’s draw near,” in verse 22, was a common early Christian expression related to worship. This isn’t a burden, but a blessing. If someone asked you, “Give me one good reason for going to worship,” what would you say?