November 24, 2024
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Hebrews 10:26-39
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exposition
Do you understand the great possession offered to in Christ Jesus? Perhaps you once did. But you’ve been feeling disheartened? Maybe you’ve been hurt by someone in the church and you’ve lost sight of the prize you have in Christ. Maybe you’ve wondered if staying faithful is worth the struggle. The early readers of Hebrews faced those same doubts. Some had suffered great loss for their faith. Others were tempted to return to the familiar rituals of their old life. They were at risk of turning away from their greatest treasure: their possession in Christ. Disappointment, suffering, or the busyness of life can distract us. The world promises possessions and comforts that seem tangible and immediate, but these things pale in comparison to the eternal and abiding possession we have in Christ. Hebrews reminds us of the surpassing worth of Jesus!
In Hebrews 10:26-39, the author warned believers to remember their greater possession in Christ. We can remember our greater possession in Christ.
November 17, 2024
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Hebrews 10:19-25
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exposition
How have you responded to Christ’s claim to be not only the greatest way, but the only way to come to God? To come to the Father? Many in our world today struggle with this claim. They try to reach God, or their idea of God, through human means, through religion or rule-following or some other way. But they all fall short. Others believe that Christ has opened the way to God, but they don’t feel assured that they are worthy of it or that they can be sure of it. While others are confident of their new position in Christ, but they aren’t taking full advantage of what Christ has accomplished in opening this new and living way to the Father.
Perhaps the author of Hebrews had all these responses to Christ in mind as he shifted from 10 chapters of propositional truth to prescription, from doctrine to deeds.
In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author told the Hebrew believers that they could confidently respond to the new and living way that Christ had opened up for them to God. We can confidently respond to the new and living way Christ has opened to God.
November 3, 2024
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Hebrews 9:15-28
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exposition
Are you put off by all the talk of blood and sacrifice that you see in the Bible? Does the idea of Christ’s crucifixion offend you and cause you to turn your eyes away? As one person said to me, “I just don’t get all the talk about blood and cross-carrying. I’m looking for a more positive spirituality.” Or perhaps you have heard the message of Christ’s sacrifice and it has moved you to repent of your sins and believe? You’ve understood the message of love that Christ’s great sacrifice has put on display?
His great love moved Him to make the greatest sacrifice in order to save those who believe in Him. For Jesus is greater and His sacrifice is greater. In Hebrews 9:15-28, the author told the Hebrew believers that the sacrifice of Christ is greater than the sacrifices of the old covenant. We can understand that the sacrifice of Christ is greater than the sacrifices of the old covenant.
October 27, 2024
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Hebrews 9:1-14
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exposition
Do you feel like a VIP with God? Or do you struggle with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy? Maybe feelings of shame and guilt linger from your past and you’ve never been able to experience complete cleansing and forgiveness? Maybe you’re feeling a disconnect with God today? You’re going through a season of spiritual dryness? In fact, instead of feeling like a VIP, you feel that God is distant from you and not hearing your prayers?
That’s what this message is about today. Because through the ministry of Jesus in God’s heavenly tabernacle we are offered VIP access to God! In Hebrews 9:1-14, the author told the Hebrew believers that the heavenly tabernacle where Jesus serves as High Priest is greater than the old. We can understand that the heavenly tabernacle where Jesus serves as High Priest is greater than the old.
October 20, 2024
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Hebrews 8:1-13
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exposition
Everything in life seems to eventually become obsolete. Everything eventually gets old, runs down, stops working… everything loses its new car smell. Don’t wish some things would last? We all long for something better, something more permanent, something we can always depend on and trust. That’s what the New Covenant in Christ offers. It will never become obsolete. It is permanent, empowering, and perfect. It is greater than the old covenant in every way!
In Hebrews 8, the author explained to Jewish background believers that the new covenant in Christ Jesus is greater than the old. We can understand that the new covenant in Christ Jesus is greater than the old.
October 13, 2024
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Hebrews 7:18-28
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exposition
We live in world filled with guarantees, lifetime warrantees, insurances, promises and so on. Our culture knows full well that we the consumer are looking for things that last, things that have been guaranteed to succeed for us. We have lots of guarantees in this life, but lots of broken ones too. Many of us are painfully living through many unfulfilled guarantees and desperate for someone to follow through.
Wouldn’t you be pleased to discover that in your area of greatest need, you have a guarantee that is totally certain? Our salvation, our spiritual access to the living God, our communion with Him is made certain, guaranteed by our savior Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 7:18-28, the author explained to the Jewish background believers that Jesus is a greater guarantee of salvation. We can understand that Jesus is a greater guarantee of salvation.
October 6, 2024
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Hebrews 7:1-17
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exposition
Why does this passage about a mysterious figure named, Melchizedek, and an ancient priesthood matter to us today? While we may not be struggling to reconcile temple worship with our faith in Christ, we face a similar challenge: Where do we turn to find true connection with God? In our world, people are looking everywhere for meaning, security, and spiritual fulfillment. Some turn to religious traditions, others to personal spirituality, and still others to worldly solutions like success, status, or wealth. Even as Christians, we may sometimes feel distant from God and question how we can approach Him and hear from Him.
This is why we need to hear about the greatness of Christ’s priesthood. It reminds us that our relationship with God doesn’t depend on our efforts, rituals, or qualifications. We have direct access to God through Jesus, our perfect High Priest. His priesthood is superior to anything the world or religion can offer. In Him, we find security, peace, and reconciliation with God.
September 22, 2024
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Hebrews 5:11-6:8
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Christian maturity, exposition, jesus, maturity
From the time of our birth, parents and doctors begin to measure our physical growth. Educators measure our intellectual growth. Banks and credit agencies measure our financial growth. They all have goals for where we should be in order to be considered healthy or to graduate or to qualify for a loan. But what about spiritual growth? Does God have a goal for our spiritual growth? Many in the church today seem to be unaware of this greater goal.
So the greater goal is not to just make converts, but to make Christ-followers, to make disciples of Jesus who grow up to maturity becoming like Him in every way. Because as Dallas Willard warned, “The way to get more people into heaven is to get heaven into more people. And if you don’t do that, then you wind up with a group of people that are testimonies against heaven.”
What’s your goal in life? Is your life a testimony for heaven or against heaven? Are you growing spiritually? Since becoming a Christian, are you growing more like Jesus? In the epistle of Hebrews, the Jewish background believers were warned not to fall away from the goal of growing to maturity in Jesus. We can heed the warning not to fall away from the goal of growing to maturity in Jesus.
March 10, 2024
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1 Corinthians 1:17-25
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cross, exposition, jesus
Do you see the need for Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for your sins? Do you understand its significance? Do you believe that people are separated from God in this world, struggling with sin, addiction, and death without God’s intervention? Do you believe that people who die separated from God will spend eternity without Him in a place called Hell?
In the apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he explained why the message of the cross of Christ was crucial to their salvation.
March 3, 2024
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Habakkuk 3:16-19
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exposition
What are you facing today? It seems easy to keep the faith when life is good, when all your prayers are being answered, and everything is coming up roses. But how do we keep trusting God when life gets hard? When our prayers seem to go unanswered? When our worst fears seem to be coming true? How can we keep trusting the Lord anyway?
In Habakkuk 3:16-19, after hearing the Lord’s plan to use Babylon to discipline Judah, the prophet concluded his little book of lament with a strong resolve to trust the Lord anyway. We can resolve to trust the Lord anyway.