Sunday we will meet at the Minick household to begin our study of HEBREWS. Come prepared to share a little bit about where you are in your sojourning, and how you can give and receive as we work together to learn from the Word.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. (Hebrews 13:20-22)
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SojosChurch, Minick House, 9-10-06
Hebrews Beginning
Writing Reasons:
1. TO ENCOURAGE: Don't shrink back to a system or absence of system to give hope. Need intention to go to mystery of why hope is more than what I have.
2. TO THE INFORMED: To put together, with sophistication, the structure of hope.
3. Next to Revelation, one of the most complex texts in the bible.
Priesthood Of Christ
1. Makes possible for us to understand and experience the invisible God.
2. The promise land is in this world. Entering into His rest is something to experience through Christ’s priestly leadership.
• not going to dwell on the “how much” of the things described, as much as the “why”, contrary to most commentary.
• Hebrews will push the personal, both in head and heart, to a fullness of hope.
Heb 1:1-4
The first sentence is rich. When asked about Christ, what would be the first thing to come out of your mouth? What’s the big deal about Christ?
Phil 2
Col 1 4 major passages that display, in
Heb 1 condensed form, the character and
John 1 diety of Christ.
• Who wrote Hebrews? Paul, Paul/Barnabas, Early church fathers, Luke, or any combo. Not sure. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit. Greek/Hebrew questions stretch the context. The book was used with great authority in the early church (1st cen.)
• Coming out of an Egypt experience, into a new environment, the Promise Land, an environment of rest. To know that we are with confidence who is who and whether we’ve arrived in a place of rest or not.
• Good Workout Partners: Involves a level of trust to know how to push and know the intent of the one pushing. The writer knows his audience, and is pushing them appropriately.
• The book is called a NT synopsis of the OT by some, particularly regarding the Tabernacle community.
• God never intended for a temple, but a tabernacle. Always intended for mobility. When he did give the temple, it was to show them what they were missing. Does the tabernacle go with you? You should know.
Hebrews 7:25-28 – Complete Completeness (Panta-Telos)
- Image of Christ. Are you there yet? If Christ lived your life, how would it be lived out?
- Need an outlet for the wrong to be made right.
- Experienced a priest that was a positive experience? Yes.
- Priesthood: a life spent in devotion to God, but also available to the world, accessible for those in need.
- Learn to abide. To put in rest. It’s a lasting investment.
- Cycle of ministry, rest, ministry, rest…
- Rest doesn’t equal movies, or other stories.
- Tendency is to fix ourselves or others. Jesus was tempted the same, but sweated blood. If there was a way of escape…He’s been through more anguish of the soul, more temptation, not less.
• Challenge: how much to push through Hebrews? Do we want what it can offer?
• Look at the treasure vs. Count the Cost. Cost/Benefit ratio.
• Put off / Put on / Live out.
Hebrews 12:1-2
- Over and over: Completeness. It’s the goal.
Hebrews 13:20-22
- It’s a brief and concise letter (v.22)
- But there’s enough to be adequately equipped (v.21)
Q/A:
1. Rest? Does it equal silence? Yes. Though not in the text all the time, it’s good to work. But productivity is not totally measured by activity.
2. Practical? Pick a few things you heard, and try to reconstruct it on your own, and concisely. You can use different mediums, but reproduce it.
3. Next Level? Will be more comparative and contextual, cross-referencing.
4. Reproduce for personal or group? Both. Each sheep has a need.
ENDING:
Not to make a church grow, but THE Church grow.
HOMEWORK:
What’s the big deal about salvation? Bring answers.
Find 7 aspects of Christ in Hebrews 1:1-4
Two questions.
1. What about starting early? 9am not 10:30 that way if we go long we aren't ending at 2 or 3.
2. Can the location of where we meet be sent out earlier?
the message board is up! click on the link on the upper right hand corner of the blog to go there.
I really enjoyed hearing last Sunday's message through Chris' lens. So what follows is last Sunday's message through my own lens. - Emily
Hebrews Overview
This book is written to people who have said Jesus is their hope. The gist is, “Keep your hope in Jesus, don’t shrink back.”
This book addresses the question, “What about life – sorrows, failures, hopes, fears, reality of evil, etc.?”
The overall picture in Hebrews is of Jesus as High Priest. He’s a High Priest who brings God near and makes Him real.
Hebrews also says that the Promised Land is here. Entering His rest is a "now" thing.
Hebrews provides a synopsis of the OT, specifically about the Tabernacle. (*Ask Russell for the paper on how the tabernacle (which was mobile) was always the goal – not a Temple)
1.1-4 Who is Jesus? Verse 1-4 are the first gushing answer to this question. Then the author spends the rest of the book expanding on this.
So who is Jesus? Four Major Christological passages: Phil. 2, John 1, Col. 1, Heb. 1
7.25-26 – Purpose leading up to the main point
8.1-2 – Main point of Hebrews
7.25 – pantelos – He can completely complete us for salvation. He makes us completely conformed to His image (Rom. 8.29). What would it look like if Jesus lived my life?
What experiences have you had with real priests?
-Russell’s story about Father Pat Koch – “the most unhurried man, the most unhurried presence I had ever been around” He lived in rest.
-We are supposed to be priests. We are a priesthood. We enter into His rest like a priest enters. We must learn the discipline of abiding and not being stressed. We have to learn the discipline of not living at a high stress level all the time.
What is rest? What was rest for Jesus? Retreat, prayer.
Don’t fill in the time. Be still. Overcome the tyranny of the urgent.
You will have to make a big effort to set aside real time for solitude. (So true! I couldn't believe how hard it was this week!)
12.1-2 – the goal; count the cost; treasure; put off, put on, live out
13.20-22 – All of this is SO WE CAN DO HIS WILL; so that He can do what pleases Him in us
Learn the content of 1.1-4 this week – Look for 7 things about the nature of Christ
“What’s the big deal about your faith in Christ?”
And here's a set of versions to get you started with the "homework" :)
Hebrews 1:1-4 New Revised Standard 1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV 1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV 1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4 New American Standard 1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1-4 New Jerusalem Bible 1At many moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but 2 in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the ages. 3 He is the reflection of God's glory and bears the impress of God's own being, sustaining all things by his powerful command; and now that he has purged sins away, he has taken his seat at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high. 4 So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.
Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJ 1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1-4 New Living Translation 1Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. 3 The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. 4 This shows that God's Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is far greater than their names.
Hebrews 1:1-4 King James Version 1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his] Son,, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,, when he had by himself purged our sins,, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hey all, I'm really enjoying being able to read what everyone is writing each week as an overview of what is being taught in church. - I have to say, I'm being really challenged to take better notes - I just find I'm so intent on listening and processing that I'm totally not writing... so all that said to say :)
thanks for sharing your notes!
see you next sunday at the Harris's and a bit earlier too.. :)
have a great rest of the week...
blessings on you all....
melissa
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