My sermon overviewing Hebrews 1-9 from 11/13/11 entitled Jesus Is Better is now online. This sermon sought to point to the big picture of the first nine chapters and, having shown that, be used to inspire us to persevere. We should be wowed by Jesus so that lives are changed.
In the evening, we continued looking at Respectable Sins by Bridges. Really helped by that book.
This coming Lord’s Day, 11/13, we hope to gather and review what we’ve seen in Hebrews 1-9. (We plan to get into a message for Thanksgiving and John 1 during Advent.) I love doing these overview messages every so often so that people don’t lose sight of the big picture in the minutiae of verse by verse exposition. Related to this big picture, I found this post by Tony Reinke (and this picture) very helpful.
Enjoyed another amazing Lord’s Day with the dear people at Crestview. I’m so humbled to get to be their pastor. My sermon, Christ’s Better Sacrifice, from Hebrews 9:23-28 is now online. The thrust of the message was that Christ’s sacrifice purified better than the old way since it was in God’s presence once for all and anticipated His return. It was really amazing truth to ground us both for today and our future. We have amazing confidence in relating to God because of what Jesus has done and this changes everything.
In the evening, my small group continued studying Jerry Bridges Respectable Sins talking about selfishness and our lack of self control. Again, great fellowship as our group was transparent with one another and really helped point each other to the Gospel. What a full weekend, yet so full of grace.
Hope your Lord’s Day went well.
As we think about approaching God in corporate worship this coming Lord’s Day, 11/6/11, we will be looking at Hebrews 9:23-28 (read this if you can carve out time this week). This passage brings together many of the big themes we’ve found in these first nine chapters. Specifically, we will again see the temporal nature of earth and the eternal work done in heaven by Jesus. It is quite staggering really. One truth that stands out is at the end:
“Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
You’ve maybe heard it said that Jesus came the first time to save, but next time He’s coming as King. This is clearly taught in our passage for Sunday. Come expecting to worship your Savior and King this Lord’s Day.
We enjoyed an amazing Lord’s Day yesterday. My sermon from Hebrews 9:15-22 entitled The Haggler (New Covenant Mediator) is online. The sermon sought to show the amazing nature of Jesus’ help for those who stand to inherit promises under the new covenant and how this was only obtained through His spilling blood in death. We also celebrated the Lord’s Supper in the AM. What a rich time of fellowship.
In the evening, as it was a 5th Sunday, we gathered for corporate prayer. We realize that nothing happens of eternal consequence without God moving. We prayed for needs and upcoming events in our church’s life. What a blessed Lord’s day. I’m still full from it.
This coming Sunday, we hope to return to Hebrews 9:15-22 and look at our New Covenant Mediator Jesus. There are lots of tremendous truths in this passage. We’ll see what Jesus did as our Mediator, why death was necessary and (closely) related why all this blood? Oh, there will be blood. Just read the text and see. Blood cleanses and without the shedding of blood there’s no forgiveness of sins.
As I thought about this text and what Jesus has done to reconcile to God, I’ve realize how futile my own efforts at achieving righteousness fall short. I need a Savior like this. Come and see God’s plan through Jesus, our Mediator this Sunday.
We plan to gather back in the evening for corporate prayer.
My sermon from 10/16/11AM entitled Better Sacrifice (2) from Hebrews 9:11-14 is now online. We don’t like people claiming to be the best. When it comes to Jesus, as C.S. Lewis famously said, “He’s either a liar (not the best acting as if He is), lunatic (acting like He’s out of His mind) or Lord (He is the best).” The stakes could be any higher for the writer of Hebrews. Jesus is the best. He is the Lord. And, He’s proven that His work is way better than Old Testament sacrifices and law keeping by giving His own blood to secure freedom from sin and a pure conscience. This sermon unpacks these types of truths. Hope it’s a blessing to you.
This coming Lord’s Day, we hope to complete the thought we began in Hebrews 9:1-10 by looking at Hebrews 9:11-14 and how Jesus’ sacrifice is a better sacrifice. Think of it, under the old covenant, the conscience of the worshipper was never made perfect, but in Christ, we have secured an eternal redemption and have pure consciences from dead works to serve the living God. There is truly reason to praise. Hope you can enjoy God’s work for you in the Gospel this week.
My sermon from 10/9/11AM entitled Better Sacrifice (1) from Hebrews 9:1-10 is now online. The sermon really unpacked the bad news on the limitations that were in place for the OT worshipper. There wasn’t access to God, but barriers and even the priests work was continual and dealt with outward realities. We need words like this occasionally to see the brightness of the Gospel.
I saw a good summary of my sermon on Google+ in a quote from John Bunyan:
“Run, John, run, the law commands but gives us neither feet nor hands;
Far better news the Gospel brings: it bids us fly and gives us wings.”
Hope you have a great week standing in awe of what God has provided for you to draw near to Himself through His Son.
This coming Sunday, we will be examining Hebrews 9:1-10 in the AM service. The writer of the book of Hebrews wants his readers to be exhorted to keep on keeping on when it comes to their faith. To give them the kind of foundation he needs to, he presses on them the superiority of Jesus in every realm of religious life they’ve known. And in Hebrews 9:1-10, he walks them through the tabernacle and the ministry that took place there so that when they get down to Hebrews 9:11-14, Jesus will shine bright and beautiful. God has crafted the storyline of the Bible in particular colors so that they pop. Join us this Sunday as we look deep to see Jesus lifted high.