| The Epistle to the Hebrews - Chapters 1-4 |
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SUNDAY, April 11, 2010 |
| The Supremacy of Christ Introduction to Hebrews |
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INTRO: The
Christian life is like a long-distance
swim...demands everything we can give it...we're often tempted to give up... We need to HANG IN THERE for the LONG HAUL... Question #1 - Who wrote the Book of Hebrews? Answer: Many have speculated...my opinion is that Paul wrote it anonymously to Hebrew Christians who might have refused to read it if they had known the Apostle to the Gentiles was the author... Question #2 - What is the Central Theme? Answer: KEEP YOUR FOCUS on JESUS CHRIST.... 3:1 - "Fix your thoughts on Jesus..." 12:1-3 - "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..." Question #3 - What is the Outline of the Book? Answer: I. Doctrinal - the Supremacy of Jesus Christ Chapters 1-10 II. Applicational - our Life in Jesus Christ Chapters 11-13 Next week: Hebrews 1:1-4 A MAJESTIC INTRODUCTION |
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SUNDAY, April 18, 2010 |
| Just How Great Is He? Hebrews 1:1-4 |
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INTRO: How do
we measure greatness? Humanity tends to look at influence, fame, power, and wealth... God looks at the heart... 1 Samuel 16:7 In terms of greatness, no one can compare to the Son... Hebrews 1:1-4 Christ's Supremacy in 7 statements: #1 - "appointed HEIR of all things" Ps. 2:7,8 POINT: Supremacy by decree/relationship #2 - "through whom he made the universe" John 1:3 & Col 1:16 POINT: Supremacy by original work of creation #3 - "the radiance of God's glory" Luke 9:28-29 & John 1:14 POINT: Supremacy by external glory #4 - "the exact representation of his being” Col 1:15 & 19 & John 14:8-9 POINT: Supremacy by internal glory #5 - "sustaining all things by his powerful word" Col 1:17 POINT: Supremacy by his ongoing work of sustaining/upholding #6 - "when he made purification for sins...he sat down at God’s right hand..." Heb. 10:12-14 POINT: Supremacy by his work of redemption and position of honor #7 - "so he became superior to the angels..." Heb. 1:5-14 POINT: Supremacy by comparison to the greatest of God’s created beings... Summary of these 7 statements: No one can compare to the Son! Implied Application: Pay attention to/submit to Him! |
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SUNDAY, April 25, 2010 |
| There Is No Comparison... Hebrews 1:5-14 |
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INTRO: Why
bring up angels at this point? #1 - Angels are the greatest of all created beings... #2 - Angels held a special place in Jewish belief, especially as mediators of the Law... #3 - There was great potential for confusion due to key heresies... POINT: Jesus is as superior to the angels as a son is superior to the servants of a great house... PROOF: provided by 7 quotations from the OT... #1 & 2 - Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 - Christ's Sonship established... #3 - Deuteronomy 32:43 - Christ is worthy of angelic worship... #4 - Psalm 104:4 - The nature of angels as servants at God's beck and call... #5 - Psalm 45:6,7 - The Son as sovereign ruler over all... #6 - Psalm 102:25-27 - The Son as eternal creator... #7 - Psalm 110:1 - The Son as victor over all... |
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SUNDAY, May 2, 2010 |
| Sleepers, Awake! Drifters, Beware! Hebrews 2:1-4 |
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INTRO: This is
the 1st of 5 Warning Passages in Hebrews 2:1 The Warning Stated: pay attention so that you do not drift... 2:2-4 The Warning Expound by 3 literary techniques: #1 - By Comparison (2:2) the Law compared to Christ... #2 - By rhetorical Question (2:3) Not to gain information, but to make a point... i.e. if we ignore, how shall we escape? #3 - By Attestation (2:4) - 3 witnesses: Jesus' words, Apostolic testimony, and the signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit... What's needed: disciplined attendance and maintenance (a check list) Daily ask yourself: #1 - Am I reading Scripture? #2 - Am I spending time in prayer? #3 - Am I confessing my sins? Weekly ask yourself: #4 - Am I regularly meeting with other believers for worship? #5 - Am I involved in meaningful fellowship with other believers? #6 - Am I giving regularly to the Lord's work? #7 - Am I sharing my faith with others? #8 - Am I using my spiritual gifts? #9 - Am I growing in my love for the Lord or am I drifting? |
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SUNDAY, May 16, 2010 |
| What Makes Our Salvation So Great? Hebrews 2:5-18 |
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2:5-9
Summary introduction - Our GREAT SAVIOR... 2:5 - Negative - not to the angels... 2:6-8 - Quotation from Ps 8:6-8 2:9 - Positive - "We see Jesus..." 2:10-18 Explanation - Our GREAT SALVATION was accomplished by a fully human savior... Theological introduction: Q#1 - Was Jesus fully human? YES Q#2 - Was Jesus fully God? YES Emphasis in Hebrews 2 on the HUMANITY of Jesus... 7 marks of his Humanity... #1 - He was made perfect through suffering... (2:10) #2 - He was of the same family... (2:11) #3 - He was not ashamed to call us brothers... (2:11-13) #4 - He shared in our humanity... (2:14) #5 - Not to angels, but to Abraham's descendants... (2:16) #6 - He was made like his brothers in every way... (2:17) #7 - He suffered when he was tempted... (2:18) |
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SUNDAY, May 23, 2010 |
| FULLY IDENTIFIED WITH US Hebrews 2:10-18 |
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INTRO: 2:5-9
Summary introduction - Our GREAT SAVIOR... 2:10-18 Full explanation - Our GREAT SALVATION... I. Christ's EARTHLY LIFE 2:10-13 2 requirements: #1 - For the Savior - He had to be perfect to satisfy God's holiness... #2 - For the saved - He had to be fully identified with us to save us... Proof - in the 2 quotations from the Old Testament i.e. Ps. 22 and Isaiah 8 II. Christ's ATONING DEATH 2:14-16 Explanation of the significance and value of His death: #1 - He died a completely human death... #2 - He destroyed Satan at the cross... #3 - He freed us from our enslavement.... III. Christ's HIGH PRIESTLY MINISTRY 2:17,18 How Christ HELPS US: #1 - He understands us fully by having experienced what we go through... #2 - If he had to be perfected through suffering, how much more do we... #3 - If he overcame every temptation, so can we in his power... #4 - He prays for us... #5 - He has promised never to leave nor to forsake us... |
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SUNDAY, May 30, 2010 |
| GREATER THAN MOSES... Hebrews 3:1-6 |
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INTRO:
2:10 regarding the statement that Jesus was
"...made perfect through suffering..." Q: Wasn't Jesus already perfect when he was born? A: 2 kinds of perfection in Jesus... #1 - His person was perfect from beginning to end... He never sinned. #2 - His works had to be perfected...not until he declared, "It is finished!" was the work the Father had given him to do fully perfected. 3:1 - A HINGE VERSE Looks back to where we've been... Looks forward to where we're going... 3:2-6 - JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED AND CONTRASTED 3:2 - COMPARED in terms of FAITHFULNESS...just as Moses was faithful to the one who sent him, so Jesus was faithful to do all the Father sent him to do... 3:3-6 - CONTRASTED - Jesus is greater than Moses in 2 ways: #1 - As the architect is greater than the houses he designs... (3:3,4) #2 - As the son is greater than the servant in the house... (3:5,6) |
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SUNDAY, June 13, 2010 |
| DIAGNOSIS: Heart Disease Threatening Hebrews 3:7-14 |
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INTRO:
In Hebrews, we encounter several WARNING
PASSAGES... #1 - The Danger of Drifting in 2:1-4 #2 - The Danger of Heart Disease in 3:7-4:11 •The Context in 3:1-6 - Jesus is greater than Moses •The Quotation in 3:7-11 - from the warning in Psalm 95:7-11 •The Diagnosis of the problem in 3:12 - Progressive heart disease... 3 key words: sinful - unbelieving - turning away •The Cure in 3:13,14 - Fellowship in the Body of Christ... More key words: encourage - one another - daily - hardened - sin's deceitfulness POINT: the Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation but within the fellowship of the Body of Christ... We must do this TOGETHER! |
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SUNDAY, June 20, 2010 |
| Laboring to Enter His Rest Hebrews 3:15-4:11 |
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INTRO:
In the midst of Hebrews' 2nd Warning Passage on
the Danger of Heart Disease, the author deals with the topic of REST... Used 247 times in Scripture, the word REST can have many meanings: Along with the common uses of cessation from activity and recovering from weariness, Scripture has several specialized meanings: #1 - God ceasing from his work of Creation in Genesis 2:1-3. #2 - Sabbath observance in Exodus 31:15 #3 - Israel's blessing in occupying the Promised Land in Dt. 12:10 #4 - Peace with God in Ps. 62:1. #5 - Security in the Millennial Kingdom in Isaiah 11:10. #6 - Heaven in Revelation 14:13. #7 - The believer's position in Christ in Matthew 11:28-30. In Hebrews 4:1-11, we must identify which "rest" is meant in each use... Principles from Hebrews 4:1-11 #1 - When God created the heavens and the earth, he RESTED on the 7th Day to establish the PATTERN of REST for everyone...Sabbath in Israel and one day in seven for everyone else... #2 - Israel's failure to enter the PROMISED LAND stands as a warning to us that we may fail to enter the POSITION of REST God has for us in Christ... #3 - Although Israel entered the land, they never enter the POSITION of REST... #4 - Those who have trusted in Christ can enter God's POSITION of REST by the WALK of FAITH... We must WORK HARD to enter this POSITION of REST. THE ABC's of RESTING: AVAILABLE to any who respond by... BELIEVING what God has promised... CEASING from their own efforts (just as God did)... DEPENDING entirely on God's finished work in Christ... ENTERING his fellowship through trusting and obeying. |
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SUNDAY, July 11, 2010 |
| Entering His Place of Rest Hebrews 4:12-16 |
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2 KEYS that OPEN the
WAY into God's Place of Rest... Key #1 - 4:12,13 - GOD'S WRITTEN WORD, the Scriptures... The Word of God is LIVING - although written thousands of years ago... Isaiah 40:8; John 10:35... The Word of God is ACTIVE - energetic and productive... 2 Timothy 3:16,17 The Word of God is PENETRATING/CONVICTING - the double edged sword Key #2 - 4:14-16 - GOD'S LIVING WORD, our Great High Priest... A. Christ QUALIFIED from God's standpoint 4:14 After his death and resurrection, Jesus passed through the heavens to be seated at God's right hand... B. Christ QUALIFIED from humanity's standpoint 4:15 Able to sympathize with us because he was tempted in all points like us, but without sin... C. Believers exhorted to approach God's throne with confidence! |
