Hebrews 3:7-19

Hello everyone, here's what is coming this Thursday...

This section in Hebrews has been aptly named; Do Not Harden Your Hearts. Looking through this section we see that the author is challenging those listening (and reading)to listen to God's voice when they hear it - don't harden your heart by disobeying what God has told you.

We had a great study in our care group about this passage and topic and had some great, stimulating, encouraging and exhortational conversations. Let me speak in parenthesis by adding that if you don't currently belong to any fellowship group, care group, study group - however you want to label it - you really should get into one.

Back to the passage - the object lesson the author used was to remind the people of what God did when the Israelites rebelled in the desert. Their act of defiance? Not obeying the commands of God. Their discipline? Not being able to enter the promised land, called His rest. We made a great connection between their disobedience of the law and our disobedience to Jesus. Jesus did say,

"If you love me then you will keep my commandments" - John 14:15

And since none of us keep Jesus' commands perfectly we too are liable for discipline. But where God's discipline should move against His chosen, we receive grace and mercy. Just as the Israelites did in the desert. Cross reference this with what is recorded in the book of Nehemiah 9:16-21. What an awesome example of the grace of God despite their lack of trust and obedience! What acts of grace God shows to us who also disobey and lack the trust to move forward in what we know God is telling us to live out!

Here are some questions that we worked through and I hope they are of some benefit to you as well.

What happens when someone continually hardens their heart towards God and His commands?
How does this hardening affect someones living out of the Gospel?
Does a hardening of the heart pre-suppose a heart that was soft towards God?
Does this passage only apply towards Christians? Towards Non-Christians?
Is it contagious?
If we are exhorted to listen (the opposite of hardening) what might that look like?

To offer some food for thought here are four things we should consider when it comes to listening to God's commands, remembering that listening is closely associated with hearing and doing...

a) Listen with Obedience
b) Listen with Appreciation
c) Listen with Dependency
d) Listen with Confidence (expectancy)

See you Thursday!

Starting Up Again

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your patience and understanding in waiting for us to settle in before we resume our Thursday nights. I’m ready to get started if you are so let’s make this Thursday our new start for the 2010 year. The time has changed from 7:00pm to 6:30 but we are still in the conference room.

We will begin with chapter 3. A simple breakdown of the chapter would look something like this;

3:1-6 - Jesus is greater than Moses
3:7-19 - Warning against the hardening of hearts

It will be good to back into our study of this most important and relevant book. Have a great week.

Christmas Break

Hello everyone...is anyone still out there? I wouldn't blame you if you have surfed away because the freakin' blog hasn't been updated for almost a month! Man time sure flys! We will be picking it up in the new year starting January 7. Our first order of business will be to re-visit chapter 3:1-6 in review and then launch into 3:7-19.

Hebrews 3:1-6 takes us through yet another comparison. Here we find Jesus being compared to Moses. Now for us living in the Lower Mainland we might not understand the impact of what the author is doing. So think of it this way - what he is doing is essentially taking Jesus and comparing him to anyone whom we find to have any historical, political, religious and social importance. For this church Moses was regarded as 'the man'. No one could measure up to what Moses had done, seen, spoke about or did. There is even the suggestion that Moses was so highly thought of that some people may have even been in danger of worshipping him. And here we have the author saying that this Jesus is more important than Moses himself. Here's a short list;

Moses - administered the covenant throughout the household of Israel. But was himself only a part of that household.

Jesus - rules over the household as one appointed by the builder - namely God.

Moses - was not the author of the covenant he administered.

Jesus - was and is the author of what is called the 'Mosaic Law' as well as the new covenant. (which was inaugurated at the last supper)

So, here we have Moses who was very important to the historical, political and religious traditions of the Israelites. And now someone more worthy, more important, one who was and is closer to God than Moses could ever have been; Jesus of Nazareth.

Moses was considered a faithful servant. Jesus is called the apostle and High Priest of our confession. Jesus was more faithful over the house of Israel like a son. Moses was good - but Jesus is better.

I wonder how this might look in our context? Who is the most important person, the most influential person, of your life? In an age where we look to others 'higher' than ourselves for inspiration, motivation, liberation...Hebrews is telling us Jesus is better.

I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I love opening up God's word and teaching through it's pages. Won't you join us? We'll be starting again on January 7 - 7:15pm to 8:30pm. We would love to have you join us.

And in case I don't get to it before the 25th, have a very blessed Christmas!

Chapter 3:1-6

Tomorrow we will be walking through a comparison between Moses and Jesus. Talk about two giants! One thing that sticks out (although I have to confess that the previous statement seems to be one that is understated by me all the time - lol) is the statement that "...Moses was faithful in all God's house...". Really? Moses was considered faithful? Isn't this the man that murdered an Egyptian? Didn't he argue with God on several occasions? I remember something about a rock and Moses getting so mad at the people that he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. But, as someone in our care group wisely said,'doesn't that also demonstrate the awesome love and grace of our God?' - absolutely. And that is what is so amazing about the Bible. In no way shape or form does it try to hind the human failings. We humans are on display in all our ugliness. And God still chooses to use the weak, the frail, the scared, the inadequate, the marginalized, to work within His plan. And as that person lives out their life for God and dependant upon Him, they are considered faithful. So as I read through this section again and again I pause when I read that Moses was faithful - because he knew God and more importantly, God knew Moses. Warts and all. What a wonderful gift of grace.

Have fun in chapter 3.

This Thursday...

Last week we moved through the remaining portion of chapter 2. We had some fantastic discussions surrounding the topic of Jesus and what it means for us in the post-modern world to know Him as our High Priest. If you are curious to study further there is some great material on this in Leviticus. Specifically around the 16 & 21-22chapters. As yo read through this think about Jesus fulfills this role for you.

This Thursday we will have to postpone as I will be unavailable to teach. So, your homework over the next week or so is to read Hebrews 3. Read it in two parts. First read 3:1-6 (this about Jesus and Moses) then read 3:7-19 (this is the second warning)And I'll look forward to walking through this with you next Thursday.

To recap...Thursday, November 19th - postponed
...Thursday, November 26th - resume with chapter 3:1-6

Feeling Better...Finding God

Hello everyone. Well this week was really great as we sat down, drank some coffee (Thanks B)and conversed our way through chapter 2:5-9. We spent most of our time discussing the idea surrounding verses 8b and 10-12.

2:8b - Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside of his control. At, present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

How can the whole world be in subjection to Jesus yet at the same time we see the "not yet"? It's hard, is it not, for us to see that even though the most difficult times in our lives - Jesus is in control and God is still on the throne. It boils down to the basic fundamental once again - "Do I really trust Jesus to take care of everything?" It might be easy to give up certain things - but there always seems to be that other part that we think we can control. Either the issue seems to big even for God to handle or the issue seems so minuscule that we really don't need to bother God with that one. But whenever we don't relinquish that issue to God we are essentially saying that we trust our own devices more than we trust God's.

2:10-12 - For it twas fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

We worked through the concept of being sanctified. We discovered that the act of sanctification has two sides. One belongs to God and the other belongs to Christians. Being set apart by God to accomplish his purposes. And our continual submission and lifelong pattern of spiritual growth.

Again, I am blown away by the testimonies of those within the group. Stories of how God is moving, how people have struggled and how they have experienced God.

We're going to continue working with 2:5-18 because there is just too much there for us to leave it behind.

This Thursday

Hey Everyone,

Hope you have had a great week, this Thursday we will be looking at Hebrews 2:5-18. This is a great portion of the letter. It's packed with assurances. I'm looking forward to what will happen.

If you can think of anyone who might want to join us, feel free to ask them! We are more than open to having new people join us.

See everyone on Thursday.