• Article(s):
• Real People — Real Heroes by Jason R. Roberts
• Sermons:
• Guest Speakers, no outlines

Let Us… (Part 2; Hebrews)

The writer continues to exhort the reader to continue on with renewed effort in these final eight “let us” exhortations:

Let Us… (Part 2; Hebrews)

The writer continues to exhort the reader to continue on with renewed effort in these final eight “let us” exhortations:

1. …draw near… (10:22) - God has made it possible for man to draw near to Him (2 Cor. 5:19-21), He has extended an invitation and all who are in Christ (Gal. 3:27) can have confidence to come before Him because of Christ’s sacrifice.
2. …hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (10:23) - Knowing God is faithful (2 Tim. 1:12; 2:13), live faithfully. Not a one-time confession of faith but a life-long transformation (Rom. 12:1-2), even in the midst of troubles (1 Pet. 4:12-13; Gal. 6:9).
3. …consider one another… (10:24) - While we go on with renew effort, we should likewise come together and encourage one another (Eph. 4:16; Phil. 1:27, 2:2ff).
4. ….lay aside every weight…and let us run with patience… (12:1) – Seeing there is nothing else to turn to (chap. 10) and the examples of those who were faithful (chap. 11), we are encouraged to have a renewed focus, zeal, and endurance to the end, even as Christ. Re-move anything that would hinder us in that race and run to win (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Col. 3:2)!
5. …have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (12:28) - considering all that God has done for us, let us serve Him (Rom. 12:1-2).
6. …go forth therefore unto Him without the camp… (13:13) - rather than turning again to the OT sacrifices, continue with Christ, the only answer to sin (10:4; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
7. …offer the sacrifice of praise to God… (13:15) - in Christ we serve as priests (1 Pet. 2:5) praising Him in word and deed.

The Way To Live (Lev. 18:1-5)

The Lord encourages the people of Israel to submit to Him, follow His will, and receive His promises…we have a similar charge today…

The Way To Live (Lev. 18:1-5)

1. Appeal To Authority (v1-3)
   • Something is our authority, either God (as it should be) or ourselves, others, human wisdom, etc. Their standard was not to be those around them but what God had said.
   • Similar to the exhortation Joshua would later give (Josh. 24:14-15) and the same attitude we must have today (1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:9, 4:1-5; Col. 3:17; Matt. 15:9, 28:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13)
2. Exhortation To Faithfulness (v4)
   • More than just acknowledging God’s authority, they needed to submit to it and be active in following God and His will. This was to be their way of life.
   • Similar to Elijah’s plea on Mount Carmel, if you are going to call Him God, then live like it (1 Kings 18:21; Lk 6:46). If we really believe Him and His Word, then it should show in our lives (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:9, 11-12; Eph. 5:1, 8, 15-17; Phil. 1:27).
3. Promise To Obtain (v5)
   • A conditional promise but one that WILL be fulfilled based on the faithfulness of God. He would cause them to live as they continued with Him, they did not have to fear being cast out like the nations before (v28).
   • Moses similarly exhorted Israel later (Deut. 30:14-20), and we have similar promises today (Matt 11:28-30; 1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Pet. 2:10, 12, 4:13; Phil. 1:28-29; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 2 Pet. 3:11-12, 17-18).

• Article(s):
• “Speaking the Truth in Love” by Ben Bailey, David Fanning, Kevin Pendergrass
• A Little Effort by Tom Moore
• Sermons:
• The Way To Live (Lev. 18:1-5)
• Let Us… (Part 2, Hebrews)

Blessed Are They That Mourn (Matt. 5:4)

Guest Speaker, Jeremy Srpouse, preacher for the Patrick Street church of Christ in Dublin, TX considers the second Beatitude from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Strange Fire (Leviticus 10:1)

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, were destroyed by fire from God when they transgressed God’s will concerning their worship…from this account we can learn some important lessons.

Strange Fire (Leviticus 10:1)

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, were destroyed by fire from God when they transgressed God’s will concerning their worship…from this account we can learn some important lessons.

1. We should offer that which is commanded (v1)
   • Strange fire indicates that which is foreign or profane, that which had not been authorized by God. While they were priests and authorized to offer these sacrifices, they failed to obey God’s will in carrying them out.
   • They need to serve as a reminder that God expects His will to be followed (John 14:6; Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17; John 4:24). Deviating from what God has authorized will not be pleasing to Him (Lk 6:46). When He spells out His will concerning salvation, worship, and Christian living, then these are not things that are subject to man’s will.
2. We should offer that which sanctifies and glorifies God (v3)
   • Man’s purpose is to obey the will of God and in so doing glorify Him (Eccl. 12:13; Matt. 5:16); but these two men failed to do so in the eyes of Israel. They needed to differentiate between what was common and what was not and teach the people so (v10-11).
   • We need to remember that we cannot supplant the wisdom of God with our own and bring glory to God (Isa. 55:8, Jer. 10:23; Matt. 15:8-9, Col. 2:23).

• Article(s):
  • How Firm A Foundation? by Jeremy Sprouse
  • How To React In Unsettling Times by Sam Wilcut
• Sermons:
• Strange Fire (Lev. 10:1-2
• Guest Speaker, Jeremy Sprouse

Let Us… (Part 1; Hebrews)

The writer primarily addresses a Jewish audience and encourages them against apostasy. They are in danger of falling away, specifically falling back into Judaism. He shows the supremacy of Christ and the Christian system and urges the readers then to continue on with renewed effort. Consider the book through his 13 “let us” exhortations.

Let Us… (Part 1; Hebrews)

The writer primarily addresses a Jewish audience and encourages them against apostasy. They are in danger of falling away, specifically falling back into Judaism. He shows the supremacy of Christ and the Christian system and urges the readers then to continue on with renewed effort. Consider the book through his 13 “let us” exhortations:

1. …therefore fear… (4:1) - having highlighted the salvation that is available in Christ, he urges us to continue in a fear of God. This is contrasted to the unbelief of the Jews and is the start of a right understanding (10:31; Prov. 1:7; Matt. 10:28).
2. … labor therefore to enter into that rest… (4:11) - rather than stopping short, they needed to continue on until they reached their eternal goal (10:4; Rev. 2:10; 14:13).
3. …hold fast our profession. (4:14) - it was only by remain-ing faithful in Christ they would reach that rest; they needed to be reassured of who they served (John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 1:9; Heb. 1:3).
4. …therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace… (4:16) - in whatever they were enduring, the only place they needed to turn or could turn was Christ, our merciful high priest (2:14-18, 10:19; 1 Pet. 5:6-11).
5. …go on unto perfection… (6:1) - they had failed to mature (5:11-12); they must leave behind the first principles and be grounded in Christ, the only place of hope (6:6; Eph. 4:4). If they will, they are assured victory (6:10-12) based on God’s faithfulness and salvation provided in Christ (6:13ff, 7:22).

Why Jesus Taught In Parables

Mark 4:30 gives a good definition of parables: likenesses or comparisons of one thing to another. Jesus was a master at using common/understood things to teach spiritual truths. So why did He use this method of teaching so often?

Why Jesus Taught In Parables

Mark 4:30 gives a good definition of parables: likenesses or comparisons of one thing to another. Jesus was a master at using common/understood things to teach spiritual truths. So why did He use this method of teaching so often?

1. Fulfill Prophecy (Matthew 13:34-35; Psalm 78:1-2)
2. Reveal Truth (Mark 4:2, 9, 11, 33-34; Matthew 13:9-11, 16-17) — Jesus wanted them to hear and wanted them to understand, even going so far as to explain what the parables meant to those who would listen.
   • Preserve Truth — easily retained in their minds because they used objects/events they were familiar with (farmer, coins, sheep, lamps, workers, etc.).
   • Present Truth — not only easily understood, but presented in such a way that one acknowledges the truth and then make application to himself. (ex. 2 Sam. 12:1-13; 1 Kings 20:38-43; Lk. 10:25-37; Matt. 25:1-13; etc. – cf. Matt. 21:28-46—understood but did not change)
3. Conceal Truth (Mark 4:11-12; Matt. 13:10-15) — That is Jesus taught in such a way that those who did not wish to know the truth He presented would miss it. They could seek the truth and find it, but they chose not to and this to their own destruction. Fulfilled Isaiah prophecy—6:9-10)

The teachings of Jesus continued to amaze the people (Matt. 13:54, 7:28-29) but sadly only the common people heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37), many others rejected. The same truths are still spoken today and still received the same reception.

• Article(s):
• The Rich Fool by Randall Evans
• I Said Nothing by Wade Webster
• The Nature of the New Testament Church by Wendell Winkler
• Sails and Anchors by Bill McFarland
• Sermons:
• Why Jesus Taught In Parables
• Let Us… (Part 1, Hebrews)