On this episode we discuss the new testament book of hebrews, issues with its background and interpretation, as well as some of the opportunities and challenges associated with preaching this text in the local church. Better is a good title for the book since the author to hebrews uses the word better times as he compares the christianity to the old way of living and as he compares jesus christ to the patriarchs, the prophets, the angels, the priests, and everything else. Preach on topics including the priesthood of christ, the new covenant, and the atoning death, resurrection, and ascension which made a way for entering the presence of. General jesus came and purged our sins by himself through the work of the cross. Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided a definitive sacrifice for sins and that reliance on any other means of atonement is. Name several people that were thought to be the penman of hebrews. The writer of hebrews addresses his book to a congregation of hebrew christians who were struggling. And most everyone who ever serves god goes no further than that in their understanding. Most of us have been satisfied just to remember and wonder and enjoy. If you want to know what god is like, look at jesushe is the exact imprint of the fathers nature, superior to all supernatural beings. A sermon series on hebrews higher purpose ministries. It began with jesus traveling by boat across the water. Bible, new testament, hebrews and catholic epistles, hebrews, literature. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk.
Even early in the churchs history, a christian as learned as origen had to admit his ignorance of the true author of hebrews. When was the way opened to the father for the believers. See all details for understanding the book of hebrews. Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days. This book begins like a sermon no salutation or typical greeting and ends like a letter typical pauline close of chapter. If you have your bibles, id invite you to turn with me to hebrews chapter 1 as we continue to make our way through this great sermon, this great letter, together. Apostasy and the falling away passages in hebrews seedbed. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. The way these books unfold is illustrated in the outlines on pages xx and xx. When the various new testament books were formally brought together into one collection shortly after a. It is possibly a synagogue homily turned into a letter.
The main theme of the book of hebrews can be found in the opening verses. Or look at its spiraling beauty about the meaning of faith in hebrews 11 12. If you think about the new testament of the bible at all, you may wonder about the name given one of the books. All understand that this letter was probably written to jews. I believe that a study of the book of hebrews may be the next step for us as a church as we seek to grow in our desire for greater intimacy with christ, greater faith, and bolder acts of service. Spiritfilled sermon outlines for pastors, preachers, and teachers of the word of god book 2 9781973633754 by jerome a.
The beginning of the story opens before legion was involved before he was even born. What message was the penman trying to convey to the hebrew people. Jesus is the great high priest, the eternal mediator between god and man who never stops mediating, and is the perfect fulfillment of all prophecies and types and shadows pointing to the hebrew messiah within the old covenant. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. The author does not identify himself or those addressed, which letter writers normally did. The book of hebrews is an exhortation to jewish christians to hold fast to their faith in christ. To instruct his readers through a letter or better a sermon or homily. May 06, 2019 our second guest on this episode is gerald hiestand, cofounder of the cpt, and senior pastor at calvary memorial church. Facing today with the book of hebrews topical studies. The book of hebrews is a general epistle apostolic letter.
This summary of the book of hebrews provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of hebrews. The writer of this letter does not identify himself, but he was obviously well known to the original recipients. These will be graded in blackboard before the first day of class. Hebrews chapter 1 explained discover the 66 books of the. The story behind the sermon, 150 pointsdegree students. Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided a definitive. Then in verses 711, he warns them of what can happen when you take your eyes off the lord. For this reason, the book of hebrews must have been written after pauls death, which took place sometime around a. You wont go chapterbychapter, because chapter divisions in the bible often come at the wrong places and break up the flow. Pdf understanding the book of hebrews download full pdf.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. This morning, were going to be looking at verses 4. We have just remembered again the beautiful story of the birth of jesus. Schencks explanation of hebrews 1 and the exaltation of christ was done so well that it seemed common sense to me by the end of his explanation and i now i find it difficult to read those opening verses.
Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided a definitive sacrifice for sins and that reliance on any other means of atonement is apostasy. In this study, we will learn what type of confession the author had in mind and how it was to be personally and communally livedout. He met abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and abraham gave him a tenth of everything. When studying hebrews, one finds five distinct warnings to christians along with their consequences. Its referring to abraham, isaac and jacobs descendants and also to the new testament book of the bible. Hilary considered hebrews to be canonical, but not pauline. Please keep in mind that there are two related, but very distinct concepts here. Hebrews as a sermon was practical and imaginative in its references. On the other side, the latest likely date for the book would be around a. Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided a.
Many of its topics and themes are difficult to understand, and it tends to. Jesus christ is clearly greater than anything that the old covenant had produced. Understanding the book of hebrews takes the epistles complex argument and represents it in terms of the epistles salvation story. Literally, he was fellowshipping meaning he was gathered together with friends in the same ship who shared a common life and common purpose the same destination port.
Voice bible studies, the book of hebrews, introduction, lesson 1. An attitude of gratitude sermon by doug lyon, hebrews 3. Understanding the book of hebrews the story behind the. Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided. Followers of christ have suffered persecution throughout history. Understanding the book of hebrews by kenneth schenck. Kenneth schenck understanding the book of hebrews takes the epistles complex argument and represents it in terms of the epistles salvation story. First, the name melchizedek means king of righteousness. Jul 31, 2003 in this work, kenneth schenck represents the complex argument of hebrews in terms of the salvation story it tells. While going through hebrews, we saw god almost double our church. Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in jesus. Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters.
Taken out of context, these warnings are frightening, but a proper understanding will give the believer a greater appreciation of his salvation and spur him to greater service. The book of hebrews has been called the riddle of the new testament because we do not many specifics about it. The book of hebrews is a fascinating document of eternal truth and an invaluable aid to understanding the old testament. In this work, kenneth schenck represents the complex argument of hebrews in terms of the salvation story it tells. Their story is the lens through which the entire book must be viewed. Melchizedek the priest this melchizedek was king of salem and priest of god most high. It is thought by some that the sermon or letter actually ended with the benediction but these last few verses are sort of an addendum attached when the manuscript was actually sent by the courier. Jun, 2017 the message of the book is our messagetheir story is our story. Understanding the book of hebrews paperback kenneth schenck. The story behind the sermon by kenneth schenck the book of hebrews. This guide will take you through the books of deuteronomy and hebrews following their natural flow. This epistles title bears the traditional greek title, to the hebrews, which was attested by at least in the second century a. Dec 12, 2018 the bible, according to the late journalist malcolm muggeridge, is the book that reads me.
Written at a level for college and seminary students, understanding the book of hebrews shows how this early christian sermon utilized the events, settings, and characters of the salvation story line to remind the christian audience that christ has provided a definitive sacrifice. In order to understand the original authors intent, this book must be interpreted in light of first century rabbinical judaism, not modern western thought. Watch our overview video on the book of hebrews, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The story behind the sermon theres a problem loading this menu right now. Our sermon ideas on hebrews will help you preach a powerful message on christ as the allsufficient mediator. Journal for the study of the new testament supplemen tal series, no. Kenneth schenck, understanding the book of hebrews.
Apostasy and falling away in hebrews joshua bloor youtube. There is much speculation about it, but no certainty. Understanding the book of hebrews based on the exodus. Throughout the epistle, the author stresses the continuity and flow between the old testament revelation and the new faith in christ, while emphasizing the superiority of both christ and his new covenant, using such words as better, perfect and. Our second guest on this episode is gerald hiestand, cofounder of the cpt, and senior pastor at calvary memorial church. A recent commentary described hebrews as a delight for the person who enjoys puzzles lane, wb, xlvii. Hebrews 7 niv melchizedek the priest this bible gateway. Its challenge from zion by george wesley buchanan asbury bible commentary. Writing at a level for college and seminary students, schenck shows how this early christian sermon utilizes the events, settings, and characters of the salvation storyline to remind the ancient audience that christ has provided a definitive sacrifice for sins.
When preaching through books of the bible, people see themselves in that story and they want to come back next week to see what happens. Understanding the book of hebrews paper kenneth schenck. So that you know which one is which, hebrews is italicized when im referring to the book. The story behind the sermon westminster john knox, 2003.
It is a book that has many, many deep truths, difficult to understand lest we really be diligent. Hebrews is commonly referred to as a letter, though it does not have the typical form of a letter. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. The writer of hebrews said, the word of god is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart hebrews. We have been reminded of the miracle of the virgin birth. The new testament book of hebrews offers some of the most memorable passages of scripture on perseverance, faith, rest, the word of god, angels, divine discipline, salvation, the city of god, and christ, son and high priest. Hebrews helps us unfold the mystery of seeing jesus christ throughout the old testament. All critiques should follow the guidelines provided in this syllabus students will submit through blackboard two weeks before class, may 1, 2017. Simply put, the book of hebrews helps us unlock the glorious tapestry of gods progressive revelation.
Jul 14, 2015 hebrews shows us that the bible is not a collection of unrelated stories, but is rather one unified story the story of redemption through jesus christ. The bible, according to the late journalist malcolm muggeridge, is the book that reads me. The word hebrews appears in this study many, many times. Throughout the book, the author of hebrews states that the community must learn to hold fast to their confession and all it entails. Hebrews is one of the most challenging books in the new testament. It is also one of the most difficult books for modern people to understand. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power. Intro to hebrews biblica the international bible society. Its purpose was to present the lord jesus christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything. Part 2 of a series of sermons from the book of hebrews, presented by dr. Hebrews 2 search results sermon and worship resources. Now may the god of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit.
A call to be faithful and endure through trials hebrews 10. A bible study in easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary on the book of hebrews. For schenck to begin with the storyworld of hebrews was greatly appreciated. Book of hebrews offering hope to all of those struggling with selfdoubt and. They talk about how the apostles creed helps in our understanding of how to answer that question. Keep believing ministries is a registered 501c3 charitable organization. The story behind the sermon schenck, kenneth louisville. I stand with one of the great teachers of the early church by the name of origin who said nobody knows. Understanding the book of hebrews the story behind the sermon. Jesus is superior to the law and the old covenant hebrews 3. The author is anonymous, although either paul or barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author. Scripture by scripture explanation of the book of hebrews. Last week, we were challenged to think of our lord in much greater terms greater in power, in majesty. Sermons on hebrews first presbyterian church, jackson.
The book of hebrews may have been the most profound book written in the new testament period. This was the challenge that faced the author of the book of hebrews. The bible is the story of god and how he works in and through normal people to bring about his purposes. Selections from this epistle are sure to be found in any good dissertation on the christian faith.