In Hebrews 9, the author continues to use the example of the original tabernacle to teach us about the ministry of Jesus. We quickly learn that the ministry of Jesus is heavenly and that He is ministering in a heavenly temple. We also learn that the ministry of Jesus is effective against sin. The old sacrifices could only cover sin, not cleanse our sin. Jesus’ blood had to be shed for the new covenant to be put in place which means it was a costly sacrifice. Because Jesus died, we can be assured that His ministry is final and complete. There is forgiveness of sin and an eternal hope to look forward to. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches that redemption is found through the blood of Jesus.
Have you ever left out or not allowed in a place? In the Old Testament, only the High Priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place to meet with God, and he was only allowed in once a year to atone for the sins of the people. Imagine only being able to enter the presence of God once a year. Then came Jesus. Jesus gave His life and His blood, for the forgiveness of our sins. Through His sacrifice we can freely enter the presence of God. Our response to that must be worship! Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on Hebrews 9:1-10 and teaches us how we worship Jesus because of who He is and what He has done.
This week in our Hebrews sermon series, the author of Hebrews continues to elaborate on the high priestly ministry of Jesus. Like the ministry of Melchizedek, Jesus’s high priestly ministry is superior to that of the high priests who ministered in the Jewish temple. Jesus is a better high priest, who oversees a better covenant, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy about a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This new covenant not only makes the old covenant obsolete but introduces followers of Jesus to new and wonderful realities of life with God (eternal life). Listen in as Pastor Doug Meye teaches from Hebrews 8.
Are you good with names? In Hebrews 7 we get a lesson about a guy named Melchizedek. He is unlike anyone we’ve ever studied in the Bible. He is a King and a Priest - but not just an ordinary priest, an eternal priest. He is similar to Jesus but not Jesus. This more cerebral chapter in Scripture requires us to think deeply about Scripture and theological topics. Make sure to open your time in prayer before listening to the sermon, and then jump into Hebrews 7 with us as Pastor Neal Benson teaches us how Jesus is unlike anyone who has come before Him!
In the later part of Hebrews 6, we read about Jesus being greater than Abraham. The author reminds us about the patience Abraham exhibited while waiting for God to fulfill His promise of making him into a great nation. It didn’t happen overnight. The author used the example of Abraham because some of the early church believers were considering abandoning their faith. They needed to learn to wait patiently on the Lord as they went through the spiritual maturation process. Like the early church, we sometimes abandon things too quickly and miss out on the work God wants to do in our lives. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on waiting patiently for God to fulfill His promises.
Hebrews 5:11-6:12 is focused on Jesus as our great teacher. The early church was experiencing a time of persecution. Christians were being killed for their faith in Jesus, and some considered returning to their Jewish customs. The worries of the world had begun to choke out their spiritual growth. This is where the author of this letter comes in to encourage them to keep following Jesus. He identifies four marks of spiritual immaturity and then encourages them to grow in their walk with Jesus as some of them had become lazy and needed motivation to push on with Jesus. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on how spiritual maturity is an active, on-going process in our life.
Have you ever been to a foreign country and struggled with the new language? As we move into Hebrews 4 and 5 we are introduced to a new title for Jesus: our great high priest. For many believers, we are not accustomed with the role of the high priest. It’s like learning a new language. Listen in as Pastor Neal teaches on Hebrews 4:14-5:10 and learn how Jesus can relate to us, sympathize with us, and help us learn obedience.
In this message, Jesus: Our Eternal Rest, we dive into Hebrews Chapter 4 - a passage that challenges us to hold fast to our faith in God's promise. The author directs our eyes to the Israelites in the wilderness, reminding us of their inability to enter into the promised land due to their unbelief. We see that unbelief and faith both bear visible fruit, and are encouraged to look ahead to our "promised land" as we navigate our lives in faith.
The third chapter of Hebrews focuses on helping the early church stay encouraged as they follow Jesus. The author uses the negative example of Israel hardening their hearts toward the Lord to show us a positive example of how we are to live for the Lord. The church is called to encourage. In this world we will be persecuted, harassed, and possibly attacked for following Jesus. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson shares that God's faithfulness is the source of our encouragement and through it we can support each other when we encounter difficult times.
Something in our culture leads us to be captivated with bigger and better. People are pushing to own a bigger home, possess a bigger bank account, or drive a bigger car. People also push for better - a better job, better kids, or a better spouse. We have been conditioned to push for bigger and better in our lives. But what does God want us to focus on? What has God called us to in this world? Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson preaches on Hebrews 3:1-6. In this passage we will see that what we focus on is where we will end up.