Love God By Loving Others
Hebrews 6:10
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10 NIV) During the past two weeks there has been a spotlight shining continuously on the Oklahoma City area. The spotlight has been shining brightly [...]
Running With Purpose
Hebrews 12:1-3
Last week we began our study of Hebrews 12:1-3. The writer of Hebrews used the illustration of a runner to teach us how important it is for us to lay aside everything that will slow us down in the race of faith. If you will remember “the laying aside what will hinder” doesn’t necessarily describe [...]
Running With Endurance
Hebrews 12:1-3
I have absolutely loved watching the Olympics. It doesn’t matter which sport you watch, it is evident that those who are competing have spent an incredible amount of time practicing, getting stronger and faster, preparing mentally and physically so that they would be ready when the competition began. One of my favorite competitions within the [...]
Nothing But The Blood
Hebrews 9:11-15
The days were long and the nights were filled with nursing sore muscles and trying to reassure one another that hope was not lost, that YHWH would one day replace their sorrow with celebration. Days were filled with the sounds of the whip cracking on someone’s back, being bossed around, forced labor, and shouting slave [...]
Come Into His Presence
Leviticus 16; Hebrews 4:14-16
Several years ago, when the boys were small, Connie and I bought our first swing set. We went to the store and found just the right swing set — not too big and overbearing, not too small and childish, but one that was just right. We loaded the big box in the back of my [...]
Shepherds of The Soul
Hebrews 13:17-25
We are down to the last section of this wonderful letter written to the Hebrews. The letter is over 1900 years old and yet, as we have been studying together for the past several months, I have continuously been amazed at how powerful, relevant, comforting, and challenging this letter is to those of us who [...]
Life Outside
Hebrews 13:10-16
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born into a family where faith was not much of a concern or topic of conversation, but as a 14 year old, Dietrich Bonhoeffer announced that he was going to be a pastor and theologian. His family was stunned and his older brother tried to persuade him that he was making a [...]
Follow The Leader
Hebrews 13:7-9
We are a desperate people. You see it everyday. People are searching. People are seeking. People are striving for something in this life, anything in this life to give them some sense of adequacy, some sense of purpose, some insightful information that can help them feel better about themselves. What can we do to make [...]
Greed Meets The Need?
Hebrews 13:5-6
Back in 1987 a blockbuster Hollywood movie hit the theatres. Wall Street starred Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, a corporate big shot who was willing to stoop to any level to make a buck. Mr. Gekko was the point man for corporate takeovers, insider trading, and every devious business practice that one can imagine. Gordon [...]
Stand Guard
Hebrews 13:4
Last week we began a two week study on Hebrews 13:4. In our study last week we looked at the three important words of counsel given to us in this important passage of Scripture. First, marriage is to be highly honored, treasured, by all people. Second, we are to live lives of sexual purity. Third, [...]
Sacred Ground
Hebrews 13:4
Just yesterday I had the privilege of serving at the wedding of a young couple in our church. We’ve been meeting for several months as they have made their way through the five counseling sessions that are required. We’ve been talking about important topics that will affect their relationship, making plans for their big day, [...]
Love Is A Verb
Hebrews 13:1-3
God’s Word is full of wonderful teaching regarding every area of life. God’s Word is not learned by osmosis, it is not passed on through genetics, it isn’t captured through sitting in a pew, or by having a Christian friend. God’s Word is learned, internalized, and appropriated through deliberate, disciplined study. God’s Word, and His [...]
The Blessings of Mount Zion
Hebrews 12:18-29
There was a Judge who was an honorable man, a man of integrity who sought justice. He was a Judge who was motivated by his faith in Jesus Christ and he sought to live out the biblical commands of righteousness and justice as he presided over his courtroom. He poured over the Scriptures, especially the [...]
Strength For The Weary
Hebrews 12:12-17
Life can be mighty wearisome at times. If we had no relationships in this life, and therefore no other heartache or sorrow to deal with but our own, then there would still be enough pain, sorrow, and struggle to make us weary. Hypothetically we might create a world where we have no relationships, no ties, [...]
Basic Training
Hebrews 12:7-11
The Marine Corps “Crucible” is the final test of an 11-week season of endurance and training for Marine recruits. The fires of the Crucible burn away the dross and provide the final passage for young men and women to receive the coveted title of “Marine.”
The Encouragement of Discipline
Hebrews 12:4-11
For the past two weeks we have been studying the twelfth chapter of Hebrews and learning how we can run the race of faith. The writer of Hebrews has used the illustration of a runner to teach us that we should cast aside everything that would slow us down and the sin that immobilizes us [...]
Running With Purpose
Hebrews 12:2-3
Last week we began our study of Hebrews 12:1-3. The writer of Hebrews used the illustration of a runner to teach us how important it is for us to lay aside everything that will slow us down in the race of faith. If you will remember “the laying aside what will hinder” doesn’t necessarily describe [...]
Headin’ Home!
Hebrews 11:32-40
For the past several weeks our study of the book of Hebrews has led us down many wonderful and insightful roads. We have made many visits to the Temple. We’ve become more familiar with the role of the Temple Priests than most Gentiles. We’ve examined the many ways in which Jesus is a far superior [...]
Faith
Hebrews 11:6
Faith was born into a family of adversity. She was the daughter of an only daughter who had married young, given birth to four children of her own, and watched her husband walk out of her life, and the lives of her children, so that he could find himself somewhere on the West Coast. Faith [...]
How Firm Is Your Foundation?
Hebrews 11:1-2
Our everyday life is based on faith. Many people today state that they simply cannot believe in a God who cant be seen. A young student at John Marshall High School made that statement to me one day when I was speaking to his history class several years ago. I was speaking about the history [...]
Finish Strong!
Hebrews 10:32-39
I knew a man one time that got a crazy idea. At one time he was a wanna be athlete who tried to keep in some semblance of shape, but now he was older and not resembling anything that even remotely looked like shape. The crazy idea that entered his mind one day was to [...]
God Don’t Play
Hebrews 10:26-31
Once upon a time there was a man who lived in a faraway place. All of the people of his little village knew one another and they watched out for one another’s well being. From the time a child was old enough to follow instructions, the elders of the village cautioned them never to enter [...]
Come Together
Hebrews 10:23-25
We live in a strange day. A day in which there are more than 6 billion people in the world and yet so few feel like they truly have any real friends. A day in which people are seeking close relationships with people on the internet and shunning the opportunities to get to know those [...]