Grace in the Word
THE Letter to the HEbrews
Welcome to the Grace in the Word
Reading Plan
Join us the fall as we begin our next Grace in the Word study on Hebrews. The Letter to the Hebrews urges believers to hold fast to their confession of faith in Christ. By drawing on rich imagery from Israel’s history of priests, covenants, sacrifices, and the wilderness, Hebrews helps them (and us) see how Jesus fulfills and surpasses everything the old covenant anticipated. He is greater than what had come before Him. “The principal design of the Epistle is to declare the absolute preeminence of Christ above all legal ordinances and institutions, showing that in Him alone is the perfection of all things spiritual and eternal.” – John Owen The first 10 chapters explain Jesus’ identity and work; the final 3 call us to respond in faith.
Grace in the Word begins on September 15th.
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ADDITIONAL HEBREWS STUDY RESOURCES
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 7
Living in Faith and Holiness
This week, we wrap up our study and reading of the book of Hebrews. The author ends the book of Hebrews, like many of the epistles, with encouragement for the readers. The encouragements given here are specifically focused on keeping and growing in faith and in taking practical steps towards holiness today.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 6
JESUS IS THE GREATER Sacrifice
This week, we dive into the truth that Jesus is our greater sacrifice for our sinful nature and works. As we learned last week, there was an old covenant between God and man for the forgiveness of sins, but Christ ushered in a new covenant that was perfect and all-encompassing. This week, we look at how His sacrifice makes the new covenant perfect and all-encompassing.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 5
JESUS IS THE GREATER Covenant
This week, we will focus on Jesus as our exalted High Priest, seated at the right hand of God as the mediator of a greater covenant. The old covenant, given through Moses, was temporary and could not fully change the human heart. God promised through the prophet Jeremiah to establish a new covenant, one written not on stone tablets but on our hearts, bringing complete forgiveness and an intimate relationship with Him. These chapters remind us that Jesus offers something far better than laws, ritual, or human effort. He gives us direct access to God, which brings forgiveness, love, grace, and a transformed heart, things the old covenant could only foreshadow.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 4
JESUS IS THE GREATER Priest
This week, we are looking at the book of Hebrews, chapters five, six, and seven. These chapters focus on the truth that Jesus is our high priest, meaning that there is no other priest or prophet greater than the One we have in Jesus. This week, we will examine the role of the priest, how Jesus perfectly fulfills this role in our lives, how we should respond to it, and how a mysterious man from the Old Testament reveals to us in greater depth the supremacy of Jesus as our high priest.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 3
JESUS IS THE GREATER Leader
This week, we’re focusing on Chapters 3-4. In these verses, the author reminds us that Jesus is an even greater leader than Moses. Moses was a faithful servant; he led God’s people through the wilderness and oversaw the building of the tabernacle, but he was only a preview of the One to come. Jesus is the true Architect of it all, the One worthy of all glory, honor, and praise!
We also see a sobering reminder from Israel’s history: when they hardened their hearts and rebelled against God in the wilderness, they lost the blessing of entering the promised land. The author’s warning to the Hebrews still speaks to us today, don’t let your heart grow hard, and don’t miss out on God’s incredible promise of eternal rest.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 2
JESUS IS THE GREATER MESSAGE
This week, we are looking at the book of Hebrews, chapters one and two. These chapters focus on Jesus’ supremacy over all angels and even the law that God gave to His people. His greatness reigns over these two powers because He is God and Savior of all. There is no being, celestial or not, that is not under His authority. There is no law that His salvation does not rule. Ultimately, this truth points to the fact that no former way that the Lord spoke to His people is greater than the message that Jesus Christ Himself brings. Consider the greatness of the message of Christ as you study Hebrews chapters one and two this week.
The Letter to the Hebrews – Week 1
“Have you ever traveled to a new city and felt disoriented until you started to find your way around, the lines and boxes on your GPS gradually morphing into real, three-dimensional places with which you were familiar? As we become familiar with the New Testament book of Hebrews, we may have a similar sense of disorientation until we begin to know our way around. It has been said that “Hebrews is a delight for the person who enjoys puzzles.” But if you are willing to put the time in to walk through the fascinating twists and turns of this ancient Christian text, you will begin to discover its theological riches and relevance for today.
Hebrews is worth the effort for several reasons. First, Hebrews is unique among the New Testament writings…no other book focuses on the high priesthood of Jesus. In fact, the author’s interaction with the Old Testament Scriptures shines a light on Christology that offers a unique perspective on both Jesus’ identity and his sacrificial work in dealing with our sins. Second, unlike any other book in the New Testament…Hebrews originally was a sermon, which the author crafted for the congregations addressed…Third, Hebrews was written to address real-life, nitty-gritty challenges that believers faced at a critical time in the church’s development. It is easy to approach Hebrews as a heady, theologically-oriented “lecture,” meant to impress with deep theology and high-sounding rhetoric. But Hebrews is both pastoral and relevant for both the life of the individual believer and the church as a whole. The author uses solid teaching to address crying needs, especially the need to “hang in there” in following Jesus when life becomes difficult.”
– Grant R. Osborne