Hebrews
A Jesus-Centered Life
Intro: A Jesus-Centered Life
January 23, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 1:1–4
The book of Hebrews is one of the most profound and mysterious books of the entire Bible. While many of the details surrounding the book are unclear, its main purpose is very clear - Jesus is supreme over everything and life is meant to revolve around Him. Even though the book is highly theological, its impact is meant to be highly practical. The truth and meaning of Jesus aren't simply doctrine to be believed, but power to live by. This teaching begins the book of Hebrews by exploring what a Jesus-Centered life looks like.
Jesus: Our Salvation
January 30, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 1:5—2:9
Angels are often misunderstood. Most of our conception of angels is influenced more by pop culture than any religious text. After describing the true nature of angels, the author of Hebrews makes the argument from the OT scriptures that although angels are very powerful, Jesus is superior to them. If Jesus is superior to angels and anything close to what the author claims him to be, he cannot be ignored. Further, salvation through him cannot be ignored because it is so great a salvation. Everyone wants to find salvation - meaning, to escape this present reality and not be subject to its brokenness and our failings. Today's teaching shows why the salvation of Jesus is the deliverance we're all looking for.
Jesus: Our Brother
February 6, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 2:10–18
So far, Hebrews has focused mostly on the deity of Jesus. This week, the author shifts to emphasize the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was and is fully God and fully man. This isn't just a doctrinal statement - it has profound implications for our lives. If Jesus lived a fully and truly human life, he knows how to relate to us. Further, he wasn't simply a man, but relates to those who trust him as a brother.
Jesus: Our Leader
February 13, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 3
Our culture has an ambivalent relationship with leadership - we like the idea in theory, but struggle with it in practice. The reason it's so difficult for us is that it means we necessarily lose some of our autonomy. While many have born the consequences of poor leadership, few have benefited from the great blessing of good leadership. In this teaching, the author will exhort his hearers to receive the superior leadership of Jesus and wrestle with the issues in their hearts that make following and trusting him difficult.
Jesus: Our Rest
February 20, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 4:1–13
We live in a restless age. Our world is more anxious, stressed, distracted, and burdened than ever before, but the condition itself is nothing new. The real rest described by the Bible has always been elusive and hard to find. What is rest? It is both a place and a state of being - meaning, you find both external and internal deep peace. In this teaching, the author of Hebrews describes how Jesus provides that ultimate rest.
Jesus: Our High Priest
February 27, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 4:14—5:10
The idea of a priest is somewhat archaic today, but they have always played a central role in almost every type of religion. Why? We intuitively understand that access to the divine is at least somewhat exclusive and we need someone else to bridge the gap between the secular and the sacred for us. Judaism was no different. Israel had one high priest that represented the people before God. However, those priests were flawed themselves and still died like all men. This teaching explains the superior high priesthood of Jesus - a priesthood that secures an eternal salvation because of its eternal high priest.
Jesus: Our Maturity
March 6, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 5:11—6:12
This week, the author of Hebrews pauses in his sermon to issue a strong and sobering warning to his readers. If they do not continue in faith and grow to maturity but instead fall away, they will be forever lost. He explains that this process doesn't happen overnight, but begins with simple dullness and can ultimately end in deconversion. How are we to receive such a rebuke? Like it's coming from a friend. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." As someone who genuinely loves his listeners, the author is not trying to harm them, but help them. Although he uses such stern language, he also expresses great confidence in them and explains how we can keep growing to maturity.
Jesus: Our Anchor
March 13, 2022 • Scott Joseph • Hebrews 6:13–20
We often experience promises as easily made and easily broken. Broken promises lead to a lack of trust, making life seem unsteady and unstable. Our days are marked by uncertainty, fear, and worry concerning the future. But Jesus is steady and stable. He is the guarantee and fulfillment of the unchangeable promises of God. In this teaching, the author is trying to persuade us that God can be trusted to keep his promises. An unshakeable trust in the God who cannot lie keeps us from drifting and tethers us to Jesus, the anchor of our souls.
Jesus: Our King
March 20, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 7:1–10
While we are all accustomed to democracy as the standard form of government, the history of the world has primarily been ruled by monarchies. This is because we all have a need and longing to be ruled by a king. In this passage, we finally learn about Melchizedek - a mysterious, yet powerful and noble king who blesses those around him. While we need a king, we often choose bad kings that don't actually bless in return. Further, we also miss the blessing because we don't want to be subject to anyone or anything. Who we bow to as King is most clearly demonstrated by where we direct our money. This teaching explains how Jesus is the True and Better Melchizedek who is worthy not only of our money, but our entire lives and gives us infinitely more in return.
Jesus: Our Perfection
March 27, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 7:11–28
Perfectionism is the tendency to demand of others or of oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance, in excess of what is required by the situation. While that may seem like a minor issue, it often leaves us fearful of making mistakes, indecisive, hyper-critical, and insecure. How do you deal with perfectionism? The problem is that deep down, we all know we should be perfect. To simply say "you're good enough" won't do because we know we're just lowering the bar. However, to pursue perfection on our own is crushing because we can never seem to get there. In Jesus, God has provided a different and better way to perfection that simultaneously allows you to be in process.
Jesus: Our Reformation
April 3, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 8:1—9:14
Many people today are skeptical of religion and think the world would be better off without it. While religion does have many positive benefits like providing community and purpose, it can also make us self-righteous and vicious towards those who don't share our beliefs. It may surprise you that Jesus was also a critic of religion. In fact, what he began really is not a traditional religion at all, but something new entirely. Religion may provide stability and structure, but in itself it will never change the human heart. This teaching will show how a relationship with Jesus is different than religion and instead leads to personal reformation.
Jesus: Our Redemption
April 10, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 9:15–28
Redemption is one of those words that gets thrown around often in spiritual settings but no one can exactly define. So what is redemption? The word is actually a legal and financial term that refers to the payment and release from a debt. The term takes on a larger meaning throughout the Bible, as God is said to redeem his people from their debt and slavery. How does God do it? What is the price he pays in order to ransom people from their debt? In this teaching, the author of Hebrews will show how Jesus provides redemption through his sacrifice and why we desperately need it.
Jesus: The Final Sacrifice
April 17, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 10:1–18
On Easter, we reach the crescendo of Hebrews and the author makes his closing exposition about the person and work of Jesus. Namely, he describes why he is the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. The text shows why such a sacrifice was needed, how Jesus alone can provide it, and why his sacrifice was effective. This teaching will explain how the resurrection proves that the final offering for sin has been made once and for all.
Jesus-Centered: Community
April 24, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 10:19–31
While formally religious communities and churches are shrinking (especially among younger generations), everyone is still desperate to find a spiritual community that provides purpose, meaning, and relationship. Whether it is a gym, dinner club, or volunteer organization, younger people are increasingly looking to fill the void of community. However, these alternate communities are imperfect substitutes for the community of Jesus. This teaching will explain the nature of a Jesus-centered community and why only he can provide the type of community we long for and need.
Jesus-Centered: Confidence
May 1, 2022 • Stephen Putbrese • Hebrews 10:32–39
The Christian life is one of waiting. Modern research has demonstrated that those who are capable of delaying gratification have better outcomes later in life. The same is true in a spiritual and eternal sense - those who are able to wait now will receive infinitely more in the future. How can you wait well? You need confidence. Confidence is a boldness that enables someone to live fearlessly in the present in spite of the cost or difficulty. This teaching shows how Jesus can change weak, impatient, and fearful people into truly confident men and women.