Hebrews

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 7

November 12, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:18–25

How do we bring this study in Hebrews to a close? How do we sum up all that has been said? How does the author? He says, “pray for us.” That is his final appeal through the Spirit. After all the doctrine and all the warnings, he asks for prayer. It is fitting end to this book. And it sheds some light on the 7th and final kindred responsibility from Hebrews 13 - An Appeal to Pray (13:18 - 15).

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 6

November 5, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:10–15

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 5

October 29, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:8–9, Matthew 24:4–5, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:23–27, Galatians 1:7–9

We are rounding out our study in Hebrews. As we do, our kindred responsibilities to one another as fellow new covenant citizens in the unshakeable kingdom of Christ remain our focus. Building again on the foundation of love (13:1), we also must agree upon sound doctrine (13:8 & 9). We share an obligation to hold fast to that which is true. We cannot be taken in by falsehood. The insistence upon sound doctrine is for the benefit of the church in the world. Join us today as we talk about the need for sound doctrine, and how to keep ourselves from being taken in by it.

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 4

October 22, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17

We are fellow new covenant citizens in the unshakeable kingdom of Christ.  As such, we have talked about our shared responsibility to God and to one another. In Hebrews 13:7 and 17 another concern about the influence of the spirit of the age appears, and it has to do with our attitude toward authority. We see that play out in a culture that overemphasizes the rights of individuals, and thus has a general disrespect and distrust for authority of any kind. Ironically, the same culture pines after personality and talent, with little thought to character and capacity. Both are disastrous for the church in the world.

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 3

October 8, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:5–6

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 2

September 24, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:4

In Hebrews 13:4 - 6 we read of another responsibility we have to one another as fellow new covenant citizens in the unshakeable kingdom of Christ. Building on the foundation of love, we have to be on guard against the corrupting influence of the spirit of the age. The Holy Spirit identifies 2 specific areas in which we most susceptible to this distortion, our appreciation for marriage (v. 4) and our appetite for material things (v. 5 & 6). To do them justice, we will take them one at a time. Join us this in this video as we study from verse 4 only and we talk through our appreciation of marriage.

Kindred Responsibilities - Part 1

September 17, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 13:1–3

As new covenant citizens in the Kingdom of Christ, we are responsible to one another. We share this kingdom with our brothers and sisters in the faith. The authority of the new and better covenant mediated by Christ sets the standard for our relationships in the adopted family of God. Alongside our kingdom responsibilities to God, we have kindred responsibilities to one another.

The Tale of Two Mountains - Part 2

September 10, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:25–29

As we discovered last week, Mount Sinai and Mount Zion are symbolic old and new covenants realities, one of fear, and the other of grace respectively (v. 18 - 24). But those same mountains are also symbolic of kingdoms. The covenants they represent have authority and dominion. They are binding and set the standard for ethics and morality. They govern our behaviors in service and in worship. One kingdom was ruled in fear through the law. The other is ruled in grace through Jesus Christ. Join us today as we return a second time to the Tale of Two Mountains, and we discuss these Kingdom Realities from Hebrews 12:25 - 29. 

The Tale of Two Mountains

September 3, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:18–24

I love the mountains. They feature in my imagination. They feature in the Scripture too. Think Mount of Transfiguration, the Mount of Olives, or Mount Carmel. Two more notable mountains that feature in both old and new testaments are mentioned in our text: Sinai and Zion. These two mountains are important because, according to the Holy Spirit, they symbolize old and new covenants realities. They speak of who we are and where we are going. Importantly, one will keep us in the race. We will take them one at a time today as we cover Hebrews 12:18-24, and The Tale of Two Mountains.

Strong to the Finish

August 27, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:12–17

The “therefore” in In Hebrews 12:12 is an exhortation to consider and then act upon the truths we have been given. Big picture, here is what we know: we are divinely enabled to run our race through faith. We are divinely supported to finish our race through discipline. What we have to do now is run. So, what does it look like to run our race with endurance? Our faith goes to work and our text reveals 2 multifaceted ways we can respond to the exhortation to act upon what we believe.

Discipline to Endure

August 20, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:5–11

When it comes to the discipline we receive from the Lord, we understandably have questions. We want to know what it is, really. We want to know why, what purpose God has in it. And we want to know the outcome of it, what God is doing through it. Our experiences don't offer much help here. So that is where our text comes in. We will answer those 4 questions from Hebrews 12:5 - 11, understanding first and foremost that God disciplines us so that we may endure. Join us today as we dig a little deeper into the discipline of the Lord.

When the Race Drags on

August 13, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:3–6

The metaphor of a race continues in Hebrews 12:3, where the text. In verse 3 we get to dig a little deeper into the discipline implies that the race will drag on. As it does, we will face hardships, through which we must endure. So, if we are going to stay in the race and keep running, we need to know what we are going to face and what we are to do about it. Join us today as we dig a little deeper into the discipline required to stay in the race.

The Outcome of Our Faith

August 6, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 12:1–2

We return to our study in Hebrews this week in chapter 12:1 - 2. The writer through the Holy Spirit uses the metaphor of a race to help us understand what is required to endure in our faith. As we run, speed is not the aim. Perseverance is. We are to run the race set before us with endurance.

Faith Endures

July 9, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 11:32–40

Perseverance in the faith is a crucial element in our understanding of what faith is. Hebrews 11:32 - 40 fleshes that out for us. And quite frankly, it’s kind of a mixed bag. 6 men are named. Other are referenced generally. Some were winners. Some were losers. Some were courageous. Some were afraid. Some would suffer and others would be persecuted. Add it all together and we have quite a list. But they all had one thing in common - they continued in their faith. In fact, they share this trait with every person recorded in chapter 11. They persevered in spite of their circumstances and in spite of their flaws. They believed God all the way to the end. From them, we learn of the 7th consequence of genuine faith - it endures.

Faith Will Witness the Power of God

July 2, 2023 • Ben Gibson • Hebrews 11:29–31

In all this talk about faith, an important distinction must be made. Faith is not belief in the impossible. Faith is not believing that the improbable will come to pass. Genuine faith that occupies Hebrews 11 is belief in God who does the impossible. That is where the examples given to us in Hebrews 11:29 - 31 come in. Faith allowed them to witness the power of God who does the impossible. Join us today for the 6th consequence of faith from Hebrews - it will witness the power of God.