September 29, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 10:26–39
As we continue into the application side of the epistle, we will see the truth of God’s holiness, a warning for us, and a call for how to live.
Jesus is the Better Way
September 15, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 10:19–25
It’s a major shift in the letter because after 9+ chapters of theology, we now turn to application. What does it all mean that Jesus is the true and better Word, Moses, High Priest, Tabernacle, blood, sacrifice, etc.? The gospel is not confined to mere concepts or theological reflection. The good news of Jesus Christ makes an impact in every aspect of our lives, impacting our hearts, our minds, and our lives. On Sunday we will begin to see what that looks like.
Jesus is the Better Sacrifice
September 8, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 10:1–18
We are right in the heart of the letter, and in the meat of what the author has been driving toward throughout. In our passage on Sunday we will see that “Jesus is the Better Sacrifice.” In contrast with the repetitiveness of the old covenant and sacrificial system that required priests to offer sacrifices day after day, week after week, and year after year, Jesus came and died as the sacrifice that cleanses us from sin once and for all. We will take time to explore the deep need that every human being has for forgiveness, the emptiness of the methods we follow to try to ease our own consciences, and the hope that we find in the gospel.
Jesus is the Better Blood
August 4, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 9:11–28
As we continue to see the supremacy of Christ over all things, we now turn to the blood of the sacrifices. We have already seen that Jesus is the better High Priest and the better Tabernacle. One of the unique duties of the High Priest was to enter into the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat, atoning for the sin of God’s people. Blood is a central theme for both Judaism and Christianity. We will take a look at why that is, and what it means that the blood of Jesus Christ is a better atonement for us than any other sacrifice can offer.
Jesus is the Better Tabernacle
July 21, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 9:1–12
Every one of us wonders at times if God sees us, hears us, or is at all present with us. Even in our Bibles there are times that God’s presence and direction are very clear, and other times when He seems to be silent, at least from the perspective of those on earth. As we continue to see how Jesus is the true and greater fulfillment of the Old Covenant, we will turn our attention to the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a tent, a mobile worship center for God’s people for generations, from the time they left Mt. Sinai until Solomon built a Temple. The Tabernacle itself points to Jesus and anticipates the need each one of us has to know that God is with us.
Jesus is the Better Covenant
July 14, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 8
We will take a look at the concept of covenant. The Bible’s storyline is made up of a series of covenants that God made with His people. The Law is part of the covenant God made through Moses at Mount Sinai, and the author of Hebrews argued that it has been superseded by the ultimate covenant promise in Jesus Christ. That raises a couple of important issues for us. First, how do we know that we can trust God’s Word and God’s promises? And how do we understand how the Bible fits together? Why do some covenants continue and others stop? Why do Christians eat bacon and shrimp, and wear mixed-fabric clothing, when those are outlawed in the Sinai covenant? Let’s get into it in this sermon!
Jesus is the Better Priesthood
June 30, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 7
We have heard the name Melchizedek over and over during the past few weeks. The preacher in Hebrews even paused to give some warnings in case we weren’t ready to go so deep as the theology was about to get. This week we get to it. We will see what made this mysterious figure Melchizedek so great. He only appears in one place in the whole Bible, Genesis 14. The passage shows us that Jesus is greater than the entire priesthood. He is our ultimate High Priest. Praise God that His priestly role is not based on the Law and religious systems prescribed in Leviticus, but Jesus is a better promise, a better hope, and a better guarantee of God’s covenant promises to us.
Jesus is the Better Abraham
June 23, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 6:12–20
After a hard warning at the start of the chapter, the author of Hebrews turns to an example of patience in waiting for God’s promises. While there are plenty of examples throughout Scripture, there may be none better than Abraham. If you were with us at RHC this past fall, this will be familiar because we spent a few months studying Abraham’s life together. We will see how Abraham gives us an example of patience and perseverance in the ups and downs of life.
Jesus is the Better Nourishment
June 16, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 5:11—6:12
This Sunday we will take a look at Hebrews 5:11-6:12, which brings us to one of the most frightening warnings in the book of Hebrews, and maybe in the all of the New Testament. We will have the chance to explore what it means to mature in faith and godliness in our pursuit of Christ, and to move beyond the elementary aspects of our faith. We will see a strong warning against complacency or drifting away, and the reminder that our true beliefs will be seen in the fruit of our lives.
Jesus is the Better High Priest
June 9, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 4:14—5:10
Jesus has been identified as a High Priest a few times already in Hebrews. Our text for Sunday digs into that theme more fully. In it we see the continuity and discontinuity Jesus has with the Old Covenant High Priest. It shows continuity, meaning that there are clear ties and parallels; discontinuity, meaning that Jesus breaks the mold as the true and better High Priest. Ultimately, we will see that Jesus alone has made a way for us to come directly to God. He took on weakness and suffering to enter into humanity and human experience in order to serve as our High Priest. So, we can draw near to God at His throne of grace and find mercy in our times of need. Jesus is the only mediator we ever need.
Jesus is the Better Sabbath
June 2, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 4:1–13
Chapters 3-4 are part of one larger point to show the superiority of Jesus over Moses and the Law. If Hebrews is a sermon, then these two chapters are an exposition of Psalm 95, and an extension of the warning not to harden our hearts and fail to enter into the rest that God has promised us. This week expands the discussion from Moses and the Psalm to include Joshua as well. Joshua was Moses’ successor, and the one who was able to lead the people into the Promised Land after Moses had died. You might remember that in Numbers 14, Joshua was one of two spies (with Caleb) who wanted to trust God and go into the land. 40 years later, he got to lead them in. Even what Joshua provided was not the ultimate rest, though.
On Sunday we will explore the ideas of sabbath and rest. Spiritual practices, including Sabbath, are a hot topic in Christian books and articles right now, and for good reason. We can all feel like there is something we must be missing, longing for a greater experience of God’s presence and power in our lives. Sabbath, in particular, is attractive because very few of us feel adequately rested. I know that our family is careening toward the end of the school year this week and next, and we can definitely use some rest. Let’s look to God’s Word together to gain a greater understanding of sabbath and rest.
Jesus is the Better Moses
May 26, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 3
We have already seen Jesus’ superiority to the prophets, angels, and the ultimate mediator for all of humanity. As we continue this week we will see the first part of a longer argument through chapters 3-4 that Jesus is the greater Moses, offering the ultimate Sabbath rest. Chapter 3 helps give a strong warning against hardening our hearts like God’s people did in the time of Moses. We will take time to see how the text leads us to the antidote for hard hearts.
Jesus is the Better Son
May 12, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 2:5–18
On Sunday we will step back into our series in Hebrews with Hebrews 2:5-18. This is a beautiful passage that emphasizes the reality and truth that God came near to us in the incarnation of Jesus. The incarnation is foundational to our faith. Jesus became our brother so that we could be brought into the family of God. I can’t wait to dig into the text with you on Sunday.
Jesus is the Better Mediator
April 28, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 1:5—2:4
This passage continues where last week left off, that Jesus is superior to the angels. Angels are a fascinating topic to study, and there are all kinds of ideas about who and what they are, why they exist, and what they do. Why would the author of Hebrews have such an extended section about angels? Most importantly, what do we learn about Jesus from this passage?
God Has Spoken
April 21, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 1:1–4
This Sunday we begin at the beginning, with Hebrews 1:1-4. It is profound that we worship a God who speaks. God has spoken, continued to speak now, and will speak into eternity, and God’s Word has power. We will take a look at the context for the book of Hebrews, the major themes throughout, and we will look into the different ways that God speaks. Ultimately, God has spoken in and through Jesus Christ, the true Word of God.
