November 3, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 12:18–29
This Sunday we will continue in our series in Hebrews, Jesus is Better, with Hebrews 12:18-29. It’s a timely text for us because it will draw our attention to the unshakeable Kingdom of God. The world around us trembles and shakes. At times, the only certainty is instability. This Sunday we will explore the truths that we can cling to in tumultuous times and what it means to be citizens of Christ’s Kingdom who are sojourners and exiles here. My hope is that we will all leave our worship gatherings on Sunday refreshed and reminded of where our hope lies.
Jesus and Better Peace
October 27, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 12:12–17
The imagery of a race continues, but our author makes a shift from the great cloud of witnesses that have come before us in faith to the members of our local church body here and now. We have a tendency to read the Bible individualistically, and this passage is no exception, but it is often intended to us all, as God’s people together. This Sunday we will look at our calling to run the race together.
Jesus and Better Discipline
October 20, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 12:3–11
In light of the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11, and the call to run the race with our eyes on Jesus, we now turn to the difficult question of suffering – why does God allow us to suffer along the way? None of us likes to be disciplined, and many of us struggle with our own personal discipline. So, it makes sense that we also don’t like the idea of being disciplined by our Father in Heaven. This Sunday we will take an open look at the pain and the privilege of Christian discipline.
Jesus and the Better Race
October 13, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 12:1–3
Hebrews 12 flows out of the powerful storyline of Hebrews 11 and the “Hall of Faith” and turns toward the application of all that has preceded it in the book of Hebrews. This Sunday we will focus on Hebrews 12:1-3. This life is a race that we run, but we’re not alone in it. We will see where we can look for encouragement and endurance along the way.
The Hall of Faith
October 6, 2024 • Pastor Bill Riedel • Hebrews 11
Many call Hebrews 11 The Hall of Faith. We will plan to dig into the entire chapter in one go. It gives us a walkthrough the Old Testament to see how people through the ages have exercised their faith in God, His Word, and His promises. This Sunday will give us a great foundation in understanding the nature of faith.
Jesus is the Better Judge
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.
