Hebrews chapter 5 highlights our own great weakness (even the high priest in ancient Israel was “beset with weakness” and had to make sacrifices for his sin) and Jesus’ willingness to suffer for our sins. These two themes—our weakness, and His suffering on our behalf—can be found throughout the service. We open with a declaration that the Lord bears up…
The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music. —Martin Luther This Sunday marks the annual observance of Reformation Sunday, when we remember with thanksgiving God’s hand of providence in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, the German monk who launched the Reformation by…
One of St Augustine’s best-known lines from his Confessions is, “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You.” Here, Augustine hits on the heart of today’s passage. The author of Hebrews has been reminding his readers of the surety of Christ’s finished work. The believer’s identity is now Christ. Jesus is…
Hebrews 3 concludes with a stern warning not to follow the example of the Israelites, who fell away into unbelief soon after the deliverance from Egyptian slavery. The author quotes extensively from Psalm 95, twice urging the listener, “do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Psalm 95:8). Today’s Call to Worship and one of our hymns are also…
Perhaps it is providential that during a week when our property has seen quite a few construction vehicles come and go, and quite a bit of dirt moved, we would come to a service saturated with the language of building, and particularly building the house of the Lord. We are called into worship this morning by Psalm 118, where we…
There are several distinct passages in Scripture that are sometimes referred to as the “Song of Moses,” including Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 90, and Revelation 15. The earliest of these to appear is the Israelites’ song of triumph over the Egyptians in Exodus 15, also known in Hebrew poetry as the “Song at the Sea.” We’ll be learning a new setting…
Often, whenever I write worship notes, I feel the need to write something incredible, to make some new, impressive realization that will make me seem grand and wise. Obviously, I need to hear Hebrews 2:4-9. Our Savior, who is worthy of all glory, laud, and honor, humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. As we…
The author of Hebrews reminds his audience at the beginning of chapter 2 to “pay closer attention” to the Word they have heard preached. The elements of this morning’s service likewise call us to careful attention to the path God has laid for us. Hear Me, All You People—Psalm 49 urges that we “hear” and “listen” to the promise of…
The final portion of Hebrews 1 concludes a long discussion of the supremacy of God’s Son, which we’ve been walking through the past three weeks. The elements of this morning’s service were chosen to reflect this theme. The Scripture readings call Jesus the “head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18) and the “blessed and only sovereign” (1 Timothy 6:15).…
According to Phillipians 2:9, the Father has bestowed upon Jesus “the name that is above every name.” His name is “glorious,” adored within His temple and loved by strangers whose hearts are filled with its “blissful theme.” The Lord declares of Him in Psalm 2, “You are My Son; I have brought You forth this day.” He is called “Alpha…