Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  – Hebrews 1:1 ESV

Greek
πολυτρόπως/polutropos: in many ways or many avenues

Why It Matters
The law of diminishing returns can be simplified to this idea: there’s a point in which the benefit you gain from something isn’t worth the cost to get that benefit. It’s a fundamental concept in economics but can be seen all over the place. As incredible as donuts may taste, there’s a point in which the amount you eat will not be worth the cost to your budget… or your waistline! As we begin our study of the Book of Hebrews, the author immediately provides a bit of context for the arrival of Jesus. God has spoken to the generations leading up to Christ polutropos – in many different ways, through various avenues. It’s a compound word connecting many (poly) with avenues or routes (tropos). Sometimes those communications were heeded and resulted in obedience, while at other times they were ignored. But rather than filtering humanity through a “cost-benefit analysis” and deciding we weren’t worth the investment when sinfully ignoring God, Hebrews paints a picture of God giving us His Son and choosing to speak through Jesus! He has spared no expense to speak to your heart, and this book lays out the truth that His words provide hope in darkness, healing in difficulty, joy in struggle and clarity in confusion. Hebrews reminds us that communicating his promises to you was so important that he spared no expense. The law of diminishing returns doesn’t apply to his love for you. You matter that much to God!

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the way you’ve brought me to this point in my life. Sometimes this journey has been confusing and even unsettling, but because of Jesus I can trust that your guiding hand will continue to illuminate my path for your glory and my joy. May I be aware of the opportunities you place before me this week, and may I rest in your finished work.

Application
How will I rest this week in what Jesus has completed?

Music Response
This week we sang the song “Touch of Heaven” by Hillsong Worship. It is a song that echoes our desire to continually be in God’s presence and know Him more significantly. As we consider how we will rest in what Jesus has completed, the lyrical declarations of having an open heart toward Jesus’ way for our lives can prepare us to rest in God’s presence and listen to his direction. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholdsthe universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  – Hebrews 1:3 ESV

Greek
φέρων/pheron: to carry, bear, bring

Why It Matters
One of the most moving stories from early church history is the martyrdom of a man named Polycarp. A disciple of Jesus’ own apostle John, Polycarp was an important bridge connecting those who encountered Christ directly and the generations that would follow. When persecution flared up in Smyrna, Polycarp was asked to renounce Jesus or lose his life. The elderly pastor faced his accusers and declared, “Eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?”
Polycarp beautifully articulated what our Greek word today is communicating. Jesus pheron(carries, bears, brings together) the universe and everything in it by the word of his power. He who carries all things and bears it all up will never let you down. Polycarp reflected on 86 years of life and determined that Jesus had done him no wrong. He had experienced the power of God to pheronhis life! We see in this verse that the power of God can both overwhelm with its expansive reach and encourage with its affectionate care. With this in mind, we find rest in the pheronthat his powerful word provides us. If he can speak and the universe is upheld, we can trust that he can hold our lives as well.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the way you’ve brought me to this point in my life. Sometimes this journey has been confusing and even unsettling, but because of Jesus I can trust that your guiding hand will continue to illuminate my path for your glory and my joy. May I be aware of the opportunities you place before me this week, and may I rest in your finished work.

Application
How will I rest this week in what Jesus has completed?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  – Hebrews 1:3 ESV

Greek
χαρακτήρ/charakter: a tool for engraving; a sculpting mould or a stamp used on a coin

Why It Matters
There’s a well-known quote that gets bandied about in various business and leadership circles: “Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” Often attributed to the novelist James Lane Allen, this quote reminds us that a person’s character is not a product of external factors but a reflection of one’s true inner self. In other words, my character is who I really am regardless of my circumstance! Our english word for character derives from the Greek word charakter. A charakter was a tool used to engrave an image onto slate, marble or other rock. Eventually it was used to describe the stamp that a coin would be subjected to. If someone wanted to create the exact representation of a loved one onto a tile, or stamp the image of the emperor onto their currency, a charakter was needed.
Hebrews declares a theological truth that would have been profound and controversial to its original audience: Jesus is the charakter of God’s nature. There is no variation between the qualities of Jesus and the qualities of God. If this is true then God has shown us who He is, not through a heartless dictatorial decree but through a life of sacrificial love. We can be assured that God is just and good because Jesus lived a life of justice and goodness. We can rest in the truth that God is love because of the love Jesus displayed on the cross. The writer of Hebrews is confident that just as a stamp doesn’t deviate in creating an image on a coin, Jesus never deviated in reflecting the character of God.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the way you’ve brought me to this point in my life. Sometimes this journey has been confusing and even unsettling, but because of Jesus I can trust that your guiding hand will continue to illuminate my path for your glory and my joy. May I be aware of the opportunities you place before me this week, and may I rest in your finished work.

Application
How will I rest this week in what Jesus has completed?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightnessis the scepter of your kingdom. – Hebrews 1:8 ESV

Greek
εὐθύτητος/euthutetos: straightness; lit. “without deviation”

Why It Matters
There are situations when precision matters, and then there are times when a certain amount of inaccuracy can be tolerated. The issue we face is knowing in which circumstance we have found ourselves. It’s probably ok to be a few minutes late to a friend’s party, but if the scientists responsible for the Apollo 11 moon landing were only 1 degree off course, they would have sent Neil Armstrong 4,169 miles away from his intended target!

The book of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of a king who will govern his kingdom with euthutetos(straightness or uprightness). Found only here in the entire New Testament, euthutetoscarries with it the imagery of one who will never deviate from being absolutely consistent in judgment. What does this have to do with you and me? Imagine a king who decreed something to be legal one day and then accused someone of being guilty for that thing the next day. The inconsistency would cause us to be fearful, confused or both! Because uprightness is the scepter of his kingdom, we can rest in the truth that Jesus leads us without deviation. This euthutetosputs the emphasis on his sacrifice on our behalf rather than on our ability to meet a perfect standard. God’s consistency in loving us because of Jesus calms our anxious hearts and motivates us to worship our king.

Prayer
Father, I confess that there are moments in my life when I look for joy in created things instead of the Creator. Thank you that because of Jesus, today is another opportunity to lean in to my relationship with you. May I place Christ above everything else in my life and live with the gospel motivating and shaping the decisions I make.

Application
What will I do differently because of the person and work of Jesus?

Music Response
When considering how we will respond to Jesus and what he has done, it’s important to first remind ourselves of those things! These songs serve that purpose – reminding us that he gives us our very breath, restores broken hearts, is worthy of surrender, forgiver our sins, healer, and the list goes on. Allow these songs to be the backdrop of your day, and even the truth to combat the lies we so often believe. Let’s live in remembrance of what Christ has done. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” – Hebrews 1:9

Greek
ἀγαλλιάσεως/agalliaseos: exultation, exuberant joy

Why It Matters
There’s a genius to the way the writer of Hebrews quotes from the Psalms that we may miss in our 21st century context. The original audience of this letter was a people group in the midst of cultural transition. In their move to faith in Jesus, their status in society had changed and they were experiencing profound persecution. Their situation was not ideal on many fronts. That’s why using Psalm 45:7 to encourage this group of people with the nature of Christ is so profound. Hebrews quotes from this Psalm and reminds us that God has anointed Jesus with the oil of agalliaseos, or exultation. This is the word for exuberant joy or ecstatic delight that is connected to an important victory. If an army defeats its enemies, the people would be filled with agalliaseos. The writer of Hebrews links this passage to Jesus, reminding the reader that Jesus has been anointed with the oil of victorious exuberance. No matter what persecution, rejection or difficult circumstances they faced, Jesus has won a victory that results in agalliaseos. This is good news for us too because even though we don’t face the same persecution, probably more often than we like to admit our sense of joy is linked to our own victories or defeats. If we feel victorious in our situation we will have exuberant joy; if we feel defeated in the battles of life our joy fades. Thankfully, as we are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3), his victory becomes our victory, and our agalliaseos is anchored in an act of love that defeated our worst enemy.

Prayer
Father, I confess that there are moments in my life when I look for joy in created things instead of the Creator. Thank you that because of Jesus, today is another opportunity to lean in to my relationship with you. May I place Christ above everything else in my life and live with the gospel motivating and shaping the decisions I make.

Application
What will I do differently because of the person and work of Jesus?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? – Hebrews 1:9 ESV

Greek
ἀποστελλόμενα/apostellomena: to send away for a purpose; sent on a defined mission by a superior

Why It Matters
During World War I a British soldier on the Western Front wrote to a newspaper back home, saying he was lonely and could use a morale boost. The paper printed the soldier’s name and regiment, and within weeks he had received 3,000 letters and 98 large packages on the front line. That story speaks volumes about the heart of ordinary British citizens, seeing a need and responding in the midst of a battle. The letters and packages they sent were apostellomena, sent away for a purpose. But why would pieces of stationery and boxes with supplies ease the loneliness of a person? Simply put, the mail filled the purpose it was intended for because it represented those who sent it. You may notice that this is where we get our english rendering “apostle,” someone who is sent on mission by one in authority. Jesus’ own apostles didn’t have to invent their own message; rather they were sent by Jesus to carry His message to the world. Hebrews is making the case that angels, as important as they are as messengers, are simply doing the work they are sent to do by God. That WW1 soldier was overjoyed for the letters he received, not because he loved reading but because he loved the community who apostellomena those letters. We sense the love of God because he apostellomena angels to serve “those who are to inherit salvation.” But if that sending leads to anything other than worship of the One who has the authority to do the sending, we miss the point. May we be people who are overjoyed because of the message, and worship the One who sends the messengers on our behalf.

Prayer
Father, I confess that there are moments in my life when I look for joy in created things instead of the Creator. Thank you that because of Jesus, today is another opportunity to lean in to my relationship with you. May I place Christ above everything else in my life and live with the gospel motivating and shaping the decisions I make.

Application
What will I do differently because of the person and work of Jesus?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. – Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Greek
περισσοτέρως/perissoterōs: greatly, exceeding, vehemently, super-abundant

Why It Matters
If you really think about it, the process in which humans learn their first language is nothing short of miraculous. Experts have determined that the easiest transition from communicating with cries and gestures to verbal language at less than two years old requires proximity to caring adults and detailed observation of their conversations. Babies pay perissoterōs attention to these adults and the framework for their communication with others is developed. But what does that look like? It’s not the case that babies stop playing to pay perissoterōs attention, but rather they do so while they are playing. They don’t stop eating or crawling or looking at books to pay perissoterōs attention to language being spoken; it’s woven through the fabric of everything they do.

The writer of Hebrews insists that we, too, must be incredibly attentive to the gospel we have heard, so that we don’t drift away from it. The word Hebrews uses is super-abundant attention, consistently being focused on what we have heard. We pay attention by being in proximity to the One we are hearing from. However, like babies, we do so by paying furious attention in the midst of everything we do instead of neglecting everything on its account. Living out the implications of the gospel in super-abundant attention doesn’t make us people who live in isolation, unproductive in their world. When we pay perissoterōsattention to the gospel throughout our typical day, it gives us the tools to both communicate with the God who speaks and to speak truth in love to those He has placed in our lives.

Prayer
Thank you so much, Lord, for what the gospel means to me. Your salvation is so great that I can’t help but be changed by it. Help me to be furiously obsessed with what You have done and with who You say that I am.

Application
What truth do I need to stop neglecting?

Music Response
Singing the song “One Thing” provides lyrics that put Jesus at the center, and position us to be “furiously obsessed” with knowing Him. As we consider what truths we need to stop neglecting, the lyrics of this song can help us recognize the fleeting promises of the world and remind us to place God first and follow his leading for our lives. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. – Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Greek
παραρυῶμεν/pararuomen: to flow carelessly past, drift away from duty

Why It Matters
Autumn in upstate NY brings changes that are beautiful or ominous, depending on your perspective. Leaves change, temperatures drop, days shorten and baked goods are abundant. In some areas of the country people may ease into winter, but up here it seems as though the transition from warm weather is rather quick and abrasive! We don’t drift away from summer here. The writer of Hebrews warns against spiritual drift in our lives because the changes that happen to us when we ignore God’s voice are very subtle. Unlike the changing seasons, we may not notice the differences that take shape when we pararuomen (flow carelessly or glide past). In fact this Greek word is only used here in the entire New Testament, indicating that the subtle spiritual drift from not paying close attention to God is dangerous to our souls. Without intentionality and a solid anchor, the ups and downs of life will take us along with them. This is dangerous because we will assume everything is fine or that we are headed in the right direction. God’s voice of hope, spoken to us through Jesus – the Word of God – provides a purpose which will guide even the smallest details of our lives. That’s why Centerway has a Because and Therefore that goes like this: Because God gave his best we value EXCELLENCE therefore we bring our best to every environment, we don’t settle or just check boxes, and we steward our lives and resources thoughtfully and intentionally.

Prayer
Thank you so much, Lord, for what the gospel means to me. Your salvation is so great that I can’t help but be changed by it. Help me to be furiously obsessed with what You have done and with who You say that I am.

Application
What truth do I need to stop neglecting?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard – Hebrews 2:3 ESV

Greek
τηλικαύτης/telikaútes: large in magnitude

Why It Matters

Sing above the battle’s strife,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
By His death and endless life,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Sing it softly thru the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves,
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
~ Priscilla Owens, 1898

What truth do I need to stop neglecting? For many of us the answer to this question could be to stop ignoring such a telikaútes (large in scope and magnitude) salvation. In English we might be tempted to think that this word only means “really good” or “excellent” salvation. However telikaútes means great in the large and weighty sense. The writer of Hebrews is actually using very encouraging language in this verse, even though the warning is significant. When Priscilla Owens penned the famous hymn above, she took broad areas of life (battles, death, etc.) and celebrated Christ’s victory over them. She knew from her experience as a Sunday School teacher in inner-city Baltimore that Jesus’ salvation was telikaútes – big enough to cover any area that may be broken in our lives. Whatever pain and brokenness you have experienced in your life, the salvation that Jesus brings is telikaútes enough to cover it. Jesus Saves!

Prayer
Thank you so much, Lord, for what the gospel means to me. Your salvation is so great that I can’t help but be changed by it. Help me to be furiously obsessed with what You have done and with who You say that I am.

Application
What truth do I need to stop neglecting?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? – Hebrews 2:6 ESV

Greek
ἐπισκέπτῃ/episkepte: concerned for, look upon, visit

Why It Matters
There’s a fascinating story told in Genesis 16 about an Egyptian woman named Hagar. She was the servant of Sarai, taken from her home, and tradition tells us her life was dictated by other people’s decisions. When Sarai and her husband Abram realized they were prevented from having children (v. 2), Hagar was summoned to bear a child with Abram on Sarai’s behalf. After this, Sarai treated her harshly and Hagar responded by running away to the wilderness (v. 6). Imagine what this woman’s experiences might lead her to believe about herself! We get a glimpse of those beliefs in the encounter she has with the angel of the Lord who spoke with her. After telling Hagar that the child she is bearing would be named Ishmael (God hears), Hagar’s response is recorded in verse 13: So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” After all the pain she had experienced, Hagar must have wondered if anyone saw her as valuable, worthy of being treated with dignity. The fact that she named the Lord, “The God of seeing” connects this story with the point that Hebrews is making in our verse today. The writer is quoting from the Psalms, asking “what is … the son of man that you episkepte (look upon, visit) him?” This specific Greek word for care articulates what Hagar was pointing to – that God shows His care for us by looking upon us! He sees us when we feel isolated and reminds us of our worth through that act of seeing. When we feel like others look at us only when they want to get something from us, we are confident because of Jesus that God sees us in order to speak truth into us. God has shown his episkepte for you and me by sending Jesus into the darkness of our lives. His light has illuminated our journey no matter who or what has tried to darken it.

Prayer
Father, I confess that I’ve allowed my own perspective to affect how I view my current reality. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus’ death has allowed me to see life through redeemed eyes. I want to impact the world for Your glory with the hope You have given. Show me how best to do that in Jesus’ name.

Application
How will I apply Christ’s humility to change my perspective?

Music Response
We introduced a beautiful new song called “Highlands (Song of Ascent)” (Hillsong United).  There is a section of the Psalms called the Songs of Ascent. It is widely accepted that these hopeful, encouraging, poetic songs were sung by Hebrew worshipers on their journey to Jerusalem for the feasts. This modern song is one to encourage us on our journey, reminding us that Jesus can be found, pursues us, and made the “climb” to God on our behalf. So on the mountain and in the highlands… or in the heartache when the mountain’s in our way, He is worthy to be praised. Let this song help reframe your perspective this week. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the sufferingof death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. – Hebrews 2:9 ESV

Greek
πάθημα/pathéma: strong emotions, that which befalls a person

Why It Matters
Nathan Hale was a 21 year old soldier for the Continental Army who volunteered for George Washington’s secret spy mission into Manhattan. On September 8th, 1776, Hale volunteered to go behind enemy lines and spy on British troops. He would be hanged two weeks later for his actions, and would provide America with one of her most enduring quotes from the Revolutionary War. On the gallows, it was purported that Hale said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Whether he uttered those exact words or not is debatable to some, but what is not up for debate is the impact this story had on the morale and outlook of the American troops. Death was no longer seen as something final, but a tool to be used to inspire others and further the cause of the War. Death could be used as a reminder of something bigger than one’s own self.

The writer of Hebrews lays out the truth that Jesus’ death wasn’t something that ended His impact on earth, but rather fulfilled the purpose of God on behalf of humanity. Jesus experienced the pathéma(suffering, experienced strong emotions due to something that befalls a person) of death, but that Greek word implies far more than simply going through the physical pain of death. Throughout the New Testament we see that Jesus was subject to many strong emotions as He faced death. But He could also confidently commit Himself to the Father in death, knowing that the pathémaHe was experiencing was producing something as part of a greater story. Through the grace of God, Jesus’ death created a way for Him to taste death for everyone. When our lives are submitted to God as an offering, even the emotions connected to death can be full of hope, knowing that Jesus has paid our debt through His death, and that now our pathémapoint to a story far greater than ourselves.

Prayer
Father, I confess that I’ve allowed my own perspective to affect how I view my current reality. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus’ death has allowed me to see life through redeemed eyes. I want to impact the world for Your glory with the hope You have given. Show me how best to do that in Jesus’ name.

Application
How will I apply Christ’s humility to change my perspective?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. – Hebrews 2:9 ESV

Greek
γεύσηται/geusetai: to taste, to experience

Why It Matters
What would you risk your life for? Most of us would answer that question with a short list of people and causes. In antiquity a cupbearer was someone who would risk their life for their king by serving drinks at the royal table. Their duties usually included guarding and personally filling the king’s goblet, and he would sometimes be required to take the first taste of the meal in the presence of the royals.

When Hebrews 2:9 expresses the uniqueness of Jesus, it reveals that God’s plan for Him was to geusetai (taste or experience) death for everyone. The Old Testament warns that when we sin, we are tasked with drinking the cup of wrath. Imagine a cup bearer who knew with certainty that the king had poison in his cup. Would he complete his task and geusetai the penalty himself, or avoid his duty and let the king drink the toxin? Hebrews makes clear that not only did Jesus count the cost and commit to tasting what He knew to be death, Jesus was also the king! In a beautiful reversal of roles, our king (who was crowned with glory and honor) chose to become our cupbearer, and geusetai the poison that His people had in their cups. Because Jesus willingly chose to taste our death, we can trust Him with every other part of our redeemed lives.

Prayer
Father, I confess that I’ve allowed my own perspective to affect how I view my current reality. Thank you for the reminder that Jesus’ death has allowed me to see life through redeemed eyes. I want to impact the world for Your glory with the hope You have given. Show me how best to do that in Jesus’ name.

Application
How will I apply Christ’s humility to change my perspective?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. – Hebrews 2:10 ESV

Greek
ἀρχηγὸν/archegon: the primary leader, captain

Why It Matters
Imagine an army without a commanding officer, or a ship setting sail without a captain. Without someone to give direction and bring clarity, these scenarios could prove to be disastrous. Even with someone in these leadership positions, an army or a ship would not fare well if their leader had no experience in the area they are leading. Hebrews says that Jesus is the archegon (pioneer, founder) of our salvation, showing that he leads us to where salvation can be found. But this word also implies that Jesus is the designer of salvation, leading us toward something that He is the founder (archegon) of. This one word shows the goodness of Christ in two ways simultaneously. First, He designs – or authors – salvation, hearkening back to the Old Testament when Jonah declared the truth that “salvation belongs to the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). Second, Jesus doesn’t just design the salvation we need then tell us we need to work for it or earn it. Instead He leads us out of the darkness of our sin into the hope of salvation He provides! That’s incredible news for any of us who have tried to journey through life without direction or guidance. Jesus can lead us along the path, and we can trust that because He is the archegon, no matter what twists and turns come our way He is taking us in the right direction.

Prayer
Jesus, I trust you. I trust your perspective and your leadership. Please give me a fresh reminder of what your hope can awaken inside of me, and allow me to turn that hope into Christ-centered action.

Application
How will I partner with Jesus missionally?

Music Response
As we create space to hear how we might partner with Jesus missionally, let these songs be a prayerful backdrop to bring praise in any circumstance, position our hearts to trust him, and be aware of “the one” we can serve and love. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, – Hebrews 2:11

Greek
ἑνὸς πάντες/henos pantes: are one, unified as a whole

Why It Matters
One of the side-effects of only celebrating the birth of Jesus seasonally is that it feels like focusing on the manger in October feels “out of place.” Hymns, scriptures and theology that are connected to Christmas tend to be passed over every other time of year, even though their truths are just as important. One of those beautiful truths is the impact of Jesus being born in a manger. Jesus chose to enter our world in the most accessible way possible, becoming like us in His form as well as His status. What an amazing picture of the king leaving His throne to become our brother! 

Hebrews tells us that Jesus (He who sanctifies) and those who are sanctified all henos pantes, or have the same source. Another rendering could be “are all of one stock.” Jesus became like us in our humanity to sanctify us, and by that sanctification we are able to become one with Him! One of the points that the writer of Hebrews is bringing to the surface is that Jesus had to henos panteswith humanity in order to sanctify us. To become the perfect sacrifice for sin, he would have to both be subjected to the temptations of sin without sinning, and have the ability to become a sacrifice through death. His decision meant more than just enduring discomfort, it meant experiencing the ultimate discomfort so that we could be reconciled to God and unified in him! Partnering with Jesus missionally is now simply another way we can follow his lead with the life he has sanctified for us.

Prayer
Jesus, I trust you. I trust your perspective and your leadership. Please give me a fresh reminder of what your hope can awaken inside of me, and allow me to turn that hope into Christ-centered action.

Application
How will I partner with Jesus missionally?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” – Hebrews 2:12 ESV

Greek
ἐκκλησίας/ecclesias: lit. called out ones; assembly, church

Why It Matters
Western culture places a great deal of emphasis on personal potential and achievement. From this thought comes the positive adage “hard work pays off.” However, a negative belief that could develop from this ideology is that there is no need to connect with others in order to live life to its fullest. When it comes to spiritual matters, this often plays out in a person’s insistence that they “don’t need to go to church in order to connect with God.” While this may by true in one sense – God and His work isn’t limited to a service or location – the Bible is full of instruction to stay connected to the ecclesias (church) for a variety of reasons. When Hebrews teaches us about the sanctifying work of Jesus, the writer quotes from a well known chapter of the Psalms (22). This Psalm connects the Messiah’s work that makes us His brothers and sisters with those who make up the ecclesias. When we put our hope in Christ, we become brothers and sisters with those who have done the same, and are called out from the pressures of our society to find rest in the hope of the gospel. It is in this congregation of called out ones that we get to show our culture the unifying power of Jesus. Living in the 21st century, we could find ourselves tempted to believe a lie that the ecclesias is unnecessary. If so, may we respond to the voice of him whose death has made us his siblings, and may we join in song with our brothers and sisters to proclaim his salvation!

Prayer
Jesus, I trust you. I trust your perspective and your leadership. Please give me a fresh reminder of what your hope can awaken inside of me, and allow me to turn that hope into Christ-centered action.

Application
How will I partner with Jesus missionally?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  – Hebrews 2:14 ESV

Greek
καταργήσῃ/katargēsē: to be entirely idle or motionless; render powerless

Why It Matters
Humans have understood the principle of kinetic energy (the extra energy created by movement) for thousands of years. Aristotle believed that all objects have possible energy, and throughout the Middle Ages this principle was studied and theorized about. We may think of motion powered technology as a 21st century idea, but even as early as 1777 a Swiss watchmaker named Abraham-Louis Perrelet invented a mechanism for a pocket watch to be wound simply by walking with it in one’s pocket. Make something move and you’ve given it energy.
In fact, our enemy the Devil is said to be in motion, “prowling around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8). He is not portrayed in some dark room in Hell, sitting around waiting for judgment. There is activity connected to his work.
That’s what is so encouraging about the language of Hebrews 2:14. Jesus’ death on the cross meant that the one who held the power of death has been rendered completely katargēsē – entirely idle and motionless! Satan is so powerless that he no longer has the ability of movement. Whereas at one time his work carried with it a fear and a sting, Jesus has permanently immobilized him, causing him to be idle in the areas we at one time feared the most. For the Christian, death is seen as gain and yet another avenue by which to praise our Heavenly Father. Jesus’ death has kept Satan from moving and now we get to enjoy the freedom that powerlessness brings with it.

Prayer
Father I confess that I have allowed fear to have a larger influence in my life than I let on. I’m grateful for the truth that you sent Jesus to bring freedom from regrets in my past and fear in my future. Your immense love has changed my identity, so help me to leverage that love in boldness to serve those you have called me to.

Application
Where will I function with bravery because of who God says I am?

Music Response
This week we sang songs that focused on Christ’s sacrifice and the freedom that is offered to us as a result. The lyrics embraced great truths like the fact that we are God’s children, He has a place for us and we are who He says we are. As we take that into consideration we can function from a place of peace, confidence and bravery. This week let these songs serve as a powerful reminder and encouragement during moments that we may face fear and know that God is steadfast and will be at our side as we walk through it. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:15 ESV

Greek
δουλεία/douleía: subservience, slavery, bondage

Why It Matters
Since time began, fear has been used to control people. A free person aware of their rights and liberties will submit themselves to the control of others if they fear the consequences. Romans 8:15 connects fear to sin and sin to douleía! This idea of slavery was prevalent to the initial readers of Hebrews. It was common but in a different way than what may come to our modern minds. At that time, debt was the primary cause for individuals and even families to be subjected to slavery. So an otherwise free person would willingly submit themselves as a slave simply because the debt they owed was too large for them to repay. In some cases the result was lifelong.
As a child of God, you are free from the douleíaof sin. You are free not because you have earned your freedom. In fact, our debt is so large we should fear its consequences. However, because of the person and work of Jesus Christ, our debt has been paid! We no longer have to fear death or be subject to the douleíaof sin! With that freedom comes bravery to be people of action.

Prayer
Father I confess that I have allowed fear to have a larger influence in my life than I let on. I’m grateful for the truth that you sent Jesus to bring freedom from regrets in my past and fear in my future. Your immense love has changed my identity, so help me to leverage that love in boldness to serve those you have called me to.

Application
Where will I function with bravery because of who God says I am?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a mercifuland faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. – Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Greek
ἐλεήμων/eleēmōn: full of pity, merciful, compassionate

Why It Matters
In the year 1206, Giovanni Bernadone, the 23-year-old son of a wealthy merchant, famously went to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He was struck by the stark difference of structural beauty surrounded by devastating poverty. In a social experiment, he convinced a beggar to swap clothes with him and spent the rest of the day begging. It served as a significant turning point in his life as he was overwhelmed with sympathy for the poor. In fact, as a result, he founded a religious order whose brothers worked for the poor and the lepers. They gave up their worldly possessions to live in poverty like those they chose to serve. Giovanni Bernadone, known to us now as St. Francis of Assisi, stepped into poverty and it forever changed him – and those he chose to serve – as he was overcome with compassion and became eleēmōn.

Mercy and grace are often confused. Grace is when one gets what they don’t deserve. Mercy is when one doesn’t get what they deserve. As followers of Jesus, we don’t get what we deserve because God is eleēmōn. Mercy and compassion carry with them the capacity to be sympathetic. Jesus understands the struggles of this life. He stepped into humanity, not as a social experiment, but as an act of  love. He was clothed with humanity, tempted, and yet without sin, paid the penalty we deserve. Therefore, he is not a distant and disengaged higher being but rather a “brother” able to understand, have compassion, and intercede on our behalf. He is eleēmōn. There is comfort and strength that comes from being understood, known, and cared for. Our bravery has a source!

Prayer
Father I confess that I have allowed fear to have a larger influence in my life than I let on. I’m grateful for the truth that you sent Jesus to bring freedom from regrets in my past and fear in my future. Your immense love has changed my identity, so help me to leverage that love in boldness to serve those you have called me to.

Application
Where will I function with bravery because of who God says I am?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!