Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  – Hebrews 12:12 ESV

Greek
παρειμένας/pareimenas: relaxed, drooping

Why It Matters
The author of Hebrews is writing in uncertain times. Because of religious persecution the Christians being addressed are beginning to wonder if it’s worth continuing to hold all their hope in Jesus. It would be much easier to either go back to their traditional Jewish way of life (Jews were exempt from Roman persecution in many areas) or to relax their grip on the gospel and live out a hybrid worship of Caesar along with Jesus. They probably felt the urge to let their pursuit of Christ become pareimenas (relaxed, unguarded). So to encourage them in their pursuit of Christ, our author references a well-known passage in the book of Isaiah. The Old Testament prophet declared that the people of Edom, who were Israel’s oppressive neighbors, would be stripped of their power and a season of peace was on the horizon. As a result of what was to come, Isaiah encourages his readers to strengthen their feeble hands and weak knees. And as our author directly quotes from Isaiah, we are reminded that we cannot become pareimenas either! This Greek word means to give in to your exhaustion and stop working, something that is tempting to do if we don’t see any hope in our immediate future. The beauty of scripture is that it’s not telling us that “Weariness is not an option for any real Christian.” More realistically, scripture encourages us by saying “I know this season is a tiring one, but there’s reason to keep up the work of pursuing Jesus!” Hebrews reminds us that even when there is a lack of peace in our circumstances, the Lord has written the last chapter of our story. And because of this promised future there is reason to not give up, but to entrust our determined efforts to a God who remains constant in uncertain times.

Prayer
I thank you, Lord, that your mercy toward me can be found in both the big and little details of my life. I don’t have to see a miracle to know you are good, because your salvation is all the revelation I need. Lead me by your grace, I pray, to the work you’ve prepared for me.

Application
Who will I make peace with this week?

Music Response
This week’s set – our first on Instagram Live and FaceBook Live – was comprised of songs that sing about the nearness of God right in the middle of our brokenness and sin and our deep need for him. Believing as you listen this week that they will remind you to keep your eyes on Jesus and stay close to him. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Greek
διώκετε/diōkete: earnestly chasing, desiring to overtake

Why It Matters
In 2011 art dealer and archaeologist Forrest Fenn hid a treasure chest filled with gold in the Rocky Mountains believed to be worth close to 2 million dollars. After he wrote a poem with clues to the whereabouts of the prize, thousands of people began scouring the region and searching relentlessly. Several people have relocated to Rocky Mountain states to search full time, and at least four people have died in their pursuit of Fenn’s riches. It’s amazing what lengths people will go to for what they consider valuable.
Hebrews challenges us to do something similar with our lives as well. Rather than use up our energy to chase wealth, we are to diōkete (earnestly pursue with all haste) peace with everyone. This verb is present, active and imperative, meaning that the author of Hebrews is giving us a command that should begin immediately and that we should actively engage in. This means that diōkete for peace with everyone isn’t a suggestion or a nice goal; this is our command as people who follow Jesus! The Bible doesn’t tell us what that specifically will look like in our lives (wouldn’t that be nice). But it does imply through this Greek word that the pursuit of peace will be both challenging and something worth earnestly chasing.

Prayer
I thank you, Lord, that your mercy toward me can be found in both the big and little details of my life. I don’t have to see a miracle to know you are good, because your salvation is all the revelation I need. Lead me by your grace, I pray, to the work you’ve prepared for me.

Application
Who will I make peace with this week?

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!

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; – Hebrews 12:15 ESV

Greek
ῥίζα/rhiza: root, source

Why It Matters
There’s a popular do-it-yourself science experiment that goes like this: cut the stem of a white carnation or Queen Anne’s Lace flower, put it in a vase with dyed water, and after a few days your flower will take on the color of the dye in the water. Chances are you have either attempted this experiment or have seen its results. However, leave the roots intact and you’ll notice that the dye doesn’t make it to the flower. The roots act as a filter for the flower, differentiating between necessary nutrients and impurities such as the dye. It turns out if the root is healthy, the flower remains pure.
But the roots won’t filter impurities forever. Over time they become damaged or accustomed to the toxins they’re immersed in, allowing more and more pollutants to reach the flower, the fruit or the leaves. Hebrews is addressing the truth that people who live in tumultuous times can very easily spew bitterness as long as their rhiza (root, source) is immersed in the difficulty around them. Our author wants to ensure that the men and women being addressed don’t find their source in the troubled world they live in; otherwise what will develop in them is a rhiza of bitterness. This is a first century issue that resonates with us loud and clear today! With so many people bitter, angry, frustrated and caustic, we will naturally begin to take on those qualities if we choose to be immersed in them. That’s why our verse reminds us to obtain the grace of God! None of us have any hope of coming out of troubled times unscathed apart from ensuring that our rhiza is firmly planted in the gospel. Only the good news of the grace of Jesus can provide an adequate antidote to the bitterness of this life. His sacrifice on our behalf means that we have a choice between remaining in our bitterness or accepting the pure life he died to offer.

Prayer
I thank you, Lord, that your mercy toward me can be found in both the big and little details of my life. I don’t have to see a miracle to know you are good, because your salvation is all the revelation I need. Lead me by your grace, I pray, to the work you’ve prepared for me.

Application
Who will I make peace with this week?

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 you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest – Hebrews 12:18 ESV

Greek
γνόφῳ καὶ ζόφῳ/gnophō kai zophō: murky darkness and palpable cloudiness

Why It Matters
When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his children’s literature classic The Hobbit, he chose to set the frightening scene of entering the Lonely Mountain this way: “It seemed as if darkness flowed out like a vapour from the hole in the mountain-side…” Tolkien describes loneliness and darkness with such vivid detail, that they are almost like another character in his work. Millions of kids (and adults) have been chilled by the imagery of darkness taking on the properties of something animated and tangible. But that’s how both Exodus and Hebrews describe the presence of God at Mt. Sinai. The Israelites in the wilderness were made aware of God’s holiness in part by the gnophō kai zophō (murky darkness and palpable cloudiness) of His presence. Not only is this a memorable rhyme – similar to “doom and gloom” in english – it also causes us to feel something tangible about the darkness God’s presence brought. But why would God’s presence bring gnophō kai zophō? We would expect God’s presence to be described as bringing light and cheer. In a desert environment in which clouds were scarce and the sun was inescapable, clouds, murkiness and gloom during the day were completely foreign. The darkness being described in Exodus showed the people how unique God was and just how dangerous his presence would be to enter, unless you were prepared to do so. And the crowd realized quickly that none of them were prepared for such an impossible task! That’s when God selected Moses to represent the people, climb Mt. Sinai, enter his presence, and bring the law back down to the people. Moses could point to the law but couldn’t meet the requirements of the law himself. However, the book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus did meet the requirements of the law, and in doing so simultaneously took on the darkness of our sin and the gnophō kai zophō of God’s presence! Now we can celebrate Holy Week as people who are perfected by the sacrifice of Jesus and confidently able to enter the place where God dwells.

Prayer
Jesus, I approach the celebration of your resurrection with the recognition that you have made all things new. You were cast out so I can enter in. You left the heavenly glory of God so I could have access to it. Now I seek your voice and your presence, rather than running from them. Give me a heart to seek you more diligently, especially in this sacred season.

Application
Where this week will I step out in faith?

Music Response
The songs this week not only support the truth from the message and the application question (like “my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior” from Oceans), but offer us incredible imagery to consider as we sing (like climbing mountains in search of God from Highlands). Allow these songs to position your heart to hear and see God, his holiness, and be led by Him. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” – Hebrews 12:21 ESV

Greek
eκφοβός/ekphobos: scared out of my wits; unable to think clearly because of fear

Why It Matters
In John 16, Jesus showed us what it looks like to properly balance realism with hope. He tells us in verse 33, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” If Jesus simply informed us the world will be full of problems we could dismiss him for being too obvious. If he never addressed the issues of the world and turned a blind eye to our troubles, we could accuse him of not being in tune with the reality we face daily. But when Jesus recognizes difficulty and yet points to a way to rise above that difficulty, He exhibits his trustworthiness. There are times when the situations we face tempt us to forget just how good Jesus really is. We see the rhythm of our lives disturbed or the very things we take comfort in eradicated, and fear somehow creeps in. Like Moses, we tremble with ekphobos, or fear so terrifying that it stops us from thinking clearly! Literally this unique Greek word can be translated out of (ek) one’s wits due to fear (phobos). However, the difference between what Moses faced and what we face is pretty obvious. The thing that caused Moses ekphobos was the living God, while the things that do that for us are under the living God’s control! In fact, chances are that if you’re experiencing fear so terrifying that you can’t think clearly, it’s because you’ve replaced God with something or someone that is currently threatened. The Bible calls this idolatry. Moses experienced the ekphobos-inducing presence of God in all his holiness and might, and as a sinful human he rightfully was intensely fearful. But the good news is that Jesus exchanged his own holiness and perfection for our sin as he was crucified, thus providing a way for us to enter the presence of God with boldness and confidence. Now whenever the world serves up tribulation as Jesus foretold, we can take heart, think clearly, and fix our eyes on Jesus. He alone provides a hope that can never be threatened.

Prayer
Jesus, I approach the celebration of your resurrection with the recognition that you have made all things new. You were cast out so I can enter in. You left the Heavenly glory of God so I could have access to it. Now I seek your voice and your presence, rather than running from them. Give me a heart to seek you more diligently, especially in this sacred season.

Application
Where this week will I step out in faith?

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 you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, – Hebrews 12:22 ESV

Greek
πανηγύρει/panēgyrei: all-public gathering for the purpose of celebration

Why It Matters
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest dance party ever held lasted 55 consecutive hours in Wexford, Ireland. 3,264 people attended the largest potluck “party” at an event in India in 2016. Over 109,000 people set the World Record for attending a Garlic-themed festival in California during the summer of 2011. As people we love to gather, and our reasons for doing so seem to be as unique as we are!
When Hebrews expounds on how Jesus opened the way for us to live in God’s presence, it does so in the context of comparing Old Covenant reality with the arrival of the New Covenant. Where before Christ’s resurrection the presence of God dispersed the crowd, now we get to join together as changed people into the joy of God’s presence. Signified by Mount Zion, this new reality that Jesus ushered in gives us access to countless angels in panēgyrei (a public gathering for the purpose of celebrating). Found only here in the New Testament, this Greek word is used to describe a public festival in which no one is excluded – the more the merrier! As we celebrate the tragedy of Good Friday – the events of which dispersed Jesus’ followers – we look forward to his resurrection and the access it gives us to a panēgyrei in God’s presence. What a day that will be when we will come together in celebration of the one who made a way for us to join in the eternal party!

Prayer
Jesus, I approach the celebration of your resurrection with the recognition that you have made all things new. You were cast out so I can enter in. You left the Heavenly glory of God so I could have access to it. Now I seek your voice and your presence, rather than running from them. Give me a heart to seek you more diligently, especially in this sacred season.

Application
Where this week will I step out in faith?

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!

This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. – Hebrews 12:27 ESV

Greek
σαλευομένων/saleuomenōn: to agitate, rock, topple or destroy

Why It Matters
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” This quote is a reminder that often, your attitude can be adjusted with a simple shift in perspective. One of the themes of this week’s passage is that everything in this world will be saleuomenōn (agitated to the point of being toppled and destroyed). At first glance, this seems to pose an enormous problem. Is Hebrews telling us that life as we know it will one day be leveled, and the things we enjoy will cease to exist? It appears that way, but this could actually be some very good news! Chances are you know someone who has been affected negatively by the circumstances in which we currently find ourselves. Whether it be financially, emotionally, physically or otherwise, the “new normal” of life has taken a toll on many worldwide. This is indeed difficult, and we would never want to disregard the significant issues you or people you love may be facing. But the truth is that things have been saleuomenōn, and in this reality we are reminded that we were meant to find hope in something that is impervious to shaking! Hebrews reminds us that when things are saleuomenōn, what cannot be shaken will indeed remain. Then the passage goes on to identify these sturdy elements as belonging to the kingdom of God, which has been given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus (see v. 28). So the encouraging thing is that this season of shaking can reveal whether I’ve been hoping in something that will last or not. And if I do identify this to be the case, that means it’s not too late to lean in to the unshakable hope of Jesus.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I have so much to be thankful for! You have been my constant shield and protector, and my blessings both large and small come from you. Help me not to take for granted the grace you give me, and to have a heart of gratitude this week In Jesus’ name.

Application
When will I take time this week to express gratitude to the Lord?

Music Response
The overall theme of this week’s set is probably best summed up in a line from Remembrance (Hillsong). In the chorus it says, “Hallelujah, I’ll live my life in remembrance…Hallelujah, your promise I won’t forget.” As we take time this week to express gratitude to the Lord, the key is to remember his sacrifice, remember that he’s never failed or let us down, remember that he is for us. Our remembering spurs us on to live in gratitude and move forward with confidence. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, – Hebrews 12:28 ESV

Greek
χάριν/charin: to be thankful to one for a benefit or favor

Why It Matters
Laurie Santos teaches the most popular class ever offered at Yale. When it was first offered, more than 1,200 students signed up, and since the response was so positive the University agreed to provide the course to the public online and free of charge. As of Easter 2020, the class entitled “The Science of Well-Being” has over 2 million people enrolled. Professor Santos teaches that a major factor in a person’s happiness is their willingness to count their blessings. The logic is that when we spend sufficient time reflecting on what we have, we begin to see our blessings as gifts and thus cultivate a grateful attitude. 
We could argue that the writer of Hebrews believes this, too. At least eight times he or she uses a form of the word charis (Greek for grace), and in this instance it’s linked to gratitude. In essence, Hebrews is reminding us to be charin (thankful for a benefit or favor) for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. When we remember that it’s through the charis of Jesus that we’ve received access to this kingdom, we become charin that this kingdom is ours! It’s when we forget that what we have is a gift to be grateful for that we think we deserve better than what we have. Now is a great time to count your blessings and reflect on gifts that you’ve been given!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I have so much to be thankful for! You have been my constant shield and protector, and my blessings both large and small come from you. Help me not to take for granted the grace you give me, and to have a heart of gratitude this week In Jesus’ name.

Application
When will I take time this week to express gratitude to the Lord?

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 our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:29 ESV

Greek
καταναλίσκον/katanaliskon: use up or utterly consume

Why It Matters
It seems that every major city in the world has had their own “great fire” story. Rome, London, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto and even Rochester have been scarred by some uncontrollable inferno. We all know how easy fire spreads and how destructive it can be, and yet without it life would be too arduous to bear. It would be an overreaction to ban fire in a city that has just suffered from its effects. There are layers to our relationship with fire; humanity needs it to flourish, but just as importantly humanity needs to respect its power. It’s tempting to view God in one dimension. We can wrap our mind around a God who’s always angry or aloof or merciful or disappointed. However, Hebrews here begins to unpack the depth of God’s character and expresses this in a unique way. Here, our writer closes this incredible passage on God’s kingdom by once more referencing Mount Sinai. In verse 18 we are shown that the Israelites first experienced God in a “blazing fire.” This fire was terrifying and destructive. Now in verse 29 God is characterized as a katanaliskon (to utterly use up or consume) fire. In the first instance, the people are told to keep away from the fire, but the katanaliskon fire is the reason we approach God in worship with reverence and awe. The fire is still blazing and destructive, but there’s another dimension to it. The verb Katanaliskon reminds us that nothing remains when fire gets a hold of it – every flammable object that fire touches gets consumed! But in the context of the kingdom this consumption is a good thing, because all we bring to our relationship with God are the filthy rags of our own righteousness (see Isaiah 64:6). When offered before the katanaliskon fire of God’s presence, our sin doesn’t stand a chance! And better yet, the same flame that did this in us refined the perfect sacrifice Jesus offered to his Father. Now we can’t help but be grateful that we get to receive the eternal results of this divine exchange.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I have so much to be thankful for! You have been my constant shield and protector, and my blessings both large and small come from you. Help me not to take for granted the grace you give me, and to have a heart of gratitude this week In Jesus’ name.

Application
When will I take time this week to express gratitude to the Lord?

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!

Let brotherly love continue. – Hebrews 13:1 ESV

Greek
φιλαδελφία/philadelphia: brotherly affection for others
μενέτω/menetō: remain, abide

Why It Matters
As Hebrews turns the final corner toward its finish line, it might seem like our author has paused his message about Jesus and switched gears in order to give practical instruction to his readers. However, the reality is that the concluding remarks of this book are the practical reality of believing the implications of Hebrews’ first 12 chapters. At Centerway, it doesn’t take long before you hear the phrase “we believe the text requires something of us,” and Hebrews is now showing what is required of its readers if we want to apply its message.
It’s interesting to note that the first instruction is to let philadelphia menetō(brotherly affection for others remain or abide). Because of religious persecution and internal division, the first people to hear these words had to be reminded not to focus inwardly, protecting themselves from the outside world. Rather, the philadelphia that they had before trouble arose must menetō as an application of their trust in Christ. Although we probably aren’t in the same situation as the original audience of Hebrews, we can certainly relate to the temptation to turn our focus inward in seasons of change. These two Greek words together challenge us to remain steadfast in uncertain times in the way we tangibly love other people. John Calvin wrote, “nothing evaporates more easily than love when everybody looks after himself…” Now is the perfect time for those of us who believe the first 12 chapters of Hebrews to assess what it looks like in our world to let philadelphia menetō.

Prayer
I am profoundly thankful, God, for the way you speak directly to my circumstance. Please allow my life to be led by your voice and reflect the image of Jesus along the way. Whether life is consistent or ever-changing, I choose to be content in your will for me.

Application
In what areas of my life will I pray for contentment?

Music Response
We are grateful for songs that posture our heart in confidence, trust, and worship to the only One that satisfies and brings contentment, even in the midst of unpleasant or unexpected seasons. That contentment comes by knowing who we are in Christ. This week’s set will keep that truth on your lips all this week! To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. – Hebrews 13:3 ESV

Greek
δεσμίων/desmiōn: one who is bound or held captive; a prisoner

Why It Matters
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway reads like this:
Because we’ve been awarded grace we value AUTHENTICITY therefore we honestly do life together, don’t try to hide our mess, and don’t lead second rate versions of our one and only life.
We genuinely believe grace affords us the freedom to see our lives in the context of serving and blessing the people around us. But in a time when we’ve been ordered to keep away from one another, can we still authentically do life together? There’s a chance you’re not feeling much freedom now, and the physical distance between us has made it far easier to both hide our mess and feel justified in settling for a second rate version of living. Whether you’re on the front lines of combating the virus, working longer hours as an essential worker, or are quarantined at home, you may even find yourself feeling like a desmiōn(one who is bound or held captive). There’s not much you can do to change your current reality, and you wish your life wasn’t in the holding pattern that it’s in. That’s why our verse today has the potential to be so life giving! The original audience of Hebrews lived in an era of religious persecution and uncertainty. So many Christians were becoming desmiōn that the writer of Hebrews gives the imperative to remember these prisoners as though you were in prison along with them. Clearly, this verse isn’t suggesting that we as Christians join them in their imprisonment; rather we are expected to ease the loneliness, suffering and isolation of desmiōn. As people who have been awarded grace, we understand that God is caring for us, and as a result we can both identify with and care for those who experience incredible difficulty. There’s no stigma or concern for our reputation, because our identity is found in Christ alone. It’s when we take our eyes off of ourselves and lean into the contentment of God’s grace that we’re authentically free to bless others.

Prayer
I am profoundly thankful, God, for the way you speak directly to my circumstance. Please allow my life to be led by your voice and reflect the image of Jesus along the way. Whether life is consistent or ever-changing, I choose to be content in your will for me.

Application
In what areas of my life will I pray for contentment?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Greek
αρκούμενοι τοῖς παροῦσιν/arkoumenoi tois parousin: being satisfied with one’s present reality

Why It Matters
In the song “Non-Stop” from Broadway’s musical Hamilton, Eliza Hamilton is frustrated at how busy and distracted her husband Alexander is. Eliza confronts Hamilton about whether or not he could be satisfied with his life as it’s currently configured. “Look around, isn’t this enough?” she questions, to which Alexander responds “I am not throwing away my shot.” Hamilton’s many accomplishments included the creation of the US Coast Guard, founding of the New York Post, writing most of the Federalist Papers and establishing America’s financial system as we know it. But historians like Ron Chernow attribute his ambition less to his hunger to see the world a better place and more to his desire as an immigrant to prove he belonged in a country and system he didn’t grow up in. For all his achievements, Hamilton had a hard time arkoumenoi tois parousin – being satisfied with one’s present reality.
On Sunday, Claude connected the command to arkoumenoi tois parousin with the Old Testament promise quoted at the end of this verse that God will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5). In a world that often prioritizes their own version of progress, dissatisfaction is seen as a badge of honor, necessary to make the world a better place. But scripture seems to link satisfaction not with outward achievement but inward reality. If we can grasp the certainty that God is all we need for ultimate contentment, then the things we achieve will be motivated by something other than a shot at satisfaction. Growth, progress and achievement are not bad things! But when we desire them to fill some void we feel in our lives, we miss out on the richness of the truth that the only thing we really need is the thing that we already have.

Prayer
I am profoundly thankful, God, for the way you speak directly to my circumstance. Please allow my life to be led by your voice and reflect the image of Jesus along the way. Whether life is consistent or ever-changing, I choose to be content in your will for me.

Application
In what areas of my life will I pray for contentment?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. – Hebrews 13:7 ESV

Greek
ἀναθεωροῦντες/anatheōrountes: to observe carefully; to focus complete attention on

Why It Matters
Swiss engineer George de Mestral loved the great outdoors. In 1941 he took his regular hike in the Alps with his dog and was once again vexed by the small burdock burrs that stuck to his clothes. At first, de Mestral began mindlessly cleaning the burrs off of his clothing, but he quickly became fascinated at the mechanism that allowed them to cling to fabric and fur. de Mestral intently studied the little seeds and, over time, developed a fastener system copied from the pattern of their small hooks, thus inventing Velcro. What started out as an overlooked nuisance became a legacy building invention, once observed carefully.
The kind of focused attention that led to the invention of Velcro is what is being articulated by the use of the word anatheōrountes in our verse today. Broken apart, this Greek verb means “to observe up and down.” We might use the word “study” as a synonym for the instruction to anatheōrountes the outcome of their (our leaders) way of life. This is a timely word for those of us immersed in the western culture of cynical distrust. In our world today there seems to be two errors of thought on opposite ends of the spectrum. Many are conditioned to discount our spiritual leaders as either polished snake oil salesmen or as saints with access to some unattainable connection to God. But Hebrews infers that both of these are faulty views of Biblical leaders, who instead are marked by their willingness to speak to us the word of God (v. 7). When our leaders help us navigate life by pointing us to what God says in his word, we will clearly observe that it’s He who gets the credit for the outcome, not the leader himself or herself. When Biblical leadership is anatheōrountes properly, we will not only see Jesus, but we just may also be inspired to speak the word of God to influence others as well.

Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for the moments that I’ve given in to the lie that I should submit to my appetite above all else. Because of Your care for me, I’m reminded that I can be generous with others without having to worry about whether my needs will be taken care of. Please open my eyes to creative ways to showcase Your generosity to others.

Application
In what ways will I be generous this week?

Music Response
Songs often serve as worshipful prayers… lyrics that both honor God and position us in prayerful surrender. For the One (Bethel Music) is a song we’ve sung many times at Centerway, but this week it’s especially fitting – as we consider how to be generous – to sing words like “let me be filled with kindness and compassion for the one” and “let all my life tell of who You are.” We pray that will always be a mark of our lives as Christ-followers and as a church family. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. – Hebrews 13:9 ESV

Greek
βεβαιοῦσθαι/bebaiousthai: to steady, fortify or strengthen

Why It Matters
French fries. Warm chocolate chip cookies. Macaroni and cheese. Fried chicken. There’s just something about comfort food that’s hard to resist. Chances are you have a go-to food that you crave, especially when you’re bored or upset. The right cuisine at the right time seems to calm us down, cheer us up or otherwise make us feel better.
But there are obvious problems that come with our need for comfort food. They don’t need to be listed here, but when our lives need to be steadied, there is a better place to turn. The writer of Hebrews says that it is good for our hearts to be bebaiousthai (steadied, fortified or strengthened) by grace. The assurance that Jesus loves us and will rescue us in moments of fear or pain is available to everyone who trusts in Him. False teachers were trying to convince the original audience of Hebrews that Jesus’ salvation was only available to believers who ate a kosher diet similar to Old Testament commands. These people taught that eating a specific diet in addition to Jesus’ work would get you in right standing with God. But our verse today reminds us that our hearts will only be bebaiousthai by grace, which will never diminish no matter how much we need it (see verse 8). Religious duty is the “comfort food” of spiritual life. It may make you feel good for a short time, but it doesn’t take long for that feeling to go away and there’s a chance you’ll feel worse when it’s all said and done! Thank God that his grace through Jesus is effective enough to completely assuage our fears and bebaiousthai our wavering hearts.

Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for the moments that I’ve given in to the lie that I should submit to my appetite above all else. Because of Your care for me, I’m reminded that I can be generous with others without having to worry about whether my needs will be taken care of. Please open my eyes to creative ways to showcase Your generosity to others.

Application
In what ways will I be generous this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. – Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Greek
ἐπιλανθάνεσθε/epilanthanesthe: forget about, no longer care for

Why It Matters
In 2015 an Israeli diver pulled a coin out of the waters of Cesarea. What he first suspected to be a chocolate candy coin wrapper turned out to be authentic, part of a group of over two thousand coins that had been lost to history for about one thousand years. We will never know how or why the coins were embedded in the sea floor, but it’s remarkable that such a treasure – worth upwards of $1 million today – was forgotten for so long. 

We are all familiar with the experience of forgetting something. Sometimes it’s small, like forgetting to brush your teeth before you go to work. Other times we forget more important things like where we left our keys or even the birthday of someone we love. The thing about being forgetful is that no one intentionally does it; other things in our lives simply tend to distract us from what’s important. That’s what Hebrews is warning us to be aware of in our verse today. Our author deems it critical to not epilanthanesthe (forget about or no longer care for) to do good and to share with others. When fear, pain and other life issues vie for space in our lives and crowd our thoughts, the admonishment to be generous can be unintentionally forgotten. But Hebrews tells us that generosity is something worth being intentional about! The Bible is realistic about how difficult this can be, calling this type of selflessness a sacrifice. But as Christians we live to please God, and since verse 16 tells us that God is pleased with such sacrifices it becomes obvious how important it is to not epilanthanesthe them. Working to remember generosity takes intention, but in prioritizing this we both imitate Jesus and please God. Now that’s real treasure!

Prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for the moments that I’ve given in to the lie that I should submit to my appetite above all else. Because of Your care for me, I’m reminded that I can be generous with others without having to worry about whether my needs will be taken care of. Please open my eyes to creative ways to showcase Your generosity to others.

Application
In what ways will I be generous this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. – Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Greek
ἀλυσιτελὲς/alysiteles: unprofitable, detrimental or pernicious

Why It Matters
How do you know when you’re too close to the edge of a cliff? The short answer to this question is “when you fall over the edge.” Of course the problem with this question is that you don’t really know until it’s too late! This applies to many things in life. We often don’t know when we are driving too fast, working too hard or spending too much… until it’s too late to fix the issue.
Most of us are quite familiar with the idea that people have to learn this lesson the hard way. Don’t get me wrong, when other people experience difficulty we feel bad for them. It’s just that the lessons that can be learned as a result don’t always find their way into our lives. The writer of Hebrews ends their letter with the exhortation to allow our leaders to keep watch over our souls without leading them to groaning. This is to be done because that would be alysiteles(unprofitable or detrimental) to you. Beyond the idea that nothing good will happen by causing Godly leaders to groan, alysiteles carries with it the idea of having a harmful effect in a gradual or subtle way. So neglecting Godly counsel comes with the danger that we will subtly drift toward harm. And much like approaching the edge of a cliff, we’ll likely have no idea we’re in jeopardy until it’s too late. Godly leaders are there so we wouldn’t have to learn of the pitfalls of sin the hard way; as we submit to their guidance and trust their leadership we have access to the wisdom to navigate life away from the dangerous edge.

Prayer
God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, please equip me with everything good so that I may do your will. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight; give me the grace to do this in Jesus’ name!

Application
What step will I take to be better resourced in my spiritual life?

Music Response
As we take steps to be better resourced and walk in willing submission and grace this week, let’s sing songs that encourage us to surrender our all and pray that we would be vessels in the careful hands of God. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. – Hebrews 13:18 ESV

Greek
καλὴν/kalēn: good ie. virtuous; beautiful, productive

Why It Matters
In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, in which someone scatters seeds that land in four different environments. The seed that fell on kalēn (good) soil produced a significant harvest yielding up to 100 times more than sown. Jesus goes on to explain that the kalēn soil is like the person who hears the word of God and understands it, implying that there’s something about understanding God’s word that makes our lives fruitful and beautiful.
This is our 33rd and final week in the Book of Hebrews, which means by week’s end we will have studied 99 Greek words from this important pastoral work. However, this journey will not have been worth taking if we don’t allow the word to make good and fruitful soil out of our lives! As our author makes their final remarks, he or she informs us of their kalēn conscience. In context, this means that they have written this book with a pastor’s heart, not doing so with personal or alternative motives. Their conscience is not only clear but healthy and productive. And therein lies the beautiful correlation between our verse today and Jesus’ parable: the kalēn in both instances is personal, but is designed to be used to point outward, or bless other people. God’s gift of grace is never designed to be hoarded, but to be given away in a manner that serves others and glorifies God! As we see the beauty of Jesus, who gave his perfect life for our loathsome sin, the desire to change our focus from our will to his grows stronger and stronger. Let’s allow the lessons we’ve learned from Hebrews to grow our love for Christ and the people he died to rescue.

Prayer
God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, please equip me with everything good so that I may do your will. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight; give me the grace to do this in Jesus’ name!

Application
What step will I take to be better resourced in my spiritual life?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,  – Hebrews 13:20 ESV

Greek
εἰρήνης/eirēnēs: wholeness, the tranquility that comes from the assurance of salvation

Why It Matters
Jimi Hendrix is famously quoted as saying “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” This is a really nice idea, however if Hendrix is right then peace can only come about if certain criteria are met – by people outside of our sphere of influence. Hendrix did hit on something profound though. No matter our circumstance the entire world is in need of peace, and all of us are searching for something that we can’t conjure up on our own.
The book of Hebrews has pointed to Jesus from its first verse, so it’s no surprise that its final passage is full of praise and glory to him! Our author ends this incredible work with a prayer that the God of eirēnēs (peace, wholeness) will equip them with everything good. We wouldn’t have time to cover every nuance of meaning in this word, but its richness has serious implications for our lives. Often we think of the notion of peace in terms of stillness or absence of fighting, but this is just one aspect of a broader concept. Biblical eirēnēs has less to do with a momentary feeling and is much more directed toward the reality of true wholeness. So when Hebrews speaks of the God of eirēnēs, it’s reminding us that he has provided wholeness through the person and work of Jesus. This truth will certainly bring about the emotions we connect with peace, but going deeper, eirēnēs promises to provide us with a state of tranquility that comes from being assured of our salvation. Jesus has done the work we could never do! And now our peace comes from what he has completed rather than how we feel moment to moment.

Prayer
God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, please equip me with everything good so that I may do your will. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight; give me the grace to do this in Jesus’ name!

Application
What step will I take to be better resourced in my spiritual life?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!