Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession  – Hebrews 3:1 ESV

Greek
ὁμολογίας/homologias: confession

Why It Matters
If you enjoy the genre, you’ll notice a fairly predictable formula for the ending of crime shows or courtroom drama TV episodes. After providing the audience with clues and suspects, someone who was never thought of at the beginning of the show will often confess to committing the crime. It can be shocking, but their homologias – confession – causes the story to come together and make sense. (This also happens to be the storyline of choice for Scooby Doo!).
The writer of Hebrews is quick to point out that Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our homologias. But rather than confessing an act of guilt, we are confessing the only One who can free us from guilt. This compound word is made of the Greek words homo (one) and logos (word). Hebrews wants us to understand as the people of God that the unified word we confess will bring clarity to our story. When the people we experience life with wonder why we’re as generous as we are, or why we have such a sure hope in the midst of darkness, it’s our homologias of Jesus as apostle and high priest that will cause the story to come together. Because Jesus is our apostle, He represents God to mankind; because Jesus is our High Priest, He represents mankind to God. As the people of God stand on the declaration of this unified word, we have the assurance that Jesus performs these dual roles to perfection. And because guilt no longer accuses, and condemns us we can live with abandon, thankful for both our mediator and our example.

Prayer
Glorious Father, I run to you, much the way a child runs into the arms of their loving parent. I need your rest and freedom from that which I have tried to strive after. I know that I can trust you, and have confidence that you will be able to carry me through the days ahead. Thank you for providing a place of refuge in Jesus’ name!

Application
What will I act on this week because of the confidence I have in Christ?

Music Response
This week’s set included songs focusing on God’s never-ending love for us and how it remains true through the mountains and valleys of life. As we consider what we will act on this week because of the confidence we have in Christ, these songs can help us recalibrate to be mindful of the fact that God’s love for us won’t run out and because of that we can walk through life with a confidence that isn’t found elsewhere. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,  – Hebrews 3:6 ESV

Greek
μαρτύριον/martyrion: the evidence given for something

Why It Matters
Today, a martyr is known as someone who loses their life for their faith or beliefs, but that word wasn’t always synonymous with this. The Greek word martyrion simply implies that something is submitted as evidence for a truth or an event. A martyr’s death is evidence that their faith is worth giving their all for.
Hebrews shows that Moses was faithful as a servant, to martyrion to the things that were to be spoken later. As Moses received the law, his faithfulness to deliver the law as well as implement the tabernacle system of sacrifice was inspiring to his people. But that faithfulness wasn’t an end in itself; it was martyrion, or evidence given for something to be spoken later. The Book of John declares that Jesus is the Word made flesh and the fulfillment of the law. Whereas the law was evidence of our brokenness and inability to keep God’s command, Jesus – the Word of God – lived a sinless life and thereby fulfilled the demands of the law on our behalf! Now we can see Moses as evidence that God doesn’t sweep the law under the rug when dealing with our sin, and Jesus’ resurrection as evidence that our sin has been dealt with, fully and completely.

Prayer
Glorious Father, I run to you, much the way a child runs into the arms of their loving parent. I need your rest and freedom from that which I have tried to strive after. I know that I can trust you, and have confidence that you will be able to carry me through the days ahead. Thank you for providing a place of refuge in Jesus’ name!

Application
What will I act on this week because of the confidence I have in Christ?

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 Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. – Hebrews 3:6 ESV

Greek
καύχημα/kauchēma: boasting, glorying, exultation

Why It Matters
Is there anything more annoying that the “humblebrag”? Coined in 2012 by writer Harris Wittels, this term describes a way to disguise self-promotion with some humility. In other words, when your friend tells you “It’s so frustrating that none of my clothes fit now that I’ve lost all this weight!” they’ve just committed a humblebrag. Psychologists have found that most people who rely on this strategy think they are authentically hiding their kauchēma (boasting or exultation), but in reality are being very transparent. Why have so many of us been taught to believe that bragging is wrong? The answer most likely lies in the truth that almost all bragging is naturally self-promoting.

That’s what makes the description of a person who belongs to God’s house so interesting. Our verse indicates that we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and our kauchēma in our hope. The impetus for our boasting as Christians isn’t inward-focused or glorifying of our efforts. Hebrews says that we should be kauchēma in our hope! This hope isn’t derived from an internal source, but rather the Good News of Jesus’ substitutionary work on our behalf. If we find ourselves wanting to brag about something, it should be bragging about how when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now that we’ve been reminded that our hope points to someone else, we can rest in the freedom that comes with not having to worry about the humblebrag of self-promotion. Thank you Jesus!

Prayer
Glorious Father, I run to you, much the way a child runs into the arms of their loving parent. I need your rest and freedom from that which I have tried to strive after. I know that I can trust you, and have confidence that you will be able to carry me through the days ahead. Thank you for providing a place of refuge in Jesus’ name!

Application
What will I act on this week because of the confidence I have in Christ?

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!

do not hardenyour hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, – Hebrews 3:8 ESV

Greek
σκληρύνητε/sklērúnēte: to harden or make stubborn

Why It Matters
Have you ever thought to yourself, “If I saw a miracle with my own eyes, I would never waver in my faith as long as I live!”? It can be tempting to assume that all we need in order to trust God completely is a bona fide supernatural experience. However, Hebrews reminds us that even the most profound experiences and powerfully answered prayers won’t guarantee that we won’t sklērúnēte(harden, make stubborn) our heart. Quoting Psalm 95, Hebrews implies that those Israelites who traveled with Moses through the wilderness were exposed to miraculous events. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a front row seat to the Red Sea parting, manna coming down from Heaven to eat, and water to drink right from a rock? Some of these miracles were singular events, but others (such as receiving manna and following a pillar of fire at night) occurred regularly. So it seems as if those Israelites became numb, or sklērúnēte,to God’s demonstrations of power and protection in their lives. The supernatural had become typical, and the wondrous became common.

Today, we are surrounded by incredibly miraculous occurrences that, if we’re not careful, could be taken for granted. The intricacies of our heartbeat, the precision of earth’s orbit, and the process of forming words from a thought are just a few. Hebrews 3:8 adds another: the ability to hear the voice of Creator God! This gift is something we should never take for granted, and a sklērúnēteheart could keep us from responding appropriately. So, what is the remedy for a stubborn heart? Although the answer isn’t laid out in a single verse or chapter, a clue can be found in this pericope. Hebrews 3:13 challenges us to “exhort one another every day… that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” When we live in a community of spiritual encouragement, we live in an environment in which a sklērúnēteheart can’t survive. Surround yourself with people who acknowledge the wonder in you and around you to help keep your heart fresh.

Prayer
There are moments, God, when I’m guilty of things that I judge others for doing. I recognize my need for a Savior and to surround myself with people who will speak encouraging truth into my life. Help me to not only lean into community like this, but also to contribute to that community with heartfelt passion, in Jesus’ name.

Application
When this week will I encourage someone in their faith?

Music Response
This week we sang the songs “This I Believe,” “Unashamed Love” and “Remembrance.”  These songs provide lyrics that clearly profess our belief in who Christ is, focus our hearts to bring a childlike faith in our pursuit of Christ, and bring declarations of living in remembrance of the redemptive work of Christ. As we consider how we will encourage someone in their faith, let these songs serve as a resource to help focus our hearts and minds and prepare us to speak into someone’s life. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ – Hebrews 3:10 ESV

Greek
Οὐκ eγνωσαν τὰς ὁδούς μου,/Ouk engnosan tas hodous mou: did not understand, or comprehend the journey

Why It Matters
There comes a time in every young person’s life when they make that significant yet awkward transition, and it impacts those closest to them. Of course, I’m talking about the transition from oblivious passenger to back seat driver! Often the heightened awareness of their surroundings emboldens the young person to speak up about details of the trip, from how fast the car should go to which route is the quickest. The problem is, of course, that the back seat driver rarely has full insight of the situation, and almost always has less experience than the driver themselves. Navigation conversations between the back seat driver and the actual driver can range from humorous to tense depending on the situation.
This Old Testament reference serves to warn the readers of Hebrews to avoid anything that would allow one’s heart to become sinful and unbelieving. When this happens, our verse today implies that humans will go astray and ouk engnosan tas hodous mou (not comprehend his path, or journey). This hardening of hearts will often limit us from trusting that God has good in store for us in the midst of difficult or confusing times. Like the backseat driver, this limited perspective may cause us to question the path that God has us on, challenging His goodness and ability to deliver us to a secure destination. May we be people who trust God to bring us along the right path, despite not being in the driver’s seat.

Prayer
There are moments, God, when I’m guilty of things that I judge others for doing. I recognize my need for a Savior and to surround myself with people who will speak encouraging truth into my life. Help me to not only lean into community like this, but also to contribute to that community with heartfelt passion, in Jesus’ name.

Application
When this week will I encourage someone in their 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 exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  – Hebrews 3:13 ESV

Greek
παρακαλεῖτε/parakaleite: strong, heartening encouragement

Why It Matters
Historians point to June 4th, 1940, as a turning point for Britain in WWII. Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons that day, giving what came to be known as his “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” speech. In it, he successfully gave a word of parakaleite (strong, heartening encouragement) which buoyed the spirits of civilians and troops alike and galvanized the war efforts of all those who opposed the Axis forces. The battle of France – and ultimately the entire war – shifted because of the vision and exhortation found in Churchill’s words.
The use of the word parakaleite in the Book of Hebrews is interesting, because it was often used in secular Greek literature to illustrate the military commander who speaks an encouraging word that puts strength into the troops. It’s more than a “pep talk;” parakaleite implies inspirational strength with substance. So when the writer of Hebrews calls us to parakaleite one another every day, he’s tasking us with the work of preparing each other for the battles we face daily. Upon doing this, we keep our hearts from responsively hardening to the voice of the Lord. Thank God that as men and women who are found in Christ, our encouraging words are anchored in the timeless truth of the gospel, and the hope of the cross gives substance to our parakaleite.

Prayer
There are moments, God, when I’m guilty of things that I judge others for doing. I recognize my need for a Savior and to surround myself with people who will speak encouraging truth into my life. Help me to not only lean into community like this, but also to contribute to that community with heartfelt passion, in Jesus’ name.

Application
When this week will I encourage someone in their 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!

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.  – Hebrews 4:11 ESV

Greek
Σπουδάσωμεν/Spoudasōmen: to be diligent, zealous or eager

Why It Matters
Spoudasōmen is a rich Greek word, carrying with it the meaning of intense concentration of energy to reach a desired goal. It’s a quality we celebrate in our culture, bringing to mind a “never give up” attitude. When Thomas Edison was in the process of inventing the light bulb, he made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts before he accomplished his goal. His ability to spoudasōmen in his work despite setbacks is inspirational to many Americans. We love it when someone succeeds after giving it all they’ve got!
The juxtaposition of spoudasōmen and rest is really unique. After striving for so long, Edison was able to rest as a result. After striving against the giants in the Promised Land, the Israelites were able to rest there. As Christians, we find that there is effort involved in following Christ, and that mere lip service to our Lord just won’t do. Make no mistake, because of Jesus’ sacrifice we don’t have to spoudasōmen to achieve salvation, but if we think that we’ll never have to strive to overcome the disobedience of our hearts, we’ll be sadly mistaken. Diligence in the things that matter reveals where we place our faith and provide an avenue for authentic rest.

Prayer
I have so much to thank you for, O God, not the least of which is that you provide things that I need before I even recognize I need them! Your provision of rest in the midst of an exhausted world has refreshed my mind and nourished my soul. Please help me to trust you for everything I need, and praise you for every gift you give.

Application
How will I engage scripture more deeply?

Music Response
This week we sang songs that acknowledge the peace, hope and strength we find in Christ and make declarations of putting our trust in Him by prioritizing our lives on His love. As we consider how we will engage scripture more deeply, these songs can be a great way to focus our hearts and rest in the Lord as we take steps to grow further with Him. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  – Hebrews 4:12 ESV

Greek
κριτικὸς/kritikos: critical; able to judge or discern

Why It Matters
There’s a good chance that if you’re reading this devotional, you’ve been involved in a White Elephant gift exchange at some point in your life. This kind of gift giving has many variations and many sets of rules, but the basic premise is that a person brings a wrapped gift that turns out to be incredibly goofy (or even useless) and tries to leave with the most unique or interesting present of the night. It can be a fun way to create memories and puts a spin on a customary aspect of the holidays. The idea behind the “White Elephant” actually comes from the tradition that the kings of Siam (modern day Thailand) would gift a real White Elephant to their enemies in the hopes of ruining them. In that culture, the White Elephant is so revered that people refused to utilize them for work. Their appetites are voracious and their care is expensive, but they weren’t able to bring in a single cent of value for their owners. The hope was that this honored gift would eventually drive its owners to the poorhouse.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the word of God is useful for kritikos the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The word of God can discern if our motives are pure or not, and is able to judge whether we’re offering our best or if what we’re presenting is nothing more than a White Elephant. It may appear as though we’ve got it all together and are holding nothing back, but is what we’re offering to God really valuable? As Claude said on Sunday, “allow scripture to read you.” When we do this we are free to be authentic and genuine in our response to God, and we can fearlessly offer to Him the most valuable gifts we can give.

Prayer
I have so much to thank you for, O God, not the least of which is that you provide things that I need before I even recognize I need them! Your provision of rest in the midst of an exhausted world has refreshed my mind and nourished my soul. Please help me to trust you for everything I need, and praise you for every gift you give.

Application
How will I engage scripture more deeply?

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!

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.  – Hebrews 4:13 ESV

Greek
τετραχηλισμένα/tetrachēlismena: laid bare; exposed

Why It Matters
One of the most delicate parts of the human body is our trachea, or windpipe. Self-defense experts point out that it takes roughly 5 lbs of force to collapse it, and it’s the go-to attack method of many animals to seize the gullet of its prey for killing. It’s instinctive to protect your neck, even if there’s no reason to fear an attack on your life.
Without a proper understanding of the character of God, this verse might be one of the most frightening in all of scripture. The word tetrachēlismena (laid bare, exposed) can literally be translated “exposed trachea,” bringing to mind a predator who executes a throat clamp on its prey. When the predator has an animal by the throat, there’s really only one way the situation can play out. Hebrews says that every creature is naked and tetrachēlismena to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. We cannot hide from God, but that doesn’t have to be a frightening thing! Through Jesus, God has provided a way for us to enter his rest that isn’t contingent on how well we behave or how much we sacrifice. Rather than our blood being spilled for the sin we commit, when we are tetrachēlismena God sees the blood of his Son that purifies us. The gospel shows us that we can trust the One that we are naturally vulnerable before, and this place of vulnerability is actually the safest place we could ever be.

Prayer
I have so much to thank you for, O God, not the least of which is that you provide things that I need before I even recognize I need them! Your provision of rest in the midst of an exhausted world has refreshed my mind and nourished my soul. Please help me to trust you for everything I need, and praise you for every gift you give.

Application
How will I engage scripture more deeply?

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 then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. – Hebrews 4:14 ESV

Greek
κρατῶμεν/kratōmen: to use strength, to seize or retain

Why It Matters
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway reads like this: Because God gave us everything we value GENEROSITY therefore we are open-handed and happily go above and beyond with our time, our talent, and our treasure. We steward our spiritual gifts and serve. We are contributors not consumers. This truth is appropriate for this time of year, but it’s important to remember no matter what season we find ourselves in. Generosity comes from the understanding that everything we have has been given to us (see James 1:17), and therefore we have no right to be closed-fisted with what God has entrusted to us. But according to this verse, there is an instance in which we should close our hand and kratōmen (to use strength, seize or retain what we possess). When we confess Jesus Christ is Lord, Hebrews tells us this is something worth using all our energy to latch onto. And when we do, all of our strength must be used if necessary to retain our grip on it. Why? Because without this confession of hope in Jesus, life will do its best to capture us in the undertow of chaos and confusion. The ocean’s undertow current isn’t visible from the surface, so if you’re not on guard it could sweep you under the water before you know it. The hope of the Gospel and our confession of Christ is the only truth that can withstand the riptide of life. Make sure to kratōmen to it!

Prayer
Thank you Lord for your willingness to sympathize with our weakness and give us grace for our time of need. I recognize my sin; I need you to be my High Priest! Your intercession on my behalf has filled my life with mercy and grace, and I’m thankful.

Application
What will I bring to God confidently?

Music Response
This week as you consider what you will confidently bring to God, allow the songs from this week’s set to fortify your confidence in him… Drawing near to the Lord produces rest, allows him to kindly teach us, it moves us to action, and so much more. He is our defense, our righteousness, our great high priest, and there is power in his very name. How good to sing those words as we respond this week! To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. – Hebrews 4:15 ESV

Greek
συμπαθῆσαι/sympathēsai: to sympathize or have compassion on; to be touched with the feelings of

Why It Matters
There are many things to be thankful for this time of year. Close to the top of the list for some people is the barrage of Hallmark Channel Christmas movies that stream non-stop until well after the holidays. Scores of movie lovers will watch for hours as similar stories of love and hope play out in slightly different scenarios. Amateur psychologists (like spouses and other family members) often try their best to analyze what the draw of these movies could be, and the answer invariably has to do with one thing: the way these movies make the viewer feel. We may never own a bakery in New Hampshire or an independent bookstore in the Catskills, but we are able to be touched with the feelings of the main characters as they fall in love unexpectedly… or very obviously!
In fact, “to be touched with the feelings of” is an extremely accurate description of the Greek word sympathēsai. We have a high priest who is touched by our feelings and sympathizes with our weaknesses. The good news about this is that the ability to sympathēsai isn’t contingent on experiencing the exact same thing as the other person. Like a Hallmark movie, we can feel sadness when the big city attorney rejects the main character (and joy when they reconcile with two minutes left in the program) even though we have never been in that scenario. Jesus likewise feels compassion for us even though his 1st century experiences may be slightly different than ours. We also don’t have a high priest who takes emotion out of the mix and asks us “I did it, why can’t you?” Though our circumstances are as unique as we are, Jesus is touched by the feelings of our circumstances and has made a way for us to have our own storybook ending as He leads us home by his mercy and grace.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for your willingness to sympathize with our weakness and give us grace for our time of need. I recognize my sin; I need you to be my High Priest! Your intercession on my behalf has filled my life with mercy and grace, and I’m thankful.

Application
What will I bring to God confidently?

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 us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Greek
παρρησίας/parrēsias: outspokenness, boldness

Why It Matters
The 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers had every reason to exude confidence heading into the World Series. Led by aces Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, the Dodgers had coasted to the NL pennant, winning 95 games. The Baltimore Orioles met them in the World Series as significant underdogs. Their young stars had never been to a World Series; in fact, their pitching staff was “led” by 20 year old Jim Palmer. But the O’s held the Dodgers to a mere two runs in a four game sweep, beginning a run of four World Series trips in the span of six years. From sports to school to relationships to life goals, all of us are familiar with the experience of our confidence being dashed.
Dr. Timothy Keller has summed up the heart behind the context of the word parrēsias (confidence, boldness) quite nicely: “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child.” The child has parrēsias because they fully trust their father. Their confidence isn’t in their ability or behavior, but something bigger than themselves. The writer of Hebrews can encourage us to draw near with parrēsias to the throne of grace because Jesus has secured a relationship with the Father that is based on his work, not our past performance! Now we are able to walk in the assurance that when we need grace and mercy, Jesus has an endless supply.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for your willingness to sympathize with our weakness and give us grace for our time of need. I recognize my sin; I need you to be my High Priest! Your intercession on my behalf has filled my life with mercy and grace, and I’m thankful.

Application
What will I bring to God confidently?

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 can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. – Hebrews 5:2 ESV

Greek
περίκειται/perikeitai: surrounded by, clothed with, encompassed by

Why It Matters
O Holy Night is one of America’s best loved Christmas Carols. Its music is highly recognizable and its lyrics are powerful and inspiring. However, many of us are only familiar with the first and third verses of this famous song. The second verse and chorus are rich in theology and imagery, and are just as worthy of our song:

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
Chorus:
He knows our need, To our weaknesses no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

It can be difficult to think of Jesus being perikeitai (surrounded by or clothed with) weakness, because weakness is sometimes connected to imperfection or error. But the imagery of our verse in Hebrews shows us that being beset with weakness is not a result of imperfection, nor does it cause sin. For Jesus the King, weakness is something that allows Him to be a gentle friend. The Greek word carries with it the imagery of a garment that a person would put on around their body. In fact, Jesus told us in Mark 9 that if someone caused a child to stumble in their faith, it would be better if they were perikeitai a millstone around their neck and thrown into the sea. Although Jesus was beset with weakness, it didn’t lead Him to sin; rather the result is that he can deal gently with the rest of us who are perikeitai with weakness. Now we can be brave in the face of our own imperfection and trust that our King will deal gently with us. In all our trials, born to be our friend!

Prayer
Father God, in this Christmas season I can easily identify that my contentment isn’t always centered in the gospel. I confess that my heart needs to be reoriented to find contentment in your love. Thank you that you choose to deal gently with me despite my sin, and help me to find rest in what you say about me.

Application
Regardless of hardship, when will I do what God is asking me to do?

Music Response
Hardship can make us forget. Pain, confusion, and disappointment can drown out the truth. In those seasons, it’s all the more important to sing songs that remind us of who God is; songs that put praise, prayers, and confessions on our lips and in our souls. You don’t have to be on the other side of the heartache to wholeheartedly sing songs like “It is Well” (Bethel) and “Highlands” (Hillsong); you can sing them right in the middle of it. Let’s keep moving forward in obedience regardless of hardship, with these songs as our anthem! To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. – Hebrews 5:7 ESV

Greek
εὐλαβείας/eulabeias: fear of God, reverent dread

Why It Matters
At first glance, some Bible passages can feel strange and foreign, can’t they? Questions like, “Why do we need to read all those genealogies?” and “What’s the point of knowing the exact dimensions of the Tabernacle?” are asked by people all across the faith spectrum. And if we’re honest, there are also several passages in the Bible that leave us scratching our heads, and our verse today could stand out as an example of this. Hebrews 5:7 implies that while Jesus was on earth, He prayed fervently to the God who could save Him from death, and His prayers were heard. However, Jesus wasn’t saved from death; He was crucified only one day after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for another way to fulfill God’s plan. How can we reconcile the truth of the cross with the reality that this verse lays out?
The answer can be found in why Jesus was heard. The writer of Hebrews says that he was heard because of his eulabeias (fear of God, reverent dread). Understood properly, eulabeias is rendered “a taking hold of what God calls good.”  In other words, God’s priorities become your priorities. So our great High Priest was heard because he prioritized what God did. Jesus’ prayers were answered by God, not by relieving him of the burden of the cross, but by providing strength and peace in the midst of his darkest hour. In the most intense moments of his life, Jesus was more concerned about God’s will than his own – a powerful working definition of eulabeias! So now, rather than scratching our heads in confusion, our prayer at Centerway is that this verse will cause us to lift our hands in eulabeias to the God who saves.

Prayer
Father God, in this Christmas season I can easily identify that my contentment isn’t always centered in the gospel. I confess that my heart needs to be reoriented to find contentment in your love. Thank you that you choose to deal gently with me despite my sin, and help me to find rest in what you say about me.

Application
Regardless of hardship, when will I do what God is asking me to do?

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!

being designatedby God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. – Hebrews 5:10 ESV

Greek
προσαγορευθεὶς/prosagoreutheis: to address by name or designate

Why It Matters
It’s widely accepted that Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with lit candles. This practice continued in Germany throughout the 16th century and came to America via German settlements in Pennsylvania. The tradition is inspiring and the symbolism beautiful, but the question remains: why would anyone think it would be a good idea to put a lit candle on the branch of a tree?! It seems like such a bad idea would lose steam quickly. However, as recently as the period from 2011-2015 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that candles igniting Christmas trees were the cause of 16 house fires in the US. Putting an open flame on the bough of a tree is certainly counterintuitive!
You could say the name of the place where sacrifices were offered before the Temple was built, was a little counterintuitive also. God referred to that place in Exodus as “the tent of meeting.” But because of how sinful mankind is, and how perfectly holy God is, he couldn’t actually meet with his people there! In Exodus 40, Moses himself couldn’t enter the tent of meeting because God’s glory had descended on it. So only one person from among the entire nation of people was prosagoreutheis(designated or addressed by name) to meet with God, and that was the high priest. Only after undergoing a series of rituals and cleansings was the high priest able to represent the nation and go behind the curtain to meet with God in the Holy of Holies. That fact is what makes Jesus such a great high priest. He not only is our perfect representative to God, but his perfection and sacrifice on our behalf has torn the curtain separating mankind from God! Jesus was prosagoreutheisby God specifically because he was able to secure our ability to meet with God ourselves, and now his presence is accessible to more than just one person once a year. All who call on the name of Jesus are prosagoreutheisto closeness with the Father. Our tent of meeting – our Holy of Holies – can be any place we invite God’s presence to dwell through the sacrifice of our great high priest.

Prayer
Father God, in this Christmas season I can easily identify that my contentment isn’t always centered in the gospel. I confess that my heart needs to be reoriented to find contentment in your love. Thank you that you choose to deal gently with me despite my sin, and help me to find rest in what you say about me.

Application
Regardless of hardship, when will I do what God is asking me to do?

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!

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. – Hebrews 5:11 ESV

Greek
νωθροὶ/nōthroi: sluggish, slothful

Why It Matters
Is there anything more frustrating than watching someone you love neglect their potential? I’m not talking about a friend missing a foul shot in a close game, or a child getting a bad grade on a test. When potential is unrealized because a person you care about doesn’t want to put in the effort to see a goal reached, it can be maddening. It’s easy to feel confused, frustrated or even angry toward them. And these emotions don’t surface because you dislike that person; on the contrary, you truly care about them and believe in their potential.
The writer of Hebrews seems to be belittling his readers by calling them nōthroi – sluggish or slothful. English versions of this verse have translated this word “dull of hearing” (ESV) or “spiritually dull” (NLT). But what is actually being communicated is something more like frustration because the writer’s friends have been lazy in their study of the scriptures! Rather than scolding them for not being smart enough to understand what he or she is trying to communicate, this writer with a pastor’s heart is upset that their nōthroi attitude is keeping them from their full spiritual potential. It’s also interesting to note that this frustration is voiced in the middle of a discussion about rest. Rest is good and found in the hope of Christ’s work for us. But being nōthroi is counterfeit rest, and even has the potential to alter the way we experience God’s authentic rest. May we be people who fight against the urge to be nōthroi in our spiritual lives and live up to the potential that Christ sees in us.

Prayer
God, you are worthy of my best. Today, I commit to you everything I am and everything I have held back from you in the past. I choose not to use the hardships in my life as excuses to be spiritually lazy. I ask for you help with this in Jesus’ name.

Application
What will I do with the evil I have allowed in my life?

Music Response
One of the ways we live on mission, the way we stay focused on the right things, the way we combat evil in our lives, is to remind ourselves of what Jesus has done. Our songs this week did just that… remind us of God’s amazing grace and the freedom we have in him, and spur us on to run our races “in remembrance” of his goodness. Let these songs – and the others from this series – encourage you in that way.  To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, – Hebrews 6:4 ESV

Greek
γευσαμένους/geusamenous: tasted, experienced

Why It Matters
It’s widely understood that the original audience for the Book of Hebrews were men and women with Jewish roots and practiced Jewish customs. They were very familiar with the story of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, and likely drew strength from the plight of their persecuted ancestors since they were themselves persecuted for their faith in Jesus. So when the writer of Hebrews references having geusamenous the heavenly gift, they would have immediately connected the dots to Exodus 16. There the Israelites received bread (manna) from Heaven despite being in the wilderness. These people were able to taste a literal Heavenly gift, yet it didn’t keep them from complaining about God’s provision and eventually fell away.
Hebrews 6 connects the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness with those present-day people who are unrepentant. In both cases, these people have geusamenous (tasted or experienced) the gift of miracles from Heaven, and in both cases the power of the miraculous didn’t last very long. Hebrews reminds us that miracles are meant to point us to God, but the miracle itself can’t change our hearts; often it only serves to reveal our hearts! Only God himself can do the changing, and if we expect a miracle experience to be all we need for salvation, we neither understand our own hearts or the gospel. The Israelites tasted the Heavenly gift, but were unable to leverage that experience into a divine trust in God. Having geusamenous the gift from Heaven ourselves, may we by faith draw ever closer to the one who has the power to do the saving.

Prayer
God, you are worthy of my best. Today, I commit to you everything I am and everything I have held back from you in the past. I choose not to use the hardships in my life as excuses to be spiritually lazy. I ask for you help with this in Jesus’ name.

Application
What will I do with the evil I have allowed in my life?

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!

and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. – Hebrews 6:6 ESV

Greek
παραπεσόντας/parapesontas: to fall away, in or into

Why It Matters
All of us can relate to the story of Peter Theil, although probably not to the same degree. In 2004, Theil was the first person to invest in Facebook from outside of the company, and over time his $500,000 investment made him over $1 Billion in earnings. However, Theil was offered to participate in another round of investments in 2005, and decided against it. That round generated over $9 Billion of profit for venture capital firm Accel Partners. I’m sure you’re not feeling too sorry for Peter Theil, but when he turned away from the path he was originally on, he missed out on an even more absurd amount of money.
We don’t have the space to get deep into the theology of today’s verse, but it’s part of a concept that has been thought through and argued about for centuries. Our author seems to be implying that if someone has experienced the goodness of God’s salvation, and then parapesontas (to fall into or away), that person will find it impossible to be restored again to repentance. We can rest assured that the tense of this Greek word doesn’t simply mean to have moments of doubt or succumb to the temptation to sin. The word parapesontasliterally means to turn away and fall into something – like a pit – and carries the imagery of a person actively and continually turning off the path they were originally following, who then falls into something they cannot get out of.
People who have been changed by the power of the gospel know that Jesus’ love can rescue from any circumstance we ask him to save us from, so Hebrews cannot be referring to the one who recognizes they have gone astray and then repents. Jesus said that “narrow is the way that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14) and when we choose to parapesontas from it in favor of the wide and popular path, we find ourselves on a course that leads to destruction. There are some who choose to parapesontas even after tasting the goodness of God. But we can be thankful that the Holy Spirit is at work today, sanctifying us so that the beauty of Jesus on the path of life causes the things of earth to grow strangely dim.

Prayer
God, you are worthy of my best. Today, I commit to you everything I am and everything I have held back from you in the past. I choose not to use the hardships in my life as excuses to be spiritually lazy. I ask for you help with this in Jesus’ name.

Application
What will I do with the evil I have allowed in my life?

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!

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. – Hebrews 6:12 ESV

Greek
μιμηταὶ/mimētai: an imitator or follower

Why It Matters
We live in a culture that has a very specific association with the word mime. Even now, I bet you have mental images of mute, black and white clad street performers stuck in a box. Originally, a mimētai was the Greek word for a person who imitates someone else. This person would observe people who they wanted to follow and would mimic their patterns in life. Every time it’s used in the New Testament, mimētai is used in a positive light. So the original audience of the book of Hebrews would hear that the antidote to being sluggish is to be a mimētai of those who have gone before them and have inherited specific promises. It’s amazing to think that our author’s approach to being diligent is not to blaze your own trail or “reinvent the wheel,” but to study the lives of the heroes of faith who were obedient and faithful and patient.
Hebrews can confidently assert this because of Who these heroes had placed their faith in. Although they were far from perfect, and (as Hebrews 11 will show us) some even died without seeing the promises fulfilled, their faith rested on a hope outside of themselves. Seems easy to mimic, right? Just have faith! But anyone who has lived knows that faith has implications for every sphere of life, challenging the way we interact with family, friends, strangers and enemies. Thank God we don’t have to figure it all out on our own! God has given us examples of men and women who, despite difficult and even tragic situations, still inherited what was promised.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that I’ve placed my hope in some pretty uncertain things throughout my life. These things could never replace the hope that is anchored in your salvation. Thank you that there is grace for me today and forgiveness for when I wander. Please allow your work on our behalf to provide the encouragement my family and I need in this season.

Application
What truth will I speak over my life this week?

Music Response
This week’s set included songs that highlighted bold truths about who God is and who He says that we are. The songs included lyrics proclaiming God’s law is love and His gospel is peace, that He is never going to let us down, we are chosen by Him not forsaken and He is for us not against us. These lyrics can serve as powerful and concise reminders as we consider what truths we will speak over our lives this week. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. – Hebrews 6:18 ESV

Greek
παράκλησιν/paraklēsin: comfort, encouragement, a calling to help someone

Why It Matters
Around the Christmas season, the story is often retold of an elderly Israelite man named Simeon. The Bible describes Simeon as “righteous and devout” and waiting for the paraklēsin (comfort, consolation, encouragement) of Israel. When he saw the baby Jesus, he knew that his wait was over, and prophesied that the light for the Gentiles had arrived. Simeon said he could now die in peace because he saw the one who would bear the salvation of God (Luke 2:30).
Simeon perfectly defines what it means to experience the paraklēsin every human being hopes for. The Greek term has its roots in legal proceedings, and was often used to describe the reality of a verdict being decided in a person’s favor. So rather than fighting for your own cause, you could find paraklēsin in the truth that a legal expert would plead your case for you, and a righteous judge would set everything right. The writer of Hebrews takes it a step further by reminding us that Jesus is both the one who advocates as our High Priest, and the perfect sacrifice that is being offered on our behalf. That’s the kind of encouragement that we can anchor our hope in!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that I’ve placed my hope in some pretty uncertain things throughout my life. These things could never replace the hope that is anchored in your salvation. Thank you that there is grace for me today and forgiveness for when I wander. Please allow your work on our behalf to provide the encouragement my family and I need in this season.

Application
What truth will I speak over my life 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!

where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. – Hebrews 6:20 ESV

Greek
πρόδρομος/prodromos: forerunner; one that indicates the approach of another

Why It Matters
There’s a term In Greek literature that describes a leader who is sent out ahead of an army to scout the land and test the way. That term has been used to define the role of people who go before racers in a variety of sports, and ensure that the course is able to be navigated without incident. Literally the word means “before a race course,” and is a critical component to any high stakes contest. Whether it’s the military, a marathon race, or a skiing event, a forerunner performs similar duties in each scenario. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our prodromos (precursor or advance guard) who has gone before us into the holy place. When a prodromos performs their duty, two important things are happening. First, the prodromos is making sure the way is safe and the mission is viable. Second, they are announcing with their actions that others are approaching behind them! Jesus as our forerunner brings certainty to the hope we have that God will receive us with open arms. He has gone before us and is our sure and steady anchor.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that I’ve placed my hope in some pretty uncertain things throughout my life. These things could never replace the hope that is anchored in your salvation. Thank you that there is grace for me today and forgiveness for when I wander. Please allow your work on our behalf to provide the encouragement my family and I need in this season.

Application
What truth will I speak over my life 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!