For this Sunday, I continue preaching from the book of Hebrews. The author, writing to Jewish Christians, is highlighting the significance of their new faith. A contrast is made between what God was doing on Mt. Sinai and what is given through Mt. Zion, the heavenly city.
The text is given below for you to read in preparation. You may reflect on the questions following and submit input for the Sunday message through the comments.
May God's blessing be upon your reading and reflecting on these words of Scripture. May you grow in your discipleship as you become engaged with God's saving and life-giving word for you.
Hebrews 12:18-29 "You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’) 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, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire." NRSV
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
The author especially highlights worshiping God with reverence and awe. How do you see yourself doing this?
The text is given below for you to read in preparation. You may reflect on the questions following and submit input for the Sunday message through the comments.
May God's blessing be upon your reading and reflecting on these words of Scripture. May you grow in your discipleship as you become engaged with God's saving and life-giving word for you.
Hebrews 12:18-29 "You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’) 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, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire." NRSV
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
The author especially highlights worshiping God with reverence and awe. How do you see yourself doing this?
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