Hebrews 11.1-19

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Hebrews 11.1-19.  This has one of the most famous passages from Hebrews in it.  It is verse 1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  This sets up the rest of the 18 verses.  Over and over again we hear the words "by faith".  We see "by faith" in vv 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 17.  And in the midst of this pericope we then hear of a longing for a heavenly city.  In v16 it says: "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one."  The question that comes to me from this verse is whether we desire that better country? that heavenly one? 

In Burlap to Cashmere's song titled "The Other Country" they sing:
Draw near the lamb's awaiting
Where the river runs thru the sky's align
From that painting of a ship
We have all been chosen
To the painter's creation
In his dream design
I can feel it over the line
I see the other country
I see the other side
Do not be afraid of this earthly city
Do not be afraid when the pharaoh's nigh 

In the midst of the stressful and divisive political season let us remember that we do not need to be afraid of the pharaohs that are trying to divide us and strike fear into us.  Our hope is in something greater than the republican party or the democratic party.  Our hope is found in something that is bigger than the political juggernaut that is trying to destroy everything in its path.  Instead, we as the church see something different.  We see with eyes of faith another city ----- a heavenly city ------ a better country.  For the slain lamb of God has called us to his side.  And uses people like us to make things new.  

WikiWorship - Sunday, September 30th @ 5.30pm

Sunday, September 23rd @ 5.30pm

The question that we will be diving into for this coming Sunday is this: "Does God plan every move you make?"  In this question we dealing with freewill and providence.  This will be held in the Warren's Grove fellowship hall on Sunday, September 23rd at 5.30pm.  There will be child care provided and a meal after the service.  If you have any questions feel free to contact us at 336.592.3400 or at pchryst@nccumc.org

WikiWorship Video

Kick-off for WikiWorship

We would like to invite you to our Sunday Evening Service that is called Common Table.  This will be on Sunday nights at 5:30pm in our fellowship hall at Warren's Grove.  We have gone out into the community and gathered questions that real people are asking.  During the worship service we will then answer those questions.  This is called WikiWorship.  This is based on the infamous Wikipedia ------ where anyone can edit the content of Wikipedia.  Here, you will be able to edit the content of the worship service with your questions.  This is a safe environment for us to be able to look deeply into the questions that have plagued humanity for thousands of years. 

The kick-off will be Sunday, September 23rd at 5:30pm in our fellowship hall.  It will then continue September 30th; October 7th & 14th.  

There will be child care provided during each worship service.  Also, there will be a meal provided after the worship service as well.  Feel free to keep up with this blog, and you can look further into the questions that come about weekly. 

If you have any further questions feel free to contact us at: pchryst@nccumc.org  or feel free to call us at 336.592.3400.

You're invited to fun and Hot Dogs!

You and your family are invited to come on out to Huck Sansbury Park this coming Sunday, September 16th at 5:30pm.  We are going to have hot dogs and lots of great fun hanging out at the park.  Feel free to invite anyone who would like to come.

We will also be collecting questions for our upcoming WikiWorship services.  What we do is we gather questions that real people have about God, about the church, and about life.  This can be a question that they have never had the chance to ask, a question that they have never had the guts to ask, or a question that they have never gotten an adequate answer on.  We then will be answering these questions during our Sunday evening worship service starting Sunday, September 23rd at 5:30pm.  This will go on for four weeks.

In the mean time, if you would like to send us a question we are beginning to receive those now.  You can send them to my email address at pchryst@nccumc.org or you can post them at the end of this blog entry.  Thank you so much for your help.

Hebrews 3.1-6

This week we will be focusing on Hebrews 3.1-6.  Like you know we are focusing on the book of Hebrews during September, October, and November.  You can find out more information about that by following this link.  In Hebrews 3.1-6 we learn that Jesus is the great builder ----- and that we are God's house.  The writer says in v6: "Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house."  This is the congregation he is writing to, the faithful witnesses through the thousands of years, but also us ----- the church.  Jesus was faithful to build us ----- but now there has to be a response from us ----- now we are to be faithful to him.  At the end of v6 the writer says: "if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope."  This means that we have to hold firm to Christ Jesus ----- that we are to "pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it" [2.1] ------ that we are to hold fast to what "God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son" [1.1-2].  We are called to persevere till the very end ----- holding fast to the author and finisher of our faith. 

In this we learn the severe need that the world has for the church.  But also, the severe need the church has to be filled with God's grace so that we can truly be the church.  This church is the community that Christ offered up himself to die for.  This church is the community that God sent his Son to redeem so that it can participate in the reconciliation of all things to God.  This church is God's house.  But also, this church is in dire need to live into this commissioning.  We can see that the church being the church is of vital importance to God.  For the church is to be that "place" where Christ makes all things new.  Where the Holy Spirit will change the hearts and minds of people by bringing us through the death waters and giving us the mind of Christ.  My brothers and sisters ------ let us be the church that is God's house in the earth!

Jesus, Our Great High Priest

During the months of September, October, & November we will be doing an in depth study into the book of Hebrews.  This will be during our 8.45am & 11am worship services.

The more that I study the book of Hebrews the more I realize I do not know as much about this book as I thought.  It has some beautiful passages that I remember memorizing as a child.  Passages like Hebrews 4.12: "Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  But then it has areas of the book that I don't understand ----- like how the word cross is only used one time in the entire book ----- even though it is filled with imagery of sacrifice.

As we have been studying this book we have learned that a large portion of this book is a sermon.  Or maybe a better way to describe it is as a sermon of sermons.  The preacher uses the Old Testament to preach these sermons.  We learned through our studying that we need to have a better grasp of the book of Leviticus in order to better understand Hebrews.  Below you will find a reading guide that will help you study Leviticus and Hebrews side-by-side ------ week after week.

Finally, what we will find throughout the book of Hebrews is an urgent call by a pastor to a congregation to not give up!  To persevere in the faith.  Thomas G. Long describes Hebrews this way: "The preacher is not preaching into a vacuum; he is addressing a real and urgent pastoral problem, one that seems astonishingly contemporary.  His congregation is exhausted.  They are tired----tired of serving the world, tired of worship, tired of Christian education, tired of being peculiar and whispered about in society, tired of spiritual struggle, tired of trying to keep their prayer life going, tired even of Jesus ....... Tired of walking the walk, many of them are considering taking a walk, leaving the community and falling away from the faith."  In the midst of this lethargy and ambiguity toward church ----- the preacher does something interesting.  Long continues by writing: "The Preacher does not appeal to improved group dynamics, conflict management techniques, reorganization of the mission structures, or snappy worship services.  Rather, he preaches----preaches to the congregation in complex theological terms about the nature and meaning of Jesus Christ."

We would like to invite you to dive in deeply into the book of Hebrews.  Let us learn together how Jesus is our Great High Priest.

• Sept. 2^nd : Sermon based on Hebrews 1
  • Read: Hebrews 1 & Leviticus 1-3
  • See also: Heb:10:4-9 & 5:10; Ps. 2:7; 2 Sam. 7:14; Deut. 32:43; Ps. 104:4; Ps. 45:6-7; Ps. 102:25-27; Ps.110:1.
• Sept. 9^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 2
  • Read: Hebrews 2 & Leviticus 4-5
  • See also: Ps. 8:4-6, 22:22; Isa. 8:17-18
• Sept. 16^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 3:1-6
  • Read: Hebrews 3 & Leviticus 6-7
  • See also: Heb. 9:11-16; Num. 12; Lev. 8; Ps. 95:7-11; Jer. 17:5; Num. 14:1-4, 34, 41.
• Sept. 23^rd: Sermon based on Hebrews 4:12-16
  • Read: Hebrews 4 & Leviticus 8-9
  • See also: Lev.4:1-12; Num.13:30-14:10; Ps.95:7-10; Gen. 2:2; Ex. 28:1; Ps. 2:7, 110;
• Sept. 30^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 5:1-10
  • Read: Hebrews 5 & Leviticus 10-11
  • See also: Gen. 22:16-18; Ex. 26:31-35; Lev. 16:2
• Oct. 7^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 7
  • Read: Hebrews 6-7 & Leviticus 12-14
  • See also: Lev. 7:22-38,; Ps. 110:4; Gen. 14; Num. 18:21-24; Deut. 26:12; 1 Chron. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-17.
• Oct. 14^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 9:11-28
  • Read: Hebrews 8-9 & Leviticus 15-16
  • See also: Read Heb. 9 and Lev. 16 together carefully. Ps.110; Lev. 5:11-13, 4:1-12, 9; Jer. 31:31-34; Ex. 16:32-34, 24:3-8, 25-26, 30:6; Lev. 24:5; Num. 17:1-10, 19:1-10; Isa. 53:12.

• Oct. 21^st: Sermon based on Hebrews 10:11-25
  • Read: Hebrews 10 & Leviticus 16-17
  • See also: Ps. 40:6-8, 50:8-15, 110; Lev. 4; 1 Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:10-17, 26:20; Jer. 7:21-26, 31:33-34; Hos. 6:6; Deut. 17:2-6, 32:35-36; Hab. 2:3-4.
• Oct. 28^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 11:1-19
  • Read: Hebrews 11 & Leviticus 18-19
  • See also: Ps. 33:6, 89:52; Gen. 4:3-10, 5:21-24, 6:13-22, 15:5-6, 12:1-8, 17:19, 18:11-14, 21:2-12, 22:1-17, 27:27-40, 32:12, 47:31-50:25, Ex. 2:2-15, 12:21-30,13:9, 14:21-30; Jos. 2:1-21, 6:12-25; Judg. 4-8, 11-12, 13-16; Dan. 3 & 6; 1 Kings 17:17-24, 2 Kings 4:25-37; 2 Chron. 24:20-22; Jer. 26:23.
• Nov. 4^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 12:1-4
  • Read: Hebrews 12 & Leviticus 20-21
  • See also: Ps.110;
• Nov. 11^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 12:5-17
  • Read: Leviticus 22-23
  • See also: Prov. 3:11-12; Num. 16:22; Rev. 22:6; Isa. 35:3; Deut. 29:18; Gen. 25:29-34, 27:30-40.
• Nov. 18^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 12:18-29
  • Read: Leviticus 24-25
  • See also: Deut. 4:11-24, 5:22-27; 9:3-19; Gen. 4:1-10; Ex. 19:12-22, 20:18-21; Hag. 2:6.
• Nov. 25^th: Sermon based on Hebrews 13
  • Read: Hebrews 13 & Leviticus 26-27
  • See also: Lev. 4:3-12, 7:12, 16:27; Gen 18:1-8, 19:1; Jos. 1:5; Ps. 50:14-23, 118:6; Hos. 14:2; Isa. 63:11; Jn. 19:20

Invitation

1 Kings 8.1-43

This Sunday we will be focusing on 1 Kings 8.1-43.  This is the end of our sermon series on the life of David.  We began this series at the beginning of June and now we are ending it at the end of August.  During this time we have looked over the life of King David.  We have learned what it means to be "a man after God's own heart" [1 Samuel 13.14].  We have learned that David is a character that had awesome faith and trust in the Lord to guide him through great adversity.  But, we also find David to be a man that struggled with a personal hell that he brought upon himself, by trying to get what he wanted.  This was opposed to what God wanted for him. 

Today's passage from 1 Kings 8 is the culmination of David's life work.  This culmination is found in his son Solomon and what he was able to achieve.  If you recall, David desired to build a temple for the Lord to dwell in.  God did not want David to build that temple because he had been a man of war.  Instead, the Lord had Solomon build the temple.  In this passage we see the Lord as the actor in the thick cloud that filled the house of the Lord [1 Kings 8.11].  Solomon responds to God's actions by interpreting to the people what is going on and then blessing the Temple.  In this response he reminds the people of Israel that this started with his father David and now this throne of David would continue. 

One verse that really stuck out to me was v23 where Solomon prays: "O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart."  What does it mean to walk before the Lord with all our hearts?  This seems like it is an acknowledgement that we are relying and trusting on the Lord to be our source and our hope.  If we are to trust in the Lord and surrender to him all of our heart ----- what happens when we do not do that?  In this passage from 1 Kings 8 we get an opportunity to learn how to repent and to trust in God's wonderful grace.  Continue reading vv46-50 and you will get a better sense of this repentance and forgiveness. 

1 Kings 2.10-3.14

We come to the end of King David's life. In reflection on his life we see great peaks and valleys.  In the midst of all of these peaks and valleys we have to cling to the fact that David was a man after God's own heart.  In his death we remember this great shepherd boy who rises to power through God's wonderful grace.  He was anointed now to be the shepherd of Israel.  A shepherd who would care for God's people.  Now we see that Solomon has gained the seat of power.  Solomon ----- the son of David and Bathsheba securely seals his kingship.  And this security involves a great deal of death and pain. 

In the midst of Solomon's rise to power God meets Solomon in a dream.  In 1 Kings 3.5 it says: "At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night."  The Lord asks Solomon what his desire is.  And Solomon answers rightly.  He asks for an understanding mind ----- so that he can rightly govern the people of Israel.  After making his request known it says in v10: "It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this."  What greater words can be written about any of us ----- then to please the Lord.  Therefore, the gift is given to Solomon ----- but we must remember that a gift must be opened and used.  This gift has a condition attached to it ----- that Solomon must live into being a king that has an understanding mind. 

Have we pleased the Lord?  Have we pleased the Lord by using the gifts that God has given to us? 

This is our story.......

This coming Sunday, August 12th at 5:30pm we will be starting a four-week study on "This is our story..."  In this study you will be given the opportunity to grow in your understanding of the story of Christianity.  This study will be an exploration of scripture, along with a focus on hospitality and invitation as the retelling of the story of Christianity.  Finally, we will end with learning how we can then tell the story ourselves. 

This will be held in our fellowship hall and it will be part of our Sunday evening worship service called Common Table.  Please plan to stay for dinner as well.  This Sunday, August 12th Amy Henderson will be cooking.  If you have any questions you are welcome to contact Pastor Philip Chryst at 336.592.3400.