Hebrews: Running the Race, Following in Faith

Running the Race, Following in Faith

Spring Disciple Formation Focus


Weekly Reading Schedule - Click Here
SPU Professor Dr. Rob Wall's online commentary - www.spu.edu/lectio

At the Starting Line...
The biblical book of Hebrews is a paradox. It’s at the same time one of the most difficult and one of the most easily appreciated books of the Bible.

Scholars note what most readers soon discover – Hebrews is a difficult book to fully and clearly understand. Perhaps this is because it’s the first book in the collection of New Testament letters not attributed to the Apostle Paul; not only do we have an unknown author, but it’s not even in the form of a letter! (It’s more of a sermon). Perhaps it’s because it stretches our spiritual vision with all the references to angels and the heavenly landscape where the risen and ascended Jesus does his work of representing us to God the Father. Perhaps it’s because it stretches our knowledge of Old Testament stories with all the references to the heroes of the Hebrew faith.

And yet…at the same time, some of the most treasured verses in all of scripture come from this 13-chapter book. At the end of this blog post take a look at a few select verses that have had significance for Christians through the ages and even today. 

Be sure to take part in our Spring Discipleship Focus on Hebrews (Click Here for full details). We're offering different levels of engagement with this unique biblical book. Read through Hebrews a week at a time with the help of Dr. Rob Wall of SPU and his online weekly commentary. Dig into it with your small group with the help of one of three select study guides. Attend the three-week Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus class on discipleship essentials in Hebrews later this month. Finally, consider taking on the Great Cloud of Witnesses Challenge by reading a biography of one of four WWII-era Jesus-followers to make a difference for God’s kingdom: C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henrietta Mears, and Louis Zamperini.

By diving into Hebrews, we’ll be fixing our eyes on Jesus as he sets the pace on the race of a lifetime, cheered on by those who have run the race before us, together fueled by God’s grace.

Joyfully in Christ,
Pastor Kurt
 

• Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1)
• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Heb. 12:1-2a)
• For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. (Heb. 4:15)
• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 13:8)
• And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)
• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Heb. 10:23)