Renewal of Hope

Jim Leffel

Genesis 9:1-16

After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah. This covenant provides a platform for us to understand spirituality in our material world and why nature matters. Although nature cannot govern morality, it can reflect God and create in us a sense of awe.

Seth to Abraham

Jim Leffel

Genesis 5:1-6:22

Biblical history from Seth to Abraham includes some difficult passages. Before unpacking the story of the flood, it is important to consider two issues: 1) Is a worldwide flood plausible; 2) Why did the flood happen in the first place? An ABC News clip on the flood is included.

Choice or Destiny

Ryan Lowery

Romans 9:1-32

Paul moves away from spiritual growth into the question of what happens to the nation of Israel. Paul expands on God's sovereign choice to use the nation of Israel. God's sovereignty is demonstrated in His willingness to use nations and individuals to bring about salvation through Jesus Christ and calls on the individuals within those nations to make a choice to receive his mercy or not. The implications for Christians are that we can use our free choice to have a deep impact for God.

Abraham's Faith

Conrad Hilario

Genesis 22:1-19

Abraham was an Old Testament figure who demonstrated biblical faith [Hebrews 11.1] throughout his whole life. He was called by God to leave his homeland to go to a distant country, he waited on God to fulfill His promise of a son, and he trusted in God enough to voluntarily sacrifice that same son to Him. Throughout all of these circumstances, Abraham clung to what was unseen, and his perseverance and trust in God influenced the course of human history as a result.

Two Indicatives and Five Imperatives

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 10:19-31

After thoroughly explaining how the cross was more than sufficient, the author now moves on in his argument to results of the cross. These results benefit humanity immensely. People can now: 1) come to God in prayer with confidence, 2) have assurance of the future, 3) think of others before themselves, 4) fellowship with one another, and 5) give and receive encouragement. At the end of chapter 10, the author of Hebrews makes claims that at first glance seem contradictory to his previous arguments regarding grace. The end of the teaching addresses this problem passage.

Questions About Faith

Mike Sullivan

Galatians 3:6-25

The passage explores two main questions about faith: 1) Is salvation by faith alone enough in the Old Testament? and 2) Why were we given the Law in the first place? Paul contends that salvation has always been through faith in God and explains the Law's proper role as a testament against self-righteousness.\r\n\r\n

Why Rituals?

Dennis McCallum

Exodus 32:1-3

The author of Hebrews explains how the Old Testament sacrificial system was always there to be used as a point of instruction. It was never sufficient to take away human sins. The sacrificial system instead was to paint a picture of the coming work of Christ. Only through the sacrifice of Christ are we able to be seen as perfect before God.

The Reality is Christ

Conrad Hilario

John 3:19-22

All religions feature rituals, but Christianity's rituals from the Old Testament differ from other religions in that their purpose is to pre-authenticate Jesus' mission. Besides being a shadow of what was to come with Christ, rituals also functioned as physical depictions of God's character for the Jews. The author of Hebrews details three specific aspects of these rituals to demonstrate Christ's complete fulfillment of them: the tabernacle, the role of high priest, and the innocent victim needed for the atoning sacrifice. Because of Jesus' fulfillment of the Old Testament system, we as Christians are freed from our moral guilt and no longer are obligated to follow the Mosaic Law.

Old vs. New

Chris Hearty

Hebrews 7:18-8:13

The author of Hebrews explores the nature of covenants throughout the Old and New Testaments. He explains that the covenant that Christians have with God is unconditional because of Jesus' sacrifice and that it is even better than the one established under Moses. The new covenant inaugurated by Jesus gives all people access to God through faith, is focused on the finished work of Christ, and creates a basis for internal change in believers. Furthermore, this new covenant through Jesus has rendered the old one obsolete, and Christians can now enjoy a permanent and unconditional relationship with God.