A Change of Priesthood

Conrad Hilario

Genesis 14:18-20

In the Old Testament, humans could only approach God through a high priest, a role that had to be fulfilled by a man descended from the tribe of Levi. God, however, prophesied through David that one day there would be a priest from the line of Melchizedek whose priesthood would be eternal, and Jesus is that high priest. Since Jesus is the perfect and eternal high priest whose priesthood replaced the old one, humans are no longer under the Old Testament law and can be rescued forever from their sin.

What About Priests?

Dennis McCallum

Psalms 110:1-4

The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is a legitimate high priest even though he is not from the tribe of Levi. However an obscure character named Melchizedek is of an even higher order than the Levitical priesthood. Jesus is from the order of Melchizedek. The author of Hebrews proves that Jesus is not only King Messiah but also our permanent high priest who has replaced all others. When the Levitical priesthood was nullified, so was the rest of the law. This enables believers to draw near to God.

The Birth of Jesus

Jim Leffel

Luke 2:1-14

The circumstances of Jesus' birth are in one sense obscure, but in another, fulfilled prophecy of eternal importance--that of the awaited Messiah. While it was not the fulfillment people expected, it demonstrates God's willingness to extend a solution to people's greatest need--forgiveness--allowing them to enter into a relationship with God.

The Righteous Sufferer

Dennis McCallum

Isaiah 53:5-56

A remarkable, messianic psalm predicting Jesus' experience on the cross. Written over 1,000 years before His crucifixion, this psalm was known and sung by the Jews. When Jesus cried out on the cross, ?My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?,? He was trying to get their attention that this prophetic psalm was being fulfilled. This is incredible evidence for the Christian faith -- will you pay attention to His death on the cross?

Cries of Anguish

Conrad Hilario

Mark 15:33-36

My God, my God; why have you forsaken me? Why were these words spoken by Christ on the cross? Christ experiences separation from the Father in order to pay for the sins of the world. This Psalm details the event of the Messiah's death at the hands of His enemies.

Solomon Building

Dennis McCallum

1 Kings 5:1-8:60

Solomon constructs the temple of God. The temple was not designed to be merely a place of worship but also an illustration of God, the church, and the body of Christ. The precise description of the parts of the temple shows how God is intentional with his people and their gifts. The temple was never meant to actually house God but was intended to be a house for His name. Through the temple, other cultures could learn about the relationship God has with His people.

A New Beginning

Scott Risley

Revelation 20:7-22:21

We look at end times events following the Millennial Kingdom including the destruction of Satan, the Great White Throne Judgement, and the creation of a physical new heaven and new earth. During the judgment, everyone - dead or alive - will have to answer to God for all of the deeds they have done on the earth. This time will either be a time of intense joy or intense sadness depending upon if you have accepted Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as a payment for your sins or if you are taking the wrath of God on yourself.

Finally

Scott Risley

Revelation 19:1-20:6

In the final days, the Church will finally be wed to Christ and there will be a wedding feast to celebrate. Jesus will return powerfully as a king; in stark contrast to his first coming. There will be an end to injustice once and for all as the Beast and the False Prophet are thrown into the fiery lake along with Satan. Jesus will then reign for a thousand years.

Fallen, Fallen is Babylon

Scott Risley

Revelation 16:13-19:7

The city of Babylon was defined in the Old Testament by greed, selfishness, violence, and idolatry. In the book of Revelation, Babylon has the same characteristics, along with being predicted to lead the rest of the world astray have a direct link with the Beast. Here, John identifies Babylon as both the World System (kosmos) and a harlot whose toxic ways we should avoid at all costs. He describes a day of justice when Babylon will be judged for their sins and be cast into the sea.