Equipping University

Suppose you had previously traveled to Orlando's "Holy Land Experience" and later you were invited to travel to Israel. Suppose further that you replied, "I think I'll pass. I've already been to the Holy Land Experience. There's no need for me to go to Israel." What would people think of that decision? It is ludicrous to think that seeing a few replicas in Florida would be the equivalent of actual...

The writer of Hebrews is a pastor at heart and he will not engage in reckless pastoral care. He loves this particular flock too much to let some of them slowly drift away without telling them the painful truth. He writes harshly at times to fulfill his commission as a shepherd. In fact, this strong concern for his people motivated him to write the letter to the Hebrews and include several warnings...

The author has just completed a lengthy section filled with exhortation. He knows another similar exhortation is needed shortly. In between these two exhortations, he introduces a new image to his readers: the picture of the Jewish High Priest. This passage in Hebrews 5 serves as an introduction to an extended discussion of Christ as the Christian's Great High Priest. In this brief introduction, t...

The author of Hebrews wrote his letter while the Temple was still standing. He did not know that the great building would be destroyed in just a matter of years. However, his letter to a group of Jewish Christians in Rome provided the answers to the questions that their Jewish family members would have been asking them repeatedly: "You have no priests in this new Christian religion. How do you hav...

The author of Hebrews is not concerned with the size of the church to which he writes. His advice does not even touch on ideas of buildings and appearances and image. He does not write about new church growth methods or worship styles. The exhortations he provides do not address the subject of making the readers more comfortable, the church more accessible, or the ministries more relevant to the c...

The 2007 New England Patriots are widely considered the best team in the history of professional football. They won every single game in the regular season. However, they lost in the Super Bowl and, therefore, they failed in their ultimate goal. Just like in the sports world, it is possible for people to "perform" well in the church and yet fail to cross the finish line. The author of Hebrews is c...

To capture the prize, one must keep his eye on the prize. This is true in swimming, running, archery, and many other competitive sports. It is also true in the spiritual arena. As the second major section of the letter to the Hebrews begins, the author has this same truism in mind for his readers. He is fearful that some of his beloved readers will be tempted to take their eyes off the prize and w...

Disasters, both natural and unnatural, create aftershocks of a different sort in both survivors and witnesses. People are suddenly willing to think about their faith and its relationship to the reality all around them. In the aftermath, people wrestle with tough theological questions - sometimes for the first time in their lives. Many see a tremendous contradiction in the idea that God could coexi...