4G Family

The writer of Hebrews has already been seen to shift back and forth between theology and exhortation -- sometimes abruptly. In today's passage, this rhetorical technique is on full display. Gone is the time for baby's milk; it's time to eat your vegetables.  Further, to continue the food references, there is a "Wake up and smell the coffee!" tone to the teaching. The writer seems to be saying some...

The whole Law and the priesthood that administered it was necessary because sin separated us from God.  This passage introduces the concept of a high priest who identifies with people and, via sacrifice, serves to bridge the gap created by sin. What human priests did in part, Jesus does infinitely better.  He is a sympathetic high priest who is approachable and ready for us to come to him in order...

Hebrews 4:1-11

Our passage today continues some of the big themes of Hebrews: The Gospel is the culmination of what God and his redemptive history has been pointing to all along and Jesus is better than . . .  In this chapter, Moses.   We also have another strong exhortation for apparent believers to examine where they are with Jesus:  "Consider Jesus" (ESV, NASB) or "Fix your eyes on Jesus" (NIV) and hold fast...

Sharing and applying the concepts from a study in Hebrews by Ray Stedman, Bill encourages us all to "lean in" to the benefits Christ brought and into the comforts God longs to provide. Class notes are here .

Like others that we'll look at in Hebrews, there are a number of perspectives and a number of applications. The overarching theme of the superiority of Jesus and the New Covenant continues to shine through (and also offers contextual clarity to the text).   Study notes are here .

As we are still in the very early stages of our study of Hebrews it's worth a reminder that it is being written to a congregation. And, like most all congregations, there is a mix of believers and unbelievers. Further, the unbelievers consist of two groups: -those who know Jesus intellectually and are convinced of the claims of Jesus but have, for whatever reason, stopped short of putting their fa...

Bill starts off a new study today in the book of Hebrews -- a rich book of uncertain authorship but very certain authority.  Today, we look at the background of those whom God used to reveal himself to us.   Study outline is here. A link to commentary resources for personal study at BlueLetterBible.org is  here.

This session served as a review of our study in Daniel and also offered some time for Q&A on topics related to the book.   ** A helpful look at many topics regarding the topic of The Millennium in eschatology (the study of end times or "last things") can be found in a comprehensive collection of articles at Bible.org   ** One question in class brought up the topic of the Judgment Seat of Christ (a...

Daniel 12 is a continuation of the angelic revelation to Daniel that started (in Chapter 10) on the banks of the Tigris River as Daniel was completing three weeks of prayer.  It is a further look into the last days of the Great Tribulation and concludes with the encouragement to Daniel to "Go your way till the and. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."...

In Chapter 11 we have Daniel's record of the prophecy he received from the angel about the future of Israel. What was prophecy for Daniel is mostly history now for us. The amazing detail in Chapter 11 has fueled much of the argument that Daniel was written more recently than the traditional view.   Extensive discussion of this dispute is in the study notes . In class, a History of the World video...

In chapter 10 we find Daniel praying and get a glimpse of the activity in the spiritual realm where angelic beings are doing battle.   Study notes are found here.

The focus of Chapter 9 continues to be primarily focused on what happens to Israel. Continuing the list of things that will be accomplished by the end of the 70 weeks: *Make Atonement for iniquity --Note -- there are two ways that Satan - the Accuser affects us: provoking fear and guilt. Remember that Psalms says that God removes our sin "as for as the east is from the west" *Bring in everlasting...

Daniel 9 begins with Daniel's pray of confession for the sins of Israel and his plea, for the sake of Jerusalem for mercy. God answers by sending Gabriel with a message about a period of time, "seventy sevens" or "seventy weeks" where a number of things will be accomplished. The context for all of these things has to do with Israel (rather than Gentiles or the Church).   Class notes can be found h...

In Chapter 9 we find Daniel "in the books" of Jeremiah and he realizes that the prophesied 70 years of exile are coming to a close.  His response is a deeply felt prayer of confession and repentence for the nation along with a request for God to restore the nation, the city and the people. He references the nature of God in a number of ways including His covenant keeping and steadfast love (hesed)...

In Chapter 8 Daniel records another vision. This one occurs two years after the one described in Chapter 7.  He sees another picture of the MedoPersian empire -- this time, as a ram. And, he sees another picture of Alexander the Great and the Greek generals that succeeded him.  Of the four military generals, Seleucus held the most territory. 150 or so years later, one of his successors was Antioch...

The 7th chapter of Daniel marks a shift from narrative of history to figurative, apocalyptic language. We have imagery of four successive kingdoms. They seem to parallel the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream from chapter 2: Babylon, Medes-Persians, Greece, and Rome.  The 10 horns would correlate with the 10 toes of the image.  The assumption is that these are 10 nations (some sort of remnant for the...

Chapter 4 concludes Daniel's account of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Chapter 5 begins a few decades later with the account of the last day's of Belshazzar's reign (as coregent with King Nabonidus). When the hand of God interrupts a feast with a message of prophecy and judgment, Daniel is identified as one who can interpret the divine message.     Supplementary study material, including the commentary e...

Daniel Chapter 4 The Second Dream   Introduction       Daniel is a book about God’s sovereignty. The events discussed are prophesied by Jeremiah. Because God is sovereign, He can use whomever he wants in order to bring about his purposes. Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon is used as an instrument of punishment and correction for Israel’s failure to remain committed to Him. Verses 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar praises...

One of the more famous stories in the whole Bible, the account of three courageous young men who put their whole faith in God still serves as an encouragement to His people today.   The video of "The Fourth Man" by the Statler Brothers can be viewed here . The video of the Syrians in the Lebanese refugee camp can be viewed here .

The World History Maps referenced in today's lesson can be found here . The 600 BC , 323 BC , and 1 AD maps are especially helpful.   A number of pastors have attempted to understand and explain Daniel through a traditional/conservative lens. Dr. Ray Stedman's sermon on Daniel 2:32-45 is a a good example of this.

In this section, we hear the description and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. We hear of a statue composed of different metals. The traditional interpretation is that these different metals represent different empires: the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks including Alexander the Great, and the Roman Empire. A clarification with respect to the mention of race: in Old testame...

Ultimately, the book of Daniel is another way God reveals Himself to us.  In this chapter we learn of God's sovereignty over world events as well as His grace toward Daniel and his companions. Several miracles here: Better health in just 10 days Besting the "natives" in the most advance knowledge of the day Navigating the highest levels of politics, as an outsider, for over 60 years Our culture is...