Eastbrook Church

Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God/heaven. We will explore Jesus’ description of the kingdom, the nature of the gospel, kingdom parables, kingdom ethics, as well as conflict between Jesus and other kingdoms. We will touch on living in the “now” and “not yet” of the kingdom, with attention to the fullness of the kingdom in the New Testament as described in Hebrews and Revelation.

A series of final exhortations – or words – mark the conclusion of the letter that began with attention to the Final Word that is Jesus.

The calling of God is to unshakable realities and so we make every effort to live in God’s ways.

The life of faith is like a foot race of endurance that, although we wear down sometimes, brings the greatest joy of living with God.

Jesus is not only the High Priest that brings us to God, but is also our example for faith-filled discipleship.

Examples of faith scattered through the Scriptures and through our experience encourage us to continue in our own life of faith.

The nature of faith shapes the life of faith.

In light of the cost of Jesus’ sacrifice, we must step forward with perseverance in our life of faith.

Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient once for all, and we are free from the requirements of sacrifices and the law.

The earthly worship in the tabernacle and temple reflected what was happening in the spiritual tabernacle of God. Jesus, in His earthly sacrifice on the Cross also entered into the spiritual tabernacle for the deepest offering of worship to God ever.

Jesus’ high priesthood supersedes any other high priesthood, making His new promises greater than any other covenant before.

Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek because of His perfection and transcendence. Jesus “is able to save completely those who come to God through him” (7:25).

When God promises and Christ fulfills, nothing can take the blessings of God away from us.

It is good to receive a kick in the tail sometimes when you need it. So, too, in our spiritual lives, sometimes we need a good warning and a good push to keep moving toward maturity.

The uniqueness of the high priest within the Jewish religious system is even more uniquely filled once for all by Jesus the High Priest, who both enters into human experience and draws us beyond that to God through His perfect obedience.

There is a rest for the people of God that comes through the true sabbath in Christ.

Disobedience hardens us to God, so we are called to obedience, turning from sin, and keeping our hearts soft toward God.

Jesus is a faithful Son of the Father within the Father’s household, now makes us the house of God. He dwells in us and we dwell in Him.

Exploring the wonder that Jesus became a little lower than the angels to bring many to glory, while also now having greater glory than both the angels and humanity.

Considering Jesus’ superiority to the angels, with some attention the role of angels.

Considering the preeminence of Jesus compared to the earlier revelation of God.

Malachi addresses God’s people after the return from exile, calling them to right living, ending of easy divorce, justice in the public square, and a return to the covenant with God. Malachi points to an Elijah-like figure who will announce the day of the Lord, as God comes to bring forth His righteousness and justice upon the earth.

Prophesying at the same time as Haggai, and during the return from exile recorded in the book of Ezra, Zechariah rebukes the people for breaking the covenant and calls them to repent and turn to God. There is a strong message about justice in the public square in Zechariah. There are also many references to the coming Messiah, one of which directly connects with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusal...

A contemporary of Zechariah after the exile, Haggai calls the returnees to prioritize rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. The Temple was not only the place of worship but a sign of God’s covenant. As the books closes, the earthly prince Zerubbabel is held up, like David, as a picture of the Messianic Ruler who will come in the future.

A contemporary of Jeremiah, Zephaniah calls the people of the southern kingdom of Judah to humbly seek God as the day of the Lord approaches. The difficulties that Zephaniah speaks about are also accompanied by future hope of our God who rejoices over us with singing.