Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

The author of Hebrews has given us all we need to understand that faith in Jesus is the better way to live: Better than faith in Old Testament rituals. Better than faith in our righteousness. He tells us of others who have done, by faith, what otherwise could not be done and endured, by faith, what otherwise could not have been endured. If you want to know more about Fairlea Associate Reformed Pre...

This week we learn about Israel and Rahab from Hebrews 11:29-31. The generation that leaves Egypt is trapped between the mountains, an army, and the Sea. God opens an unexpected way through the Sea. We overcome adversity by faith. The generation that enters the Promised Land unconventionally defeats Jericho. We overcome the world by faith. Rahab rejects her allegiance to Jericho and chooses allegi...

As we continue through our study of Hebrews 11, we come to the account of Moses and parents and how they lived by faith. Moses' parents are presented with a choice: surrender their baby to the Egyptian soldiers to be thrown into the river, or hide the baby and preserve his life. Moses' parents choose to hide the baby from the murderous intent of Pharaoh because of their faith in the promis...

The author of Hebrews takes us to Genesis 22 and God's testing of Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. This testing is to show that Abraham lived by faith, in even the deepest of trials. By faith, Abraham bore up under severe trial. By faith Abraham gave a difficult obedience. By faith, Abraham received important blessings. If you would like to know more about the ministry of Fairlea Asso...

This is a sermon on Hebrews 11:8-16, 20-22 called "Faith & the Unseen." In this sermon, Rev. Hughes shows us the faith of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He teaches us that the patriarchs went by faith, wandered by faith, and waited by faith. God gave rewards to the patriarchs. The first was the real hope of a city whose architect and builder is God - the city described fo...

The author of Hebrews continues showing us that God calls all of His people from the beginning of recorded history to live and seek Him by faith. The author points us to consider Noah's faith. By faith Noah received righteousness. This teaches us that justification - the declaration of righteousness - has always been by faith. By faith Noah took action on his faith. Noah built the ark. Buildin...

After describing what faith is in Hebrews 11:1-3, the author now begins to give us examples of people who lived by faith. As we consider these examples, we must keep in mind that we don't imitate the actions of these men and women, but we are to imitate the faith by which they lived. This faith is further defined for us in this passage. Living by faith means to believe that the God of the Bibl...

Everyone has faith. But what does faith mean? For the Christian, faith is a gift from God, and, being a gift from God, faith has some characteristics. Faith is assurance that what we hope for will come to pass. Assurance is not a subjective feeling but an objective reality rooted in the unchangeable nature of God. His promises are what we hope in; His promises are concrete realities in Jesus. Fait...

Guest Speaker Bruce Curry leads us to consider how art points us to God's creative work and helps us to understand the Gospel. If you would like more information on the ministry of Fairlea Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church please visit https://arpchurchfairlea.org.

God calls us to persevere in faithfulness. We are to remember His faithfulness as we pursue faithfulness to Him and the holiness He has called us to. Among the tools He gives us to help in our perseverance we find the warnings and encouragements of the Scriptures. The author of Hebrews warns against apostasy. We must always keep the authors words and context in mind as we read these warnings, othe...

How do we live in this world in a way that brings honor and glory to God? This is an age old question. The author of Hebrews reminds us of three foundational truths then gives us three directives that influence how we live in this world as followers of Jesus. The Christian life is rooted in the truths that Jesus has paved a way, through His life and death, He has paved a way for us to confidently...

The author of Hebrews comes to the end of His teaching on the superiority of Jesus to the Old Testament Ceremonial Law. In Hebrews 10:1-18, the author summarizes for us the glory of Jesus' completed work in contrast to the continual, day-in-day-out work of the High Priests. In this summary, he points to two new considerations. First, he teaches us of a holiness that comes through the work of J...

What is so important about blood? Blood was used in the Ancient Near East to seal covenants, to bind the parties together in the covenant defined relationship. Leviticus 17:11 takes this one step further: Life comes through blood. Throughout the history of God's people, the shedding of blood marked the redemption that God promised in Genesis 3. But the blood of animals was not enough. Jesus&#3...

We can get so caught up in the buildings and rituals of religious life that we forget to see the glory of Christ to which they point. The author of Hebrews takes us on a brief tour of the Tabernacle and the Day of Atonement to show us how they pointed to the glory of Jesus' completed atonement. The Tabernacle showed God's glory with His people, while, at the same time, showing that this ac...

Jesus is better than the prophets; He is better than the angels; He is better than Moses and the priests. But, what about the Old Covenant, the one mediated by Moses and the one that defined the life and hope of the Jewish people of the first century? The author of Hebrews points out that we are in need of a new and better covenant because the old one is not able to fill our greatest need: A new,...

The author of Hebrews tells us his main point: We have a high priest, One in the order of Melchizedek and One who has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. He points us to the truth that this High Priest serves in the true Holy of Holies. The Tabernacle and Temple were merely the artists' sketch of the true, heavenly masterpiece of God's throne room. We see how Jesus currently serves as...

After giving warning to those who have a false profession and offering encouragement to those who are holding fast to their faith, the author returns to the subject of Melchizedek's priesthood. Melchizedek, the mysterious king and priest of Genesis 14, is the model for Jesus' priesthood. Levi & Aaron's priestly line fell short of what was needed for true reconciliation with God bec...

In Hebrews 5:11, the author of Hebrews began to call the Hebrew Christians to greater maturity. He was concerned that they had not grown in their love and knowledge of God and what He had done. This call shifted to a warning for those who refused to grow and would end up turning away from the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus. He returns to his exhortation by offering comfort to the...

What would you do if the teacher and leader you had put all your hopes on had been executed for crimes he didn't commit? Two followers of Jesus make the decision to head out from Jerusalem on that Resurrection Day. On their way to Emmaus, they are met by a stranger who asks why they are so sad. These disciples respond by explaining the death of the man they thought was the Messiah. Then the st...

The author of Hebrews wants to tell his audience more about Jesus' role as priest in the order of Melchizedek, but he can't. And the problem is that the Christians he is writing to are slow of hearing and infants in their knowledge of deep things. He begins by declaring that he knows why they cannot understand. Because of their choice, they have not progressed in their understanding of the...

Do we need a high priest? A better sacrifice has been given and the sacrificial system has been fulfilled, so do we still need a high priest? The author of Hebrews says, "Yes! We need a superior high priest." Jesus is our great high priest who has a superior calling. He is called to be God's anointed King and High Priest. Like the mysterious figure Melchizedek, Jesus is called to be...

This sermon begins a section in the book of Hebrews that focuses on Jesus being superior to the High Priest in the line of Aaron. This section will run through chapter 10. For the Jewish Christian of the First Century, the question of the High Priest was an important consideration. In the life of Israel, the High Priest was one of the most important and prestigious persons in their religious life....

God's offer of rest still stands. It did not expire with the generation of Israelites that entered Canaan under Joshua. But what does this rest mean for you and me. The author of Hebrews teaches us that it is God's rest that we are entering. God created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He rested from that work on the seventh, giving us a patter of six days of work and one day of...

The author of Hebrews pauses for the second warning. This warning is against the unbelief that leads to turning your back on God. This turning away from God begins with sinful unbelief. Sinful unbelief can be made worse by the deceitfulness of sin. Finally, our hearts are hardened as we move away from Jesus as the only means of salvation. The author uses the example of the Exodus generation as giv...

In Hebrews 3:1-6, the author of Hebrews narrows his focus from prophets and angels to one important prophet in the history of Israel - Moses. The author maintains the importance of Moses in the history of God's people by showing his faithfulness as a servant in the household of God. But the author goes on to show the greater glory and honor of Jesus, showing us that Jesus is the Son of God and...