SUNDAY CONNECT LESSON FOR JULY 2, 2023ABOVE ALL OTHERSThe writer's declaration of the supremacy of Christ was written between AD 64-68.Study The Word:  The epistle to the Hebrews was written to believers who were suffering and scattered because of persecution.  The author does not offer empty "you can do it" cheers to them.  Instead, he points them to Jesus and His supreme provisions for believers...  Read More

Is it just me or does it seem that our world has gone crazy?  Everywhere we look there is brokenness, fighting, finger pointing, protesting, and even war.  It’s as if people are very unhappy and they are searching for peace, love, hope, and security but all they find is disappointment and difficulties.  That then leads to all the fighting, etc.   We know the answer is always Jesus and HE is our on...  Read More

Jesus is better than anything. He is higher than angels (vs. 1:6). He is God’s exact imprint (vs. 1:3). In Hebrews 1:10-13  Jesus is the Creator – He’s God. Why do we, then, sell ourselves short by worshipping anything other than Jesus? What do you tend to bow down to or to serve? Why? What has He done for YOU that is worth worshipping?In Hebrews 2:1 it tells us to pay close attention to what we h...  Read More

Hebrews 5:1-8 (HCSB)The Messiah, a High Priest5 For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service  to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.  3 Because of this, he must make a sin offering for himself as well as for the people.  4 No one takes thi...  Read More

Hebrews 4:1-16 (HCSB)The Promised Rest4 Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.  2 For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith   3 (for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what  He has said: So I sw...  Read More

Hebrews 3:1-19 (HCSB)Our Apostle and High Priest 3 Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession;  2 He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was in all God’s household. 3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. 4 Now every house is b...  Read More

Hebrews 2:1-18 (HCSB)Warning against Neglect 2 We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.  2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding   and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,  3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?  It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by...  Read More

Hebrews 1:1-14 (HCSB)The Nature of the Son1 Long ago God spoke  to the fathers by the prophets  at different times and in different ways.  2 In these last days,  He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things  and made the universe   through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance  of God’s glory and the exact expression  of His nature,  sustaining all things by His powerful word....  Read More

BACK TO THE WORDThe events of the book of Nehemiah took place just after those of the book of Ezra (445 BC-431 BC) with Nehemiah arriving in Jerusalem in 444 BC, 13 years after Ezra arrived.Study The Word: God's Word is powerful and will change our lives if we invite and allow it to.Key Truth: God's people gather for corporate worship and in smaller groups to hear, learn, and apply God's Word (Neh...  Read More

1.  PHEW!! When the people gathered in chapter 8, they spent the first day and the eighth day reading scripture – likely for 4 hours each time! What does that say about their hunger for the word of God after being in exile so long. What does it say about their willingness to be obedient? What does this say about the importance of continuously going back to Scripture?2.  After gathering on the 1st ...  Read More

Nehemiah 12:27-43 (HCSB)Dedication of the Wall 27 At the dedication of the wall  of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.  28 The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites,  29 from Beth-gilgal, a...  Read More

Nehemiah 10:30-39 (HCSB)Details of the Vow 30 We will not give our daughters in marriage to the surrounding peoples and will not take their daughters as wives for our sons. 31 When the surrounding peoples bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day.  We will also leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year  and will ...  Read More