Sermon for the Sullivan SDA Church
January 28, 2006
"Is God Moving us on?
Opening
Song "All Creatures of my God and King” Page 2
Closing
Song "I Will Follow Thee” Page 623
Numbers 14:8
If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead
us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
Our mission - our sense of what God has called us to do
Under God’s guidance, we meet people where they are, and lead them
to experience a growing relationship in Christ with us.
Our vision - what our church will look like when we are accomplishing our mission
To be a growing church that transforms our community, models
singular devotion to Christ, and is prepared for His coming.
Our core values -
principles that define how we do ministry together as we pursue our mission
1 Empowering Leadership - Many people are leaders and don’t even know it; we lead in a variety of ways. (e.g. parent/child, father/family, teacher/student, Christian/unbeliever) Leadership is influencing people toward something better in their lives. Not that we are better, but we participate with God in directing them to the happiest life possible with Him. We “empower” leaders by apprenticing new leaders. We guide and equip them so that together we multiply our influence for good and accomplish God’s mission.
Ephesians 4:11,12; 2 Timothy 2:2; RH
8/24/86; 11/6/88; 9T 82
2
Gift-Oriented Ministry
- We serve the Lord in our
areas of giftedness through appropriate ministries so the Body of Christ “grows
and builds itself up in love.”
Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:1,4-6; Ephesians 4:16;
1 Peter 4:10; Letter 19, 1901; 8T 186,7
3
Passionate Spirituality – We
believe continual spiritual growth should be normal for all Christians. Hence, we encourage Christians of all walks
and religious persuasions to become more devoted to Christ by taking delight in
the spiritual life. This includes daily
renewal through the personal disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and obedience.
Psalm 119:148; Mark 12:30; Romans 6:22; 13:11; 2
Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15
4
Functional Structures - Our church’s ministries, systems, programs
and policies work optimally through well-defined objectives, which are
regularly evaluated to ensure functionality and excellence.
Exodus 18:14-22; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16
5
Inspiring Worship - We gather for worship first and foremost for our
heavenly Father. We worship Him in
spirit and truth because of His beautiful holiness, creative power and loving
kindness. The blending of spirit and
truth reveals our commitment to authentic expressions of praise and adoration
that are biblical, decent and orderly.
Psalm 29:2; 96:6,9; 99:5,9;
138:2; John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Revelation 4:11; 5:9,10; 14:7
6
Holistic Small Groups - We desire everyone to be involved in a small group that ministers to
their spiritual, mental, physical, and social needs. Since leadership is vital to this ministry, we equip them through
regular training, encourage them through monthly briefings, and evaluate them
through annual reviews. While these
discipleship groups vary, they are primarily focused on life transformation and
evangelism.
Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:46-47; Philemon 2; RH 5/30/71;
9/29/91; 7T 21-22, 195
7
Need-Oriented Evangelism –
People are at the heart of our existence as a church. We authentically and intentionally cultivate
friendships with pre-Christians to lead them to become fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ. We use Jesus’ own
method of mingling with people desiring their good, showing sympathy,
ministering to them, winning their confidence, and inviting them to follow Him.
Matthew 25:34-40; 28:29,20; Luke 19:10; Revelation
14:6; MH 143
8
Loving Relationships –
People matter - they’re the only things going to heaven. We are known for our love for all people
without regard to gender, race, social or economic status. We accept people as they are and desire for
them the happiest, highest and holiest life possible with God. We hold special regard for those who are
destitute, without loved ones, and in need of our sympathy.
Hebrews
A book written to prepare a
people for a change
“An Expository Sermon”
based on comments from the
The Seventh-day Adventist
Bible Commentary, Volume 7
I.
Chapter 1
Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV)
1 God,
who 1at
various times and ain various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom
He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the 2worlds;
3 bwho being the brightness of His glory and the express cimage
of His person, and dupholding all things by the word of His power, ewhen
He had 3by
Himself 4purged
5our
sins, fsat
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so
much better than the angels, as gHe has by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they. [1]
A.
A
Change
Note: It is important in the understanding of
Hebrews that we keep in mind the movement of Christ from heaven to the earth
then back to heaven.
1.
At
sundry times. Gr. polumerōs,
“in many portions,” “in many ways.” The full light from the throne of God did not burst upon men in one
great flash of glory. Rather, it came slowly, little by little, as men could
comprehend it. [2]
2.
Spake. The writer emphasizes the fact that
it was God who spoke through the prophets. A book may bear the name of Isaiah
or Amos or Daniel, but God is the real author [3]
3.
The
first verse presents the Father, the second the Son. In presenting the Son, the
author of Hebrews comes to the heart of his subject. If Christ is to supersede the Aaronic
priesthood instituted by Moses, He must be shown to be superior to Moses, or He
would not have the power to abrogate that which Moses had instituted. Therefore
Christ is set forth as God [4]
4.
Heir
of all things.
When Jesus came to earth He laid “aside His royal robe and kingly crown” (9T
68). He “chose to give back the scepter into the Father’s hands, and to step
down from the throne of the universe” (DA 22, 23). At His ascension He resumed the position
that He had had with the Father prior to the incarnation (see AA 38, 39; cf. 8T 268, 269). It was important that the Hebrews
understand the true position of the Son. Old Testament writers did not clearly
distinguish between the persons in the Godhead. Israel had been taught, “Hear,
O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4). It was necessary that they
understand that the Messiah shared the throne of the universe with the Father.[5]
5.
Express
image. Gr. charaktēr, originally, a tool used for engraving or marking. Later it came
to mean the marking itself. The same duality of meaning may be noted in certain
English words. Thus “seal” may mean the impression made upon the receiving
medium, as well as the instrument used, and “stamp” denotes both the instrument
used and the imprint made. As a seal or stamp impresses an exact image of
itself upon the wax, so Christ is the exact counterpart of God.[6]
6.
By
himself.
Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the omission of this
phrase. The idea is contained, however, in the form of the Greek expression
translated “had … purged.”
Christ trod the wine press alone (Isa. 63:3).
7.
Purged. By His atonement Christ accomplished both the cleansing of sin in
general—which work was
made possible by the sacrifice on the cross and will at last issue in the
purification of the universe from sin—and the cleansing of the individual from sin. This latter work, also made possible
by the cross, is still in progress and will not be finished till the last soul
is saved.[7]
8.
Sat
down. Christ’s sitting down was a formal
seating, an installation
into office, an inauguration, a coronation. It was an investiture with
authority, an acknowledgment of His right to exercise jurisdiction. It was the beginning, not the end, of His
activity as special mediator.
It was the placing of God’s seal upon His mediatorial work. By thus seating
Christ at His own right hand, God placed His approval upon the work Christ had
done in the earth and accepted it, addressed Him as high priest, and authorized Him henceforth to
function as mediator after the order of Melchisedec (ch. 7:17).The seat on the right hand of the
Majesty on high was given Christ in view of His purgation of sin. He had succeeded where Adam had failed.
He had won for Himself the right to speak and act for mankind. Therefore, far from sitting down to
rest, He was now beginning His new activity. As a judge on earth takes his seat
on the bench, as the chairman of an assembly “takes the chair” and proceedings
begin, so Christ took His seat at the right hand of God, and thus received
official recognition before the assembled multitudes that He served by the
appointment and will of God. [8]
9.
By
inheritance. Christ has been “appointed heir of
all things” (see on v. 2). With this inheritance He was also given “a
name which is above every name” (see on Phil. 2:9).[9]
10. A more excellent name. Some believe that the name is
“Jesus.” This was the name given to Him at birth, and it was given in
recognition of the fact that He would “save his people from their sins” (Matt.
1:21); and since the angel who announced the name was only executing God’s
command, it was in reality God the Father who gave Him that name. [10]
B.
i
The deity of Christ was a great stumbling block
in the way of the Jews’ acceptance of Christianity. Israel had for centuries
prided itself on the worship of only one God, whereas the heathen had many
gods. “The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4) had been the challenge to
their heathen neighbors. The Jews needed to understand the nature of the
Godhead, that the phrase “one Lord” involved Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.[11]
C.
The Son Exalted
Above Angels
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
Ps. 2:7 “You are My Son,
Today I have
begotten You”?
Thou art my Son. A citation from Ps. 2:7 (see comment
there). For a discussion of the title “Son” applied to Christ see on Luke 1:35;
cf.
on Rom. 1:4. The author here disposes of the claim made by some that Christ is
an angel raised to a higher position. If Christ really were an angel elevated to His present status, then
God did say to an angel, “Thou art my Son.” But God did not say
this to any angel “at any time.”[12]
And
again:
2
Sam. 7:14 “I
will be to Him a Father,
And He shall
be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings jthe
firstborn into the world, He says:
Rev.
5:11–13 “Let all the angels of God worship
Him.”
7 And of the angels He says:
Ps.
104:4 “Who
makes His angels spirits
And His
ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says:
Ps.
45:6, 7 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A 6scepter
of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved
righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God,
nhas anointed You
With the oil
of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
Ps.
102:25–27 “You,
Lord, in the beginning laid the
foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of
Your hands.
11 Is.
34:4 They will
perish, but
You remain;
And
Is.51:6 they will all grow old
like a garment;
12 Like a cloak
You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the rsame,
And Your
years will not fail.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever
said:
s“Sit
at My right hand,
Till I make
Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 Dan. 7:10 Are they not all ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for those who will uinherit
salvation?
1 Or in many portions
a Num. 12:6, 8; Joel 2:28
2 Or ages, Gr. aiones, aeons
b John 1:14
c 2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15
d Col. 1:17
e [Heb. 7:27]
3 NU omits by Himself
4 cleansed
5 NU omits our
f Ps. 110:1
g Is. 9:6, 7; Luke 1:32, 33; [Phil. 2:9, 10]
[1] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville
[2]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[3]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[4]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[5]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[6]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
cf. confer, “compare”
[7]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[8]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[9]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[10]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[11]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[12]Nichol, F. D. 1978; 2002. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 . Review and Herald Publishing Association
[13]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville