Before Hebrews was a letter it was a sermon.
These early believers, probably living in Rome, grasped this well-crafted sixty minute sermon. Now it’s our turn to get the message! The finality of Christ’s revelation, the efficacy of his atoning sacrifice, and the everlasting encouragement of his faithfulness, energizes the sermon’s spiraling intensity of exposition and exhortation.
Hebrews weans us away from our preoccupation with the start of the Christian life and focuses our attention on the perseverance of faith. Life is not a sprint but a marathon. Faithfulness to the end affirms faith from the beginning.
Hebrews is a tour de force for the person and work of Christ and a manifesto against respectable, self-justifying religious habits. Hebrews is a tight weave of Old Testament texts and New Testament truths. The author of Hebrews preaches Christ from the Old Testament in order to make resilient disciples. If we let the word of God have its way in our lives, Hebrews will deepen our faith in Christ and strengthen our faithfulness. Dive in and see for yourself. As a part of its Lay Academy, Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School will host an in-depth study of Hebrews on six Tuesday evenings beginning February 23. We would love to have you join us!
-Douglas D. Webster
Professor of Pastoral Theology and Preaching, Beeson Divinity School
Dr. Webster will be leading the Lay Academy study of Hebrews. Learn more about this class and others at www.beesondivinity.com/layacademy or call 205-726-2731.
