Line Upon Line

A largely academic introduction to a verse-by-verse study of Hebrews, examining the question of who wrote the book. Through internal evidence, Pastor Miles argues that Hebrews 1:1–13:21 was written by Timothy under the endorsement of Paul, who added the closing 62 words (13:22–25).

Tracing the biblical story from Abraham through Moses to Christ, Pastor Miles shows that though Scripture contains two covenants, it tells one consistent story in which the old covenant exposes humanity's need for the new covenant fulfilled in Jesus. Introducing the book of Hebrews, he demonstrates that the law's repeated sacrifices were only a shadow pointing to Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.

A study of Hebrews 1:1 that identifies "the fathers" and "the prophets" through whom God spoke, showing that the patriarchs of Israel were the first followers of God by faith and, by extension, the fathers of all who believe in Jesus. The teaching traces how the fathers and prophets faithfully anticipated God's promised blessing, which is fulfilled in Christ, and invites hearers to become children of Abraham by faith.

Introducing a study through the book of Hebrews, Pastor Miles lays the groundwork by explaining the relationship between the Old and New Covenants and showing how God, the Creator, speaks to His creation through three forms of revelation—general, special, and personal—culminating in the personal revelation of Jesus Christ. The central theme of Hebrews is that Jesus is better than everything.

A guest teaching from 1 Peter 3:8-15 walking through roughly a dozen challenges that equip believers to be prepared witnesses and a healthy church, emphasizing harmony, compassion, blessing one's enemies, prayer, and always being ready to give a defense for the hope within us.

Drawing on Jesus' promise of abundant life in John 10:10, this teaching argues that humans were created for connection, that sin destroyed it, and that Jesus came to restore it through the church. It calls believers to experience real life-giving community by joining or hosting a connect group.

Drawing on John 10:10, this teaching argues that every person longs for a rich and satisfying life, but the world cannot ultimately satisfy because sin broke the communion with God and community with one another that we were created to enjoy. Jesus came into the world for a purpose: to restore that broken connection and bring abundant life.

On the first day of 2017, Pastor Miles draws ten "resolutions" from the wise man Solomon in Proverbs 3, presenting them as God's wisdom for a long, satisfying life that far surpasses typical New Year's resolutions. The teaching closes with communion, remembering the broken body and shed blood of Jesus that established the new covenant.

On a rare Christmas-morning Sunday, Pastor Miles closes the "We Give" series by exploring why Christians give gifts on December 25th, tracing the holiday's roots and the gifts brought to Jesus by the wise men in Matthew 2. He encourages believers to redeem the cultural Christmas by giving gifts "in Jesus' name," which honors Jesus, expresses love, extends grace, and will one day be rewarded.

Drawing on Peter's question about forgiveness and Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, this teaching argues that Christians are called to "extreme forgiveness" because they have themselves received the extreme, debt-canceling forgiveness of God in Christ. It addresses the tension between our God-given desire for justice and Christ's command to forgive, offering practical guidance for forgiving even repeated wrongs.