Northwest Gospel Church - Summit View

The author of Hebrews captivates its readers as it draws from the history and stories of the Old Testament, illustrating their foreshadowing of Jesus. We see this greater overarching narrative culminating in the person of Jesus, greater than all that preceded Him. In this week’s passage, we are drawn to a connection between Moses, God’s chosen leader for His people of old, and Jesus, the ultimate and final leader to which God’s people look. While Moses led the Israelites in a physical exodus out of Egypt, Jesus leads us to a spiritual exodus out of death into life. Moses was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promise Land, but Jesus came to bring us into a place of rest for our souls. As the Israelites wrestled with the temptation to distrust the heart of God, we face the same temptation to harden our hearts, and much like the Israelites, often reject His commands, rationalizing our disobedience. The writer of Hebrews pleads with us to enter God's rest, but will we listen to his words?

Every year for Christmas we gather to celebrate the birth of our Savior. One of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith is the fact that God became man; when we look at Jesus we find someone who is 100% God and 100% man. This concept is referred to as the “hypostatic union.” The unity of the God-Man is one topic that has been highly debated, studied, and examined since the formation of the early church.

We can often find ourselves in error when we over emphasize either His deity—status as God—or overemphasize His humanity—status as man. While it is appropriate to take time and energy to understand all this entails, the author of Hebrews appeals to this truth as a source of comfort and encouragement to a group of believers who needed it. For we have a Savior who has experienced all that it is to be human—everything we experience. As a result, Jesus is able to serve as a perfect high priest, deeply attuned to the need of His adopted brothers and sisters.

If you've ever found yourself floating in the middle of a body of water, you know just how quickly and easy it is to be carried away by the wind and tide. Without being properly anchored, we can easily drift from where we need to be. Throughout the book of Hebrews, we find stern warnings against spiritual drift. The first warning found in this week’s passage addresses the influence and impact that other sources can have on our lives; do the voices we listen to and the worldviews we adhere to come from the irrefutable source of Scripture? We are reminded here that the Gospel message comes from the most reliable source of all—the Lord himself. Not only does this good news come from Him but it originated in Him and continues to be sustained by Him to this day. Comfort and confidence are available to us through the storms of life when we place our anchor and hope in Jesus.

Sports team scouts spend countless dollars trying to find the next up and coming star that can put their team on the map. Recruiters comb through resumes and stake out job fairs to find the talent they hope will take their company to the next level. Many in their respective fields are on an endless quest to find the total package, someone they feel can make a real difference.

As we open the book of Hebrews, we find a true “game-changer” in the person of Jesus and discover just how glorious He truly is. He is the exact imprint of God, the agent of creation, the sacrifice for our sins, and the King who rules the cosmos. His name is above all other names and all of creation is subject to Him in worship and service. There is no one greater and none come close to His supremacy.

The Church is often referred to as a "family", but what does this really mean for us? 🧐 Belonging--to God and to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ--is more than just a Christian buzzword. It is the unearned grace afforded to us through the atoning work of Christ on the cross.

Tune in as we explore what it looks like to belong in the Church, and why this type of covenant community is so precious.

The heart of the Church is the coming together of those called by God for the purpose of sharing the Gospel to advance His Kingdom. In Greek, ekklesia means “called out ones”; the church is called out to be sent out. Join us for Ekklesia, a four-week series as we study how God designed, Jesus commissioned, and the Holy Spirit empowers the Church. We will learn what the Church is (and isn’t), our unique mission, the makings of a healthy Church, and how each of us is called to belong.

Do you envision the life of a monk? Or perhaps an era where the world moved more slowly? 😌In today's fast-paced hustle culture, prioritizing time to be alone with God and changed by surrender to His presence could not be more fundamentally needed.

Tune in as we conclude our 2022 kickstarter study into the practice of the Spiritual Disciplines.

Many of us find time and space over the holidays to reflect on the previous year and set our intentions for the next 😌 We set personal growth goals or resolutions for the different areas we want to see improvement in our lives--including the spiritual.



Despite our best intentions, it can be easy to lose momentum if we don't have a clear plan or next step for our goals. Join us THIS Sunday as we take a look at a biblical and practical approach to the spiritual disciplines of Prayer & Study 🙏 📖

REFLECT: Are you in a season of waiting? Do you feel like things aren’t going as planned and all your questions remain unanswered? Do you feel hunger for more of the Lord’s presence yet feel far from Him? Have you prayed and prayed with no answer? Do you wonder or doubt God’s goodness?

This is your hope – Jesus Christ, the light of the world, has come to save and to restore. To bring peace on earth. To be with us, and to heal us from suffering.

For all who wait, for all who hunger, for all who've prayed, and for all who wonder – The King, the Messiah, Emmanuel has come.

RESPOND: Where do you need peace in your life? Not just a good feeling about something but a peace that surpasses all understanding? God cares for you and desires you to rest in the safety of His promises.

Spend time today identifying where in your life you need His peace, then reach out to a friend or a Life Group member and ask them to pray with you. Ask God to grant each of you His peace wherever you need it most this Christmas season.

REFLECT: As Christians, we are not promised an easy go at life. In fact, we are warned by Jesus in Matthew 10:22, “You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Mary gives us a perfect example of this: she is young, terrified, doesn’t fully understand, but answers the angel with an unabashed “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Her entire reputation is at stake, as well as Joseph’s, yet they faithfully trust in God’s will. How much in your life are you driven by what other people think of you? Are you willing to push through the fear of rejection for the sake of Jesus’ name?

RESPOND: For some of you, this will be a big and scary ask: Tell at least one person about Jesus this week! Step outside of your comfort zone and preach the gospel! Even if it’s scary, even if you’re not sure what people will think. Step out and live your calling to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the lost around you--God wants to use you more than you know.

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11