The Tabernacle Today

A Better Hope

Hebrews 7:11-28

Bubba applies for a job

In chapters 5-7 we see that Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron!

Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, not ____________ - and that’s okay! V. 14

Genesis 49:10-11 Revelation 5:5

That prophecy was made by Jacob nearly ____________ years before Jesus came!

Through the line of Judah, Jesus is the perfect ruler! He can still be the perfect ____________, because He is from Melchizedek’s priesthood, which predates the tribe of Levi’s priesthood.

The law can’t do what the ________________ of the law can do! V. 18-19

The saints we see in Hebrews 11, God’s hall of faith, got this – they did not pursue the law as an ___________ in itself, but drew near to God by faith.

What the law can do:

R__________________ the heart of the lawgiver

R__________________ evil and its effects

R__________________ us to meet Jesus!

John 5:39-40 Romans 8:3-4

Jesus ______________________ saves V. 25

Salvation comes not because you are good enough but because Jesus is __________________ enough!

Psalm 34 Worksheet

A little background on the Moabites:

1 Samuel 21:10-22:5

When you understand that background, verses 1-3 are simply remarkable!

David ________________ the Lord despite humiliating circumstances V. 1-3

Who is with him at this point?

400 people who are either D____________, in D__________, or D____________!

David shares his _________________ despite humiliating circumstances V. 4-7

I think in verse 7 he is equating the Angel of the Lord with Jesus, and is essentially proclaiming, “The Lord is ___________________ ______________ here with me right now! That’s why Saul hasn’t been able to kill me!”

David ___________________ despite humiliating circumstances V. 8-22

When Jesus creates a new earth it won’t matter what _________________ were built by guys named Napolean or Genghis Khan or Rockefeller or Fayed or Murdoch. Only what’s done for Christ will be celebrated on the new earth.

Romans 6:23

David __________________ despite humiliating circumstances V. 8-22

Some adversities will come to you _________ you are trying to do the right thing.

David had no place to go that would be refuge – So refuge became a _________________ instead of a place – The Lord!

What is David doing throughout this Psalm?

_____________________ his 400 men the way he had pastored sheep!

Focusing Well

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until we rest in You.” -Saint Augustine, 378 AD

Today’s message could have been called “Finishing Well, Part 2. But to finish well, we have to focus well, and that is what Solomon emphasizes today.

Read Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

“The end of the matter: all has been heard. Fear (revere) God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed to judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” -Ecc. 12:13-14

Three components of focusing well so you can finish well:

Revere God and stay balanced V. 15-19

The legalism of the Pharisees made them judgmental of others that didn’t measure up to their extra-biblical expectations, and hypocritical because they themselves didn’t measure up to their own expectations.

The licentious person rejects the truth of the Bible, thinking the rules of God’s “owner’s manual” don’t apply to them. They are daring God to judge them.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. -Proverbs 14:12

Solomon says the balanced person avoids both extremes – being a legalistic person and being a licentious person. Both extremes leave God out and put the emphasis on us instead.

“Blessed are the balanced.” -Warren Wiersbe

Understand mankind’s predisposition to sin V. 20-26

Our predisposition to sin leads us to speech sins V. 21-22

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. -Prov. 15:1

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. -James 1:19b

Our predisposition to sin leads us to smug intellectual pride V. 23-25

In pride we think we can figure out everything that God is doing here under the sun – we most certainly cannot! But it didn’t keep Solomon from trying!

And He said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” -Job 28:28

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. -Deuteronomy 29:29

Our predisposition to sin makes us vulnerable to sexual sins V. 26

Keep (Guard) your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” -Proverbs 4:23

Stay humble and pursue God’s plan V. 27-29

I think when you combine verses 28—29, Solomon is poetically pointing us toward faith in God and His coming Messiah – the 1 man who will stand perfectly righteous.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but THERE IS A FRIEND who sticks closer than a brother. -Proverbs 18:24

Who has ascended to Heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Surely you know? -Proverbs 30:4

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss (Worship) the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. -Psalm 2:11-12

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. -Job 19:25-26

The key to finishing well is there in verse 29 – with faith in God pursue what He wants for your life as revealed in the Bible and resist the sinful schemes you and others come up with to do it your way!

It’s all about Mel Hebrews 7:1-10

Today we are going to see the Author of Hebrews affirm the practice of tithing on his way to making a __________________ point: the incomparable worth of the One we are tithing to!

The words tithe, tithes, or tenth when speaking of biblical giving occur nearly _____________ times in the Bible.

A tithe is one _______________ of your income given to God as an act of obedience.

Numbers 18:26 Deuteronomy 14:22

Note that the ____________________, the Levites themselves, were to tithe as well.

Even with clear instructions like that, there were many times the people of God simply neglected or ________________ to bring their tithes to the Lord’s house.

Malachi 3:8-10 Matthew 23:23

The apostles didn’t have to say anything about it because it is evident the people were regularly giving a lot _____________ than the tithe!

Acts 4:34-35 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Melchizedek had no father, no mother, without genealogy, no beginning of days and no end of life – the only one I know like that is the _________________ Son of God, Jesus Christ!

Aaron’s priesthood was a ____________________ priesthood, and quite frankly, a sin-stained priesthood – from the golden calf incident to the judgment of his sons Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus chapter 10.

The power of Christ’s priesthood is seein in verse 25 – Jesus is ________________ praying for His people.

In Christ it is not what you know or what you do, it is Who you know and what He can do through you if you ______________ your life back to Him!

Psalm 33 Worksheet

Even though it has ____________ verses, Psalm 33 is not an acrostic poem like 8 Psalms are (9/10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145). Acrostic poems have each verse begin with the next letter of the alphabet.

What does Psalm 33 not have that we have come to expect in this first book of the Psalms (Psalms 1-41)? There is no ___________________.

Psalm 33 is like a ___________________ with a hymn before it and a hymn after it! It is classified as a hymn of praise.

Call to worship V. 1-3

How many commands to worship are in the first 3 verses? ___________

God’s __________________ and achievements V. 4-19

What 4 traits of God are extolled in verses 4-5?

Verse 6 shifts from who God is in His ________________ to what He has done!

Verse 6 is a powerful reminder that God created everything out of _____________ (creation ex nihilo) just by speaking things into existence.

Do you see the ways that verse 6 go along with the idea of God being a Trinity? John 1; Gen. 1

Breath in verse 6 is the same word for Spirit in Genesis 1:2 – Ruah (H 7307).

The point of verse 9 is that God is King over creation, which leads to what He covers next – that God is also King of the ___________________!

Verse 12 is meant of Israel in a unique way that is not so for other nations – But every country who has put God first has also seen God bless them in special ways. And the reverse is true as well – as countries _______________ God’s truth, they find themselves under God’s judgment.

God considers whether we are doing what He wants us to do – especially whether our trust is in Him or in ourselves. HE warns us here about the folly of our ultimate trust being in ______________________ but Him!

Instead of trusting our own strength and abilities, we need to trust in the faithful love (hesed) of God.

Declaration of trust V. 20-22

How are you doing at waiting on the Lord?

How are you doing at rejoicing in the God you say you trust?

How are you doing at hoping in this God who expresses His faithful love to us?

Finishing Well - 7/30/2023 Sunday Sermon

Here are Danny's notes from today's sermon:

We have now come to the second half of the book of Ecclesiastes. We will find that even though Solomon covers some of the same territory he did in the first 6 chapters, there is a dramatic shift in emphasis in the last 6 chapters.

One way to gauge the difference in tone between chapters 1-6 and 7-12 is to see the change in occurrences of key words:

The Hebrew words for ‘wisdom’ and ‘better’ occur more times in chapter 7 than any other chapter in the Old Testament. It’s fitting that Ecclesiastes is in the section of the Old Testament called the Wisdom Literature!

Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. Wise people aim to finish well - V. 1

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor (grace) is better than silver or gold. - Proverbs 22:1

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. - Psalm 116:15

It is better to mourn and think than mock and dismiss - V. 2-4

It is better to be rebuked by godly people than be praised by fools V. 5-6

The people that mock your godly advisors won’t be the one that experiences the built-in consequences of your sins – you will. And if you ever really turn to God you will be thankful for people that tell you what you need to hear!

It Is better to think about where you are going than where you came from - V. 7-8

Some of us come from awful backgrounds – but that doesn’t define us – where we are going defines every true believer!

It is better to serve God in the present than to live in the past - V. 9-10

People that are stuck in the past foolishly miss present opportunities to serve God. Their idealization of the past can turn into idolatry. Their backward focus is unwise and discourages those God is using in the present.

It is better to be protected through wise choices than rely on money - V. 11-12

Solomon here reminds us that trusting God and making godly decisions is an even more important protection for God’s children than money.

It is better to live and lead with a God-given limp than to resent God - V. 13-14

When we can’t understand what God is doing we need to remember that God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). To get us ready for eternity in this sin-saturated world, God uses “days of adversity.”

After his wrestling match with God in Genesis 32, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and his most faithful service for God followed, and he finished well. But he walked with that limp God gave him for the rest of his life.

We can respond to our adversity in one of two ways – resent God for letting it come into our lives and foolishly live in despair; or we can trust God, lead with a limp and wisely finish well.

The Price of Christian Growth

Hebrews 6:9-20

Jacob and Rebekah…

The Christian life also takes perseverance amidst pain, although we should say at the outset that God _____________________ far more perseverance toward us, replete with our frailty and sinful tendencies, than anything He calls us to do!

Philippians 1:6 Hebrews 12:2

Chapter 6 really goes together in 2 parts:

The first part is that growth is the ____________ of the Christian life.

Today’s verses are the 2nd part: The Price Tag of Christian growth.

The Price Tag of the Christian life is _________________ V. 15

Personal experience has taught us that you never have to endure _______________ experiences!

As we patiently endure through painful circumstances, we realize that God has ____________________ kept His promises to us.

Another way to say this:

Pain comes first, then a __________________ is realized.

The Development phases of a Christian (Dr. Bill Lawrence, DTS):

1. Salvation

2. _______________ Encounters

3. Relationships

4. _______________ Grace

You pass the test when you say ___________ to God when you want to say no.

5. Brokenness

6. ___________________

7. Renewed Mind

A childlike faith is replaced by a _____________________.

This entire passage is about the call to persevere and ____________________ God’s promises.

Let’s walk back through the passage…

Hebrews 12:1

Psalm 32 Worksheet

The ________________________ of forgiven sin V. 1-2

Mercy – not getting what we do deserve.

Grace – getting what we ______________ deserve.

Romans 4:1-8 2 Corinthians 5:21

The _______________________ of unforgiven sin V. 3-4

“Be sure, your sin will find you out.” -Numbers 32:23

David understood what modern psychology has only recently discovered – many ills are caused by _______________________ sin.

How to ______________________ the forgiveness of sins V. 5

1 John 1:9 Luke 12:2-3 James 5:16

Now is the time to seek God, _______________ the flood comes! V. 6-7

Matthew 6:6

Before David in the Bible, refuge was always a _______________ to go to; David made refuge a _________________ - God!

God has His ________________ on us! V. 8-9

James 4:8-10

D__________________ to suffer and shout for the right reasons! V. 10-11

1 Peter 3:17

Here are Danny's notes from today's sermon:

We have now come to the second half of the book of Ecclesiastes. We will find that even though Solomon covers some of the same territory he did in the first 6 chapters, there is a dramatic shift in emphasis in the last 6 chapters.

One way to gauge the difference in tone between chapters 1-6 and 7-12 is to see the change in occurrences of key words:

The Hebrew words for ‘wisdom’ and ‘better’ occur more times in chapter 7 than any other chapter in the Old Testament. It’s fitting that Ecclesiastes is in the section of the Old Testament called the Wisdom Literature!

Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. Wise people aim to finish well - V. 1

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor (grace) is better than silver or gold. - Proverbs 22:1

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. - Psalm 116:15

It is better to mourn and think than mock and dismiss - V. 2-4

It is better to be rebuked by godly people than be praised by fools V. 5-6

The people that mock your godly advisors won’t be the one that experiences the built-in consequences of your sins – you will. And if you ever really turn to God you will be thankful for people that tell you what you need to hear!

It Is better to think about where you are going than where you came from - V. 7-8

Some of us come from awful backgrounds – but that doesn’t define us – where we are going defines every true believer!

It is better to serve God in the present than to live in the past - V. 9-10

People that are stuck in the past foolishly miss present opportunities to serve God. Their idealization of the past can turn into idolatry. Their backward focus is unwise and discourages those God is using in the present.

It is better to be protected through wise choices than rely on money - V. 11-12

Solomon here reminds us that trusting God and making godly decisions is an even more important protection for God’s children than money.

It is better to live and lead with a God-given limp than to resent God - V. 13-14

When we can’t understand what God is doing we need to remember that God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). To get us ready for eternity in this sin-saturated world, God uses “days of adversity.”

After his wrestling match with God in Genesis 32, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and his most faithful service for God followed, and he finished well. But he walked with that limp God gave him for the rest of his life.

We can respond to our adversity in one of two ways – resent God for letting it come into our lives and foolishly live in despair; or we can trust God, lead with a limp and wisely finish well.

Great Expectations

Hebrews 6:3-12

Which Tire?

Two Introductory comments as we look at this passage:

The value of expositional ___________________

The value of preaching a passage in its _________________

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Bad news for those who believe you can ____________________ your salvation V. 4-6

We must point out that if this passage teaches you can lose your salvation, it also teaches it’s _________________ for you to get it back again after you lose it.

Ephesians 2:8-9

“Not of works, lest anyone should boast” in the good times also means “Not of works lest anyone should ___________________ in the ‘not so good’ times.

When we have sinned as Christians it’s not a ‘lost the salvation’ issue; it’s a ‘get back the close ___________________’ with God issue.

Now some teach that this passage refers not to losing your salvation, but to once and for all rejecting it. That’s known as _______________.

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The ___________________ saved don’t fall away V. 9

Philippians 1:6

This passage is about one thing: perseverance of the saints. Those who fall away ______________ that they didn’t really know the Lord.

What was he saying in the hypothetical language of verses 4-6?

If the gospel isn’t _________________ for a person, we don’t have anything else to offer them.

Matthew 13:18-23

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A Tale of Two Plants V. 7-8

Useful herbs = Growing plants

Useless thorns = No life

_________________ is the essence of life.

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The author’s challenge: GROW UP V. 10-12

G –

R –

O –

W –

U –

P –

Hebrews 12:2