Treasures New and Old

(Text: Hebrews 4:14-5:10) Perhaps the primary metaphor which the book of Hebrews uses to describe Jesus is that of our "Great High Priest," forever interceding for us. To make his point, the author states that Jesus is a priest forever "according to the order of Melchizedek." Who is this Melchizedek, anyway, and what does he have to do with us?

(Text: Hebrews 2:10-18) In the second chapter of Hebrews, the author asserts that Jesus has destroyed the power of death, and therefore has set us free from the fear which enslaves us. How does fear still affect our actions? What might we do if we had no fear?

(Text: Hebrews 1:1-4) In the midst of the suffering and injustice of life in this world, we often find ourselves hopelessly overwhelmed. In her sermon, guest preacher Ann Adams reminds of the comforting promise of this passage, that God is even now speaking to us and sustaining us through Jesus Christ.

(Text: Luke 15:8-10; Psalm 113) In the Psalms, we find poems, songs, and prayers that accompany us through the life of faith, in both good times and bad. Psalm 113 opens and closes with the command, "Hallelujah!" (Praise the Lord!) What is praise? Why do it?

(Text: Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:14-39) What does the Holy Spirit do, anyway? On this day of Pentecost, we hear about the coming of the Spirit in the early church, and we also hear Paul's teaching about the work of the Spirit in Romans chapter eight.

(Text: Romans 6:1-14) "How can we who have died to sin go on living in it?" This question has haunted the church throughout its history. Paul tells us that through baptism we have died to sin so that we might live a new life, so how do we explain our bad behavior?

(Text: Acts 10:1-20, 34-48) With a pair of visions given to two very different men, God orchestrates the spread of faith in Jesus from the Jewish cities of Judea to the Roman city of Caesarea. Peter and his companions are shocked, for God works outside the Law.

(Text: Matthew 28:16-20) When Jesus gives the mission to disciple, baptize, and teach all the nations, he gives it to a group of disciples who are struggling with doubt. Surely this call  is more than they can handle! How can wavering worshipers like us measure up to this "Great Commission?"

(Text: Matthew 28:1-10) At the first Easter Sunday, nothing could keep Jesus in his tomb.  Just as Jesus's tomb couldn't hold him, neither can the tomb-like walls we build for ourselves keep God's forgiveness away from our sin.

(Text: Matthew 21:1-17) On the Sunday before Passover, a large crowd gives Jesus a royal welcome as he enters Jerusalem.  Clearly the people see Jesus as a potential lord and king, but what kind of Lord is he?