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Praises/Thanksgiving:
Jennifer: Praise God that she is healing after a few days of illness.
Enery: Thanks God for health and class-free days
Kenny: Praise God for nomination of a quarterly award at work. If Kenny wins, dinner is on him. GO KENNY! ;)
Prayer Requests:
Enery: Prayer for motivation and inspiration for papers that he has yet to start writing.
Jennifer: Continue to pray for her health and her friend Xander who is ill with ulcers. Pray for her as she continues to read through the book of Exodus!
Kenny: accepted role as FECA delegate. Pray for him to accept this responsibility with diligence and to serve the church well.
Kelvin: Please pray for Kelvin as he is in need of a car for transportation.
Michael: Pray for Michael as he serves in the Coast Guard. It has been stressful with difficult working conditions.
Please email charis@sgvconnections.com with any additional praises and prayer requests! Let us know when your prayers have been answered!
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Hebrews 4:14 - 5:14 Study
Introduction: The High Priest
- The high priest served as the 1 representative for Israel by offering their offerings.
- The high priest was the only person who could enter the Holy of Holy and could only do so once a year.
- Aaron (brother of Moses) was the first high priest.
- Many qualifications
- Melchizedek: King of Salem who was recognized as a high priest before Aaron's official instillation. In Genesis 14, Melchizedek blessed Abraham and received ten percent of what Abraham received, making him unique as both a king and a high priest.
Study Notes
v. 4:14 - 4:16: Our responses to Jesus' status as a high priest who has "passed through the heavens" and sympathizes with us.
- Main point: The transcendence and eminence of Jesus. He is our Lord in heaven but is also understands us deeply in our hearts.
- Our response: hold fast to our confession and draw near to God with confidence
- Imagery: drawing near to the throne of grace (Throne of grace = seat of the God the king.)
Application: Do you come before God with confidence? What things do you do to practice coming before God with confidence?
v. 5:1 - 5:10 - Jesus as the greatest high priest
- the responsibilities of a high priest: offer gifts/sacrifices, deals gently with the wayward, offers sacrifices on his own behalf, is appointed by God
- Jesus is uniquely appointed by God as His Father.
- Jesus is uniquely appointed as priest FOREVER.
- Jesus is sympathetic to us because he endured suffering, praying and petitioning with loud cries and tears.
- Jesus was made perfect so that he could be the sacrifice for our eternal salvation.
- Jesus is unique in the order of Melchizedek because he is high priest AND king.
Application: Praise Jesus for being the perfect high priest! How have you experienced Jesus' empathy and how has he dealt gently with you?
v. 5:11 - 5:14: You are not ready for solid food!
- solid food = training to discern between right and wrong
- milk = facts
The readers knew so much about God (as Jewish Christians) but they couldn't apply it to their lives.
Application: Seek solid food! Don't just learn the facts but seek to grow in your ability to discern and know God. What do you continue to struggle with that keeps you from ingesting solid food?
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This Friday, we're taking a break from the Hebrews study for I Scream, You Scream 2009. Please be sure to RSVP to charis@sgvconnections.com or on the facebook event invitation.
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