CURRENT SERIES & STUDY GUIDES
Download Study Guides
INTRODUCTION
I sit in a room filled with people anticipating the moment the letter will be delivered. Times have been tough lately and maybe, just maybe, what I will hear in a short moment will be just what I need. Because truly, this could be the end.
I look around the room and see faces of people I once knew as great friends but now may be something different. Tragedy and danger have a way of changing the way you look at the world, and I feel myself changing. And now no one is truly sure where they stand, even me.
The Romans are making it hard to be a follower. They blame the followers of “The Way” for all the misery happening in the nation, and now no believer is safe. What can be done? How does our community survive this?
The chatter has been disturbing, even borderline heretical. Is it possible that many of these people that I have trusted during these tumultuous times would consider turning their backs on everything we have believed and preached? But if I’m honest with myself, I am doubting as well. Doubting that following Jesus is truly the way. If following him is so hard, is it really worth it?
This letter could be the moment. This letter must be the moment. Because the tide has to turn or we will lose it all, I will lose it all. This message, this letter, to all of us Jewish believers, is where I will decide whether to continue the journey, or call it quits.
This could have been the thought process of a Jewish believer at the time the book of Hebrews was written and delivered. Persecution was prevalent against the followers of Christ and being a Christian was difficult. Many were considering going back to Judaism. And why not? It would be easier.
The author of the book of Hebrews (which scholars can’t agree on) makes the case to the Jewish believers to stay the course, to not turn back, and to hold strong in the face of opposition and persecution.
The author’s ultimate argument: What you want to go back to isn’t bad, but what Jesus gives you is BETTER! Don’t settle. In Jesus you have BETTER PROMISES.
As you go through this journey in Hebrews, we hope that message comes through for you loud and clear.
Pastor Milton Marquez & the Crosswalk Series Guide Writing Team
I sit in a room filled with people anticipating the moment the letter will be delivered. Times have been tough lately and maybe, just maybe, what I will hear in a short moment will be just what I need. Because truly, this could be the end.
I look around the room and see faces of people I once knew as great friends but now may be something different. Tragedy and danger have a way of changing the way you look at the world, and I feel myself changing. And now no one is truly sure where they stand, even me.
The Romans are making it hard to be a follower. They blame the followers of “The Way” for all the misery happening in the nation, and now no believer is safe. What can be done? How does our community survive this?
The chatter has been disturbing, even borderline heretical. Is it possible that many of these people that I have trusted during these tumultuous times would consider turning their backs on everything we have believed and preached? But if I’m honest with myself, I am doubting as well. Doubting that following Jesus is truly the way. If following him is so hard, is it really worth it?
This letter could be the moment. This letter must be the moment. Because the tide has to turn or we will lose it all, I will lose it all. This message, this letter, to all of us Jewish believers, is where I will decide whether to continue the journey, or call it quits.
This could have been the thought process of a Jewish believer at the time the book of Hebrews was written and delivered. Persecution was prevalent against the followers of Christ and being a Christian was difficult. Many were considering going back to Judaism. And why not? It would be easier.
The author of the book of Hebrews (which scholars can’t agree on) makes the case to the Jewish believers to stay the course, to not turn back, and to hold strong in the face of opposition and persecution.
The author’s ultimate argument: What you want to go back to isn’t bad, but what Jesus gives you is BETTER! Don’t settle. In Jesus you have BETTER PROMISES.
As you go through this journey in Hebrews, we hope that message comes through for you loud and clear.
Pastor Milton Marquez & the Crosswalk Series Guide Writing Team