The book of Hebrews is one of the most fascinating yet challenging in the Bible. In this series on Hebrews, entitled "Jesus the Crux," Pastor Mike Osborne explores the book chapter by chapter, explaining the difficult passages and showing how the entire book illumines the person and work of Jesus Christ for a suffering church. The word "crux" means a vital, basic, decisive, or pivotal point. The "crux" of an issue is its essence or core. The book of Hebrews teaches that Jesus is the crux of the matter. Life is all about him. He is the pivot point of human history. The most important decision one must make in life, therefore, is what to do with Jesus Christ. If you are looking for a book of the Bible that encourages you to know Christ as your ultimate loyalty in life, look no further than Hebrews!
Pastor Mike Osborne brings his sermon series on Hebrews to an end with a message on friendship. The author of Hebrews obviously valued community. Listen for four things friends do with each other, and learn about the Friend of sinners.
In Hebrews 13:9-14, the author of Hebrews gives one last exhortation to his readers (and to us) to remain faithful to Jesus. This time he uses the Old Testament Israelite camp as a metaphor for the Old Covenant. He calls us to follow Jesus "outside the camp." In this message, Pastor Mike Osborne explains the camp imagery and offers examples of what going "outside the camp" might look like in your life.
Among its many exhortations, Hebrews 13 touches on the topic of leadership. "Follow the leader" is not a game, but a critically important issue for churches that want to grow and impact the world. In this message, Mike Osborne restates the obvious - that leaders are flawed human beings who lead with a limp. Nevertheless, they are to be treated with respect and submission. What does that mean? What does that NOT mean? How can you follow leaders who are just as messed up as you are? This sermon provides the answers.
In this message, Mike Osborne touches on the theme of doing justice. While Hebrews 13 is specifically aimed at life within the church, we know from Jesus' ministry and teaching (e.g., the parable of the Good Samaritan), as well as from the rest of the Bible, that our calling is to treat all human beings with justice and mercy. Listen to this sermon and you will hear what Biblical justice looks like, where it comes from, and how you can begin practicing it if you are not already.
What is your view of God? As A. W. Tozer put it, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." In Hebrews 12:18-29, the author contrasts two vastly different ways of seeing God. One way leads to bondage and death; the other, to freedom and life. In this sermon, Mike Osborne explains the differences between an Old Covenant and a New Covenant way of viewing God. There are radically diverse implications of these two perspectives. Which one will you choose?
In this sermon, Mike Osborne teaches from two brief passages in Hebrews 12-13 on the theme of holiness - what it is and how it relates to several specific areas of everyday life. Clearly, God expects his people to be holy: different from the world and set apart for his glory. But what does holiness look like? And what do we do with the fact that we are often guilty of unholy attitudes and behavior? The writer of Hebrews both challenges us to be holy and comforts us when we're not.
In Hebrews 12:1-13, the author encourages his readers to run the race of discipleship with perseverance. Pastor Mike Osborne, in this message entitled "Intensity," applies the letter's exhortation to Christians, and presents three truths that will help us finish well.
Hebrews 11 is one of the best-loved chapters in the Bible. In this Easter morning message, Mike Osborne explains what faith is, where it comes from, and how to have it. One of the misconceptions about faith is that it's the possession of the privileged few - the spiritual giants of the church. But Mike says that ordinary, broken people can be people of faith if they simply believe in the promises of a great God. Jesus demonstrated his trustworthiness on the cross and his power on Easter Sunday. Listen to this message and respond by taking a step of faith today.
In Hebrews 10:26-39, the author of Hebrews gives first a solemn warning and then a reassuring message of grace. By these he intends to stir up his readers - and us - to persevere in spite of trial. Some people struggle especially with verses 26-27. Do they teach that you can lose your salvation? Mike Osborne explains the answer and shows why it's important to run to the cross.
The author of Hebrews, having laid the foundation of the supremacy of Christ and the advantages of the New Covenant, turns his attention to practical application in the middle of chapter 10. He calls believers to draw near to God and to one another. Mike Osborne explains how these two imperatives fit together. There is a clear, unbreakable connection between pursuing intimacy with God and pursuing intimacy with other believers. Listen for the three ways Christians should pursue genuine community.
The Christians to whom the letter of Hebrews was addressed were tempted to renounce Jesus and return to their old Judaistic ways. Behind the scenes, it was really the enemy - Satan - who was luring them away from Jesus. He was telling them at least three different lies. They are the same lies the devil tells Christians today, only some people don't know it's his sinister voice. In this sermon, Mike Osborne explains the lies of Satan and what you should say back to him.
In this message from Hebrews 9, Timothy Price shows how the author of Hebrews is highlighting the fact that we are all dirty because of our sin and need to be washed by the blood. His purpose in saying this was to exhort his readers to abandon their Old Covenant atonement (forgiveness) rituals and rest in the fact that they are clean because of the once and for all work of Christ on the cross. Timothy explains how we must do the same thing and must join in worshiping the one who made us clean (the Lamb who was slain).
In this message from Hebrews 8, Mike Osborne shows how the author of Hebrews compares and contrasts the Old Covenant with the New. His purpose is to once again exhort his readers not to give up their faith in Jesus in favor of a "Judaized" version of Christianity that is really no Christianity at all. Mike explains how easy it is for us to do the same thing.
In Hebrews 7, the author contrasts the New Covenant with the Old Covenant, and concludes that Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant. Like the Hebrews, we often fall into an "Old Covenant" way of thinking about salvation. We think that we can earn God's approval by living a good life and performing well as a Christian. When we do that, we are succumbing to the same temptation the author of Hebrews wrote about. In this message, Pastor Mike Osborne explains four ways that Jesus is "a better hope."
In this sermon, Matt Ryman shows how confidence in the fact that God keeps His promises is the key to committed discipleship. If you have found it difficult to get serious about Christianity, listen to this message and see how great and gracious God is and how hope in Jesus Christ is an anchor for your soul.
The book of Hebrews contains several hard-hitting warnings not to let go of Jesus. Of all the warnings, Hebrews 5:11-6:12 is possibly the sternest. Spoken from the concerned heart of a pastor for his congregation, this warning section is intended to stir up renewed zeal for God and his Word. A question raised by this passage is whether Christians can lose their salvation. More than merely an interesting theological question, this topic carries eternal consequences. Listen, look at your own heart, and then look to the cross.
Everyone needs a high priest, says Mike Osborne in this message preached the day after Christmas, 2010. But not just any high priest. We need someone powerful to represent us, someone loving to encourage us, and someone holy to die for us. Mike explains the similarities and differences between Israel's high priests and Christ, our high priest.
On Christmas Eve 2010, Pastor Mike introduced the theme of Christ as our high priest - a dominant theme in the book of Hebrews. In this message, Mike explains how faith in the priestly role of Jesus gives healing from the past, help in the present, and hope for the future of those who trust in him.
In life there are two paths we can take. We can either take the path of disbelief which will lead to our disobedience in God and result in our destruction, or we can take the path of belief in Jesus which will lead to our obedience in God and result in rest. Listen now as Seth Hammond explains how the more we cherish God's grace, the more we will find rest in Him.
In Hebrews 3, the author exhorts the suffering Christians of his day to fix their thoughts on Jesus. In part, this meant to avoid committing the sins of their forefathers. The hard hearts of the Old Testament Israelites prevented them from entering the Promised Land. Listen as Mike Osborne explains how to avoid a similar fate.
Are you holding out for a hero? Hebrews 2:10 says that Jesus is the "author" (meaning pioneer, champion, forerunner, or hero) of our salvation. What does that mean for you? Mike Osborne explains from Hebrews 2 that there are at least three things Jesus our Hero has done for us. Find out what they are, and experience rest.
On the first Sunday of Advent 2010, Mike Osborne began a sermon series on the book of Hebrews. The series is called "Jesus the Crux." In this first message of the series, he introduces Hebrews and explores what Hebrews 1 has to say about the identity of Jesus. Who is Jesus, and how does commitment to Jesus figure into your life (or not)? Are you, like the people to whom this letter was originally written, at risk of drifting away from Jesus? Those questions are answered in Hebrews 1:1 through 2:4.