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Preface
Audio (20:31)
Faith of Abraham (Genesis 11-25)The Letter to the Hebrews is an amazing book -- nothing like anything you see in the rest of the New Testament.
- In some places it soars. The "Hall of Faith" of Hebrews 11, for example, recites the faith of the patriarchs in terms that always lifts me up and inspires me.
- In other places it's downright difficult. Several verses are frankly hard to understand clearly, but intriguing nonetheless.
- Here and there you'll find stern warnings and exhortations. How should we take them?
- Occasionally you almost need hip-boots to wade through the various tabernacle sacrificial rituals from the book of Leviticus. But if you take the time to understand what is being said, you'll be staggered by the implications.
- It's filled with high-grade nuggets of Christian truth that will stay with you all your life!
Hebrews is certainly a book for disciples. It stirs our faith and nips at our heels when we get lazy in our walk. It helps us see Jesus in a new way. And it enables us to understand the role of suffering to discipline and train us up as Jesus' disciples. Though Hebrews discusses at length Old Testament themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and Israel's high priest, it isn't about these things. Ultimately, the Letter to Hebrews is a lens that focuses all our attention of Jesus Christ -- who he is in both his humanity and divinity, and what he has done for us now and forever.
This study originated as an online Bible study in Spring 2007 with just under 1,500 participants from 75+ countries. I dedicate Hebrews: Discipleship Lessons to the adult education class where I taught this material at Community Covenant Church, Rocklin, California fall and winter 2006-2007. Their thoughts and comments stimulated and improved my own thinking. They -- and you -- are fellow journey-ers on the path we are all taking towards the heavenly city that the writer of Hebrews holds before us.
May God richly bless you as you study the Letter to the Hebrews and make you a better disciple as a result.
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
April 21, 2007
Loomis, California
Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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