In the Word Michele Telfer

Lesson 11 - Life as A Beloved Child of God
Hebrews 12:5-29. Running the race marked out for us won’t always be easy, as the readers of the letter to the Hebrews were discovering. It requires effort, focus and discipline. But God’s training program for His children is marked by a love and wisdom no earthly parent could provide; and it leads to the holiness without which no man can see God.

Lesson 10 - Endure Looking to Him Who Is Invisible
Hebrews 11:20-12:4. The roll call of heroes continues in the rest of Hebrews 11. From patriarchs like Isaac, Jacob and Joseph to prophets like Moses, Elijah, Elisha and Daniel…from once-timid judges like Gideon and Barak to a pagan woman who believed and became part of the bloodline of Christ. The Old Testament believers who walked by faith in a promise that was not fulfilled in their lifetime, encourage us to keep on believing and to run with patience the race set before us.

Lesson 9 - Those Who Walked By Faith
Hebrews 11:1-19. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a real-life, flesh-and-blood example is priceless when it comes to living by faith. In chapter 11 the author reminds his readers of those who have gone before, walking with eyes of faith and hearts set on the promises of God yet to be revealed. Will they embrace their examples and hold firm in their own trials too?

Lesson 8 - The Way into God’s Presence has been Opened
Hebrews 10:1-39. Today’s lesson marks a turning point in the letter to the Hebrews. The writer compares the many offerings made by the Temple priests with the single sacrifice made by Christ on the cross and all that accomplished. He goes on to challenge them with just what it looks like to trust in Jesus — and what it would mean to reject Him.

Lesson 7 - A Better Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:5-28. The writer discusses one of the most holy days in the Jewish calendar — the Day of Atonement. His readers would have felt deep cultural and religious ties to all the beautiful and meaningful events of that day. But even that most holy day could not do what Christ had done for them. Would they finally see the differences? Would they finally be able to live in the reality instead of just the shadows?

Lesson 6 - The Perfect for the Imperfect
Hebrews 7:20—9:5. After comparing Christ’s ministry with that of the Levitical priests, the writer of Hebrews then began to compare the new covenant mediated by Christ with the old imperfect one. The old covenant based on the law was something that had governed the Jewish people’s lives for centuries and it was something they struggled to let go of. If everything they thought fixed forever had been superseded by something new — even if it was better and more sure — what were they to do?