WORSHIP TIMES:

Grace Worship - Sunday at 8:30am and 10:30am
NEXT COMBINED SERVICE SUNDAY, February 16 at 10:30am
Children's Sunday School - 10:30am (3yrs to 5th grade) 
Child Care - 10:30am (Birth to 2 years) 
Adult Sunday School - 10am Room 103 
Worship on Wednesday - 11am   
Vietnamese Bible Study/ Worship - 10am Room 207
Spanish Christian Worship - 2pm Room 207                       

Last week we began exploring a new, extended section of the book of Hebrews. We transitioned from a reflection on who Jesus is, to a broader consideration of what exactly Jesus has done for us. Together we were introduced to the idea of understanding Jesus as our great High Priest. As our ultimate intercessor and representative, we were encouraged to boldly live out of the grace we receive from Christ.
 
By all accounts, the writer of Hebrews is gearing up for a detailed explanation of Jesus as our great High Priest. The logical sequence of his argument would have been to further develop his rather passing, cryptic reference to Christ being a high priest not in the line of the Levitical priesthood but “after the order of Melchizedek.” But as we’ll discover this Sunday, our author pauses and makes a total digression from this theme.
 
This is one of those instances that leads many scholars to read the book of Hebrews more like a sermon and less as a letter. Like a sermon, Hebrews has content mixed with exhortation. There are several places in this book where the writer will pause and get personal.
 
The portion of this letter/sermon we will be looking at this weekend is arguably the most intensely personal section of the whole book. The tone of our author will move from frustration and a stern warning to encouragement and confident certainty. We will be challenged to be responsible even as we are invited not to worry about our future.
 
It’s going to be quite the ride! It also will prove to be very practical. Written to Christians who are struggling, who have learned much about following Jesus but are teetering on the brink of never taking their first step, this part of Hebrews will address a phenomenon we refer to today as “the failure to launch.” Sometimes referred to as Peter Pan syndrome and in Japan, where its more extreme form is called hikikomori, the failure to launch is the experience of grown up children not making the transition into the next stage of their development: adulthood.
 
One of the classic evidences of life of any kind is growth. When something ceases to grow, it is usually dead, and this is the writer’s concern. As it will be argued, like a farmer and his field is a Christian in his or her faith. If Christians are not diligent to attend to their spiritual lives and move to maturity; then we will deteriorate just like a farmer and his field. Let us then come and hear how our professions of faith become perseverance of faith in Christ. Let us carefully count the cost of not following Jesus and together commit to launch – to go wherever and to whomever Christ leads us and to become all we were created to be.
 
Grace to you!
Pastor Chris