The Supremacy Of Christ Series

SLIDE#1

Introduction

• It is good to be together today, church family! What do you say!

• One of the joys of life, as well as our faith, is the journey.

• I think we all know that life itself is a journey. But we also need to be aware of the fact that faith is a journey too.

• One of the joys of the journey is that we get to do it together!

• What do you think is an essential part of a journey. For me, there are a few things.

• One, I want to know why I am on the journey. Second, I want to know where I am heading, what is my destination? Third, when am I going, and when am I coming back?

• Knowing the answer to those questions helps me answer many questions concerning my journey.

• Today we will embark on an eight-week journey of faith together as we begin our new series entitled, Hebrews: The Journey of Faith.

• This eight-week series charts a course through the book of Hebrews, describing the supremacy of Christ as God’s revelation, high priest, sacrifice, and giver of faith. Rather than looking to other things, people, or feelings to bring us meaning and redemption, we must look to Jesus.

• On the issues we face on our faith journey is staying focused on the journey.

• There are so many distractions and so many obstacles to overcome.

• Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

• When we know we are on our faith journey to be with Jesus for eternity, and we know the destination of our faith journey is heaven, it behooves us to keep our focus on Jesus.

• The big idea of the message today is that we must know that Jesus is above all and is the full revelation of God. We cannot allow ourselves to be pulled off track by other things, other people, or circumstances to lead us to take our eyes off Jesus.

• The authorship of Hebrews is unknown but heavily debated. The audience is not a specific church like Ephesus but believers throughout the known world.

• The writer continually refers to Old Testament passages, imagery, and characters, which assumes the audience has a working knowledge of the Old Testament.

• Therefore, a majority of the “Hebrews” may be Jewish Christians, and the book was likely written sometime between 40–60 AD. It is safe to assume these dates since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD is not referenced, and the author is worried that these believers will return to a sacrificial system that was still taking place

• The authorship is unknown; personally, I have felt Paul wrote it because of the strong tie into the Old Testament scriptures, which as a Pharisee, he would know.

• The entire book focuses on the superiority of Jesus, the New Covenant, as well as the superiority of faith.

• Today we will be in Hebrews 1:1-14, but the main focus of the message will be verses 1-4.

• I LOVE this text today.

SLIDE #2

Bible Verse

Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB)

1Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.

2In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

SLIDE #3

1. I. Jesus is the superior messenger.

Explanation of Point #1

• In the Jewish culture, the Prophets were held in high regard, well unless you were living when one was telling you things you did not like to hear, then you were not too fond of them. Ask Jeremiah!

• We see from verse one that God spoke long ago to the fathers by the Prophets. A Prophet is one who speaks for God, and who speaks by inspiration. God inspired and many times outright told the Prophets what to say when speaking for Him.

• Verse one also says God spoke through the Prophets in different times and in different ways.

• God used dreams, visions, direct communication, object lessons, burning bushes, storms, aminals, angels, among other ways.

SLIDE #4

Bible Verse

2 Peter 1:20-21 (CSB)

20Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,

21because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Explanation

• Here is something simple that if we are not careful, we can miss it.

• Look at verse two! When did God quit communicating with us? There was a dry spell between the Old and New Testament times.