Worship Pastor: Regina Oettinger
Email: regina@montananazarene.org
Email: regina@montananazarene.org
Praise Team Schedule
May -- Amber King, David Grimes, Ralph Schulz June -- George & Kristi Armstrong, Michelle Williams July -- Greg McClain, Melita Dubach, Greg Hinton |
Special Music Schedule
May 5 -- Reimann family May 12 -- Bonnie, Michelle, & Rachael May 19 -- Melita Dubach May 26 -- Regina Oettinger June 2 -- French congregation |
Announcements and Upcoming Events
Praise Team Practice: every Sunday morning at 9:00
Praise Team Practice: every Sunday morning at 9:00
Weekly Word on Worship
I have been finishing up my study of Hebrews this week and a couple of passages jumped out at me in light of this being Holy Week. There are a few verses in chapter 12 that I originally found confusing. I encourage you to read the chapter in its entirety for context, but I want to focus on verses 22-24. Right before this the author is comparing Mt. Sinai (a mountain of fear) with Mt. Zion (a mountain of joy). Then he starts talking about the blood of Abel. Now, if you’re like me you’re wondering what does this have to do with anything?
The theme of the entire book of Hebrews is that Jesus is BETTER. So, we have to look at the comparison that the author is making here. We know from Genesis 4 that Abel was the first murder in history. We see in Gen. 4:10 that God says that Abel’s blood cries out for justice against sin. But Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy for sinners. Abel’s blood exposes the horror of sin. Jesus’ blood covers the horror of sin. Abel’s blood says the penalty outlined in Genesis 2:17 is just beginning. Jesus’ blood says it is finished. Aren’t you thankful that we are part of the new covenant (Heb. 12:24)?
Finally, let’s look at a few verses in Hebrews 13. Again, it helps to read the entire chapter for context, but I want to focus on verses 9-16. You might be wondering how we got from eating food to bloody sacrifices to suffering to praise. Let’s break it down a little.
If you look at Deuteronomy 18, you’ll read that the priests actually got to eat the meat after it was sacrificed. Now that we no longer have to go through a priest for forgiveness of sins, we are able to partake in the Lord’s supper at His altar individually. But there was one sacrificial offering that the priests did not eat. That was the sin offering. It would be taken “outside the gate” and burned (Lev. 16:27). Likewise, Jesus, the ultimate sin offering, was taken outside the gate and killed. This brings about our response of sacrificial praise (Heb. 13:15).
What is a “sacrifice of praise?” Is it the wonderful songs we sing on Sunday morning? Maybe a stupendous drum solo or offertory? A banger of a special song? Nope. It is simply acknowledging the name of God with our lives, doing good, and being generous (vs. 15-16). Singing a song would definitely be easier, but then it wouldn’t be a sacrifice, would it?
Let these thoughts marinate in your mind and heart this weekend as we meet together tonight to remember Jesus’ final night on earth, as we partake of communion together. And then as we come back together this glorious Easter Sunday morning, let your heart be filled with joy because Jesus is BETTER! We aren’t living in the foreshadowing, but instead we get to be part of the glorious new covenant that is finished once and for all.
I have been finishing up my study of Hebrews this week and a couple of passages jumped out at me in light of this being Holy Week. There are a few verses in chapter 12 that I originally found confusing. I encourage you to read the chapter in its entirety for context, but I want to focus on verses 22-24. Right before this the author is comparing Mt. Sinai (a mountain of fear) with Mt. Zion (a mountain of joy). Then he starts talking about the blood of Abel. Now, if you’re like me you’re wondering what does this have to do with anything?
The theme of the entire book of Hebrews is that Jesus is BETTER. So, we have to look at the comparison that the author is making here. We know from Genesis 4 that Abel was the first murder in history. We see in Gen. 4:10 that God says that Abel’s blood cries out for justice against sin. But Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy for sinners. Abel’s blood exposes the horror of sin. Jesus’ blood covers the horror of sin. Abel’s blood says the penalty outlined in Genesis 2:17 is just beginning. Jesus’ blood says it is finished. Aren’t you thankful that we are part of the new covenant (Heb. 12:24)?
Finally, let’s look at a few verses in Hebrews 13. Again, it helps to read the entire chapter for context, but I want to focus on verses 9-16. You might be wondering how we got from eating food to bloody sacrifices to suffering to praise. Let’s break it down a little.
If you look at Deuteronomy 18, you’ll read that the priests actually got to eat the meat after it was sacrificed. Now that we no longer have to go through a priest for forgiveness of sins, we are able to partake in the Lord’s supper at His altar individually. But there was one sacrificial offering that the priests did not eat. That was the sin offering. It would be taken “outside the gate” and burned (Lev. 16:27). Likewise, Jesus, the ultimate sin offering, was taken outside the gate and killed. This brings about our response of sacrificial praise (Heb. 13:15).
What is a “sacrifice of praise?” Is it the wonderful songs we sing on Sunday morning? Maybe a stupendous drum solo or offertory? A banger of a special song? Nope. It is simply acknowledging the name of God with our lives, doing good, and being generous (vs. 15-16). Singing a song would definitely be easier, but then it wouldn’t be a sacrifice, would it?
Let these thoughts marinate in your mind and heart this weekend as we meet together tonight to remember Jesus’ final night on earth, as we partake of communion together. And then as we come back together this glorious Easter Sunday morning, let your heart be filled with joy because Jesus is BETTER! We aren’t living in the foreshadowing, but instead we get to be part of the glorious new covenant that is finished once and for all.