**Class rescheduled until further notice***
>>Teacher: Deaconess Josephine Chow>>
There are many unknowns and debates about the Book of Hebrews. No one knows for sure who the author is, who the recipients are, when and where the book was written, and whether it was a letter or a written sermon. But one thing we know for sure is that the author is addressing a real and urgent problem. As T. G. Long puts it, “His congregation is exhausted. They are tired – tired of serving the world, tired of worship, tired of Christian education, tired of being peculiar and whispered about in society, tired of the spiritual struggle, tired of trying to keep their prayer life going, tired even of Jesus. Their hands drooped and their knees are weak (12:12), attendance is down at church (10:25), and they are losing confidence…. Tired of walking the walk, many of them are considering taking a walk, leaving the community and falling away from the faith.” 1 Is Long talking about us struggling through months and months of lockdowns in this covid pandemic? Are these not exactly what many of us are feeling right now?
Long tells us that “the Preacher’s response may astound us… The Preacher does not appeal to improved group dynamics, conflict management techniques, reorganization of the mission structures, or snappy worship services. Rather, he preaches – preaches to the congregation in complex theological terms about the nature and meaning of Jesus Christ.”2 Hebrews leads us to think about Christ, the supremacy and finality of Christ as the answer to deal with our spiritual weariness.
Many people shy away from Hebrews because of its many allusions to the priestly office in the Old Testament. But this is exactly why Hebrews is special and important, because it connects the dots between the Old Testament and the New for us.
It has been said that Hebrews is one of the least read and least studied books in the New Testament. I invite you to join me in discovering the rich treasures embedded in this Book through 13 zoom sessions commencing June through August. Let us dive into this amazing Book and let it draw us into a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ our Magnificent Lord.