A "Scriptures Dramatized!" live presentation
by Rev. Rick Anderson
A memorized dramatization of the Letter to the Hebrews
Performed in the "period dress" of the Temple priests
KJV is the base text, with appropriate paraphrasings & explanations.
Follow-along programs with chapter-by-chapter synopses are provided.
All Westminster PCA members & families welcome
When: Friday, October 26th, 7 pm
Where: Camp Westminster, 2412 Lake Rockaway Rd.
Conyers, GA 30012-3431
Time Length: 50 minutes
Given as part of Westminster Presbyterian Church's Fall Retreat
THE SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
Chapter 1
Early Jews who believed in Jesus came under huge pressure from family members and neighbors to return to Judaism. The priestly writer tells them that the Judaism of Temple service and animal sacrifice is over. Given by the mediation of angels, it's been supplanted by Christ, Who gave it directly, no angelic mediation necessary! His point? Christ has greater claim to their obedience than mere angels.
Chapter 2
The priestly writer tells them that they must resist this "peer pressure" to defect back to their religious past. His point: if the sin of defecting from God's commands was so severe under Moses, how much more severe will it be from turning away from Christ's gospel.
Chapter 3
Since Jewish pride was so strongly invested in their pride of the authority of Moses the Law-giver and Aaron the High Priest, the priestly writer makes the point that Christ, being God, fulfills both roles: Law-giver and High Priest: and both superior to the mere types and shadows of Moses and Aaron.
Chapter 4
The priestly writer now makes his point another way: he reminds the Hebrews that their Scriptures spoke of God's "rest" that their ancestors under Moses and Joshua never obtained. Therefore a heavenly rest remains yet to be fulfilled, and if these Hebrews were not careful, then they too would fall in the desert wilderness, en-route to this heavenly rest.
Chapter 5
The writer takes his argument further: since 1st Century Judaism prided itself on it's Aaronic priestly order, the writer mentions the priestly order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was greater than not only Aaron and Moses, but even Abraham himself, the father of the whole Jewish nation. Jesus, he says, was of that order, which makes Him superior to all other orders of priests, and Abraham as well.
Chapter 6
Lack of progress in the Christian life is actually lapsing backwards, says the writer. If they turn back now, despite the persecutions and pressures from their peers, then no hope of salvation is left for them. They MUST press on, because what God has done for them is to confirm his promise of salvation through Christ by an oath in addition to a simple promise: both first given to Abraham.
Chapter 7
The writer now expands on the theme of Melchizedek's priestly line, first begun from Chapter Five. Christ was made a priest in that order which is superior over even that of the Aaronic line of High Priests. And because Abraham, the ancestor of both Levltes and High Priests deferred to Melchizedek by paying tithes to him, Christ then has the superior claim upon the Hebrews' allegiance in all ways
Chapter 8
The priestly writer now sums up all that he's said so far: that the entire Jewish religion had a single objective in God's mind: to herald the coming of the final High Priest and His heavenly kingdom, and to prepare a people to receive that kingdom. The chapter makes an unequivocal final statement: only the New Covenant has standing with God; no longer the Old!
Chapter 9
In specific detail the writer explains how all the major vessels and implements of Temple worship were used to show a heavenly reality that had now found its fulfillment in Christ. Using the language of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the writer contrasts Old Testament frequency with New Testament finality, in the service the High Priest performed.
Chapter 10
The writer again warns the Hebrew Christians not to defect from the faith despite the mockings and physical attacks on their property from their own countrymen. He holds before them Christ's example: the great and final High Priest who stands as intercessor for them in Heaven. He warns them with the example of the faithless Israelites under Moses, and tells them there's too much at stake turn back now.
Chapter 11
This famous and inspiring chapter, which lists the heroes of the faith throughout Biblical history, also illustrates what saving faith is, and says that these heroes will not be made complete without the saints on earth, soon to join them in Heaven.
Chapter 12
A great cloud of witnesses watches over us as we contend for our faith, says the writer. He tells the Hebrews to bear patiently with God's correction, which only shows that He cares for them and loves them, and doesn't want the to be condemned with the world.
Chapter 13
The writer uses the language of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to compare Christ to the Day of Atonement scapegoat, led outside the camp of Israel, bearing the sins of others."Let us go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come," says the writer. Within a few years, Jerusalem will be destroyed by Roman armies.
A "Scriptures Dramatized!" live presentation
by Rev. Rick Anderson
A memorized dramatization of the Letter to the Hebrews
Performed in the "period dress" of the Temple priests
KJV is the base text, with appropriate paraphrasings & explanations.
Follow-along programs with chapter-by-chapter synopses are provided.
All Westminster PCA members & families welcome
When: Friday, October 26th, 7 pm
Where: Camp Westminster, 2412 Lake Rockaway Rd.
Conyers, GA 30012-3431
Time Length: 50 minutes
Given as part of Westminster Presbyterian Church's Fall Retreat
THE SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
Chapter 1
Early Jews who believed in Jesus came under huge pressure from family members and neighbors to return to Judaism. The priestly writer tells them that the Judaism of Temple service and animal sacrifice is over. Given by the mediation of angels, it's been supplanted by Christ, Who gave it directly, no angelic mediation necessary! His point? Christ has greater claim to their obedience than mere angels.
Chapter 2
The priestly writer tells them that they must resist this "peer pressure" to defect back to their religious past. His point: if the sin of defecting from God's commands was so severe under Moses, how much more severe will it be from turning away from Christ's gospel.
Chapter 3
Since Jewish pride was so strongly invested in their pride of the authority of Moses the Law-giver and Aaron the High Priest, the priestly writer makes the point that Christ, being God, fulfills both roles: Law-giver and High Priest: and both superior to the mere types and shadows of Moses and Aaron.
Chapter 4
The priestly writer now makes his point another way: he reminds the Hebrews that their Scriptures spoke of God's "rest" that their ancestors under Moses and Joshua never obtained. Therefore a heavenly rest remains yet to be fulfilled, and if these Hebrews were not careful, then they too would fall in the desert wilderness, en-route to this heavenly rest.
Chapter 5
The writer takes his argument further: since 1st Century Judaism prided itself on it's Aaronic priestly order, the writer mentions the priestly order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was greater than not only Aaron and Moses, but even Abraham himself, the father of the whole Jewish nation. Jesus, he says, was of that order, which makes Him superior to all other orders of priests, and Abraham as well.
Chapter 6
Lack of progress in the Christian life is actually lapsing backwards, says the writer. If they turn back now, despite the persecutions and pressures from their peers, then no hope of salvation is left for them. They MUST press on, because what God has done for them is to confirm his promise of salvation through Christ by an oath in addition to a simple promise: both first given to Abraham.
Chapter 7
The writer now expands on the theme of Melchizedek's priestly line, first begun from Chapter Five. Christ was made a priest in that order which is superior over even that of the Aaronic line of High Priests. And because Abraham, the ancestor of both Levltes and High Priests deferred to Melchizedek by paying tithes to him, Christ then has the superior claim upon the Hebrews' allegiance in all ways
Chapter 8
The priestly writer now sums up all that he's said so far: that the entire Jewish religion had a single objective in God's mind: to herald the coming of the final High Priest and His heavenly kingdom, and to prepare a people to receive that kingdom. The chapter makes an unequivocal final statement: only the New Covenant has standing with God; no longer the Old!
Chapter 9
In specific detail the writer explains how all the major vessels and implements of Temple worship were used to show a heavenly reality that had now found its fulfillment in Christ. Using the language of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the writer contrasts Old Testament frequency with New Testament finality, in the service the High Priest performed.
Chapter 10
The writer again warns the Hebrew Christians not to defect from the faith despite the mockings and physical attacks on their property from their own countrymen. He holds before them Christ's example: the great and final High Priest who stands as intercessor for them in Heaven. He warns them with the example of the faithless Israelites under Moses, and tells them there's too much at stake turn back now.
Chapter 11
This famous and inspiring chapter, which lists the heroes of the faith throughout Biblical history, also illustrates what saving faith is, and says that these heroes will not be made complete without the saints on earth, soon to join them in Heaven.
Chapter 12
A great cloud of witnesses watches over us as we contend for our faith, says the writer. He tells the Hebrews to bear patiently with God's correction, which only shows that He cares for them and loves them, and doesn't want the to be condemned with the world.
Chapter 13
The writer uses the language of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to compare Christ to the Day of Atonement scapegoat, led outside the camp of Israel, bearing the sins of others."Let us go forth unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come," says the writer. Within a few years, Jerusalem will be destroyed by Roman armies.
