Grace Be With You All

In one paragraph

This sermon brought the book of Hebrews to a close with its final eight verses, preached on an unusual Sunday when most of the congregation was worshiping from home via Facebook Live due to the town of Jackson's request to keep gatherings under a hundred people. Pastor Ray worked through an earnest plea for prayer, a benediction he called the most Christ-centered blessing in the New Testament, and...

Read together

1. Hebrews 13:17 obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account
2. Hebrews 13:18-25 the passage preached through as the closing section of Hebrews
3. Hebrews 10:25 forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, cited when explaining the decision to limit in-person gathering
4. Hebrews 11 mentioned as addressing perseverance and purification through persecution
5. Hebrews 12 mentioned as addressing discipline and perseverance, including the warning not to harden hearts as in the rebellion
6. John 21:25 if all the books that should be written were written, the whole world could not contain them all
7. Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray described prayer as exchanging your human wishes and ideas for God's wishes, rather than trying to change God's mind. How does that understanding change the way you think about your own prayer life?
2. The writer or writers of Hebrews said they were persuaded they had a good conscience and desired to conduct themselves honorably in all things. Think of a time when you had to make a hard call and trust that you were acting with a good conscience before God. What did that feel like, and how did you work through it?
3. Pastor Ray read the definition of peace as 'the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is.' Where in your life right now is that kind of peace easy to hold onto, and where is it hardest?
4. The benediction in Hebrews 13 describes God equipping us in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ. What does it look like practically, in your week, to let God work through you rather than relying on your own strengths or plans?
5. Pastor Ray closed by noting that the last word of Hebrews is grace, described as God leaning toward us with unmerited favor. How has an awareness of that grace shaped the way you extend grace to the people around you, especially in a stressful or uncertain season?