Welcome to Villa Scriptura!

Welcome to Villa Scriptura! If you wish to begin our home Bible study in the Epistle to the Hebrews, go to the bottom of the page and hit "older posts." You can then go to the beginning of our studies from Hebrews 1:1. If you have any questions about our study or wish to interact over anything we've discussed, you may contact me here: timurzhan1@gmail.com. I have also included a couple of songs I've sung within the blog.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Epistle to the Hebrews Study #11

In this episode (Villa Scriptura Podcast Episode #11), we are covering Chapter 9 of the epistle. As the author of Hebrews continues to take us through the “solid food” section of his message concerning the superior priesthood of the resurrected, exalted, and seated Son of God, he expands the discussion he started earlier in Chapter 8, which concerned the new covenant now mediated by our indestructible great high priest. He continues to develop very sharp contrasts between the first covenant and the associated Levitical system of continuous blood sacrifices conducted in the symbolic tabernacle. "In speaking of a new covenant," the author noted in 8:13, God "makes the first one obsolete." That first covenant--"growing old and ready to vanish away"--has been replaced with a superior covenant, inaugurated by the “once for all” sacrifice provided by the Lamb and Great High Priest, who has offered up his own vastly superior conscience-cleansing blood, securing an eternal redemption for God’s people. In so doing, He has provided unfettered access to God’s holy presence, provided we draw near with a sincere heart through Him, the great high priest and mediator of this new covenant.
Notes for this podcast episode can be accessed here: Study notes for Lesson #11.

This is something I recently came across that relates well to this section of Hebrews.  It is a video clip of a gentleman--Ryan Ferguson--providing a dramatic recitation of Hebrews 9-10: 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

A Song Inspired by Hebrews 11: "By Faith"

I know we are a few chapters away from Hebrews 11 and the famous "Hall of Faith," but I thought I'd upload a song I recently sang entitled "By Faith". This is NOT any fancy music mix by any stretch of the imagination, but my desire was to simply bring before you all a great song written by singer/songwriter Michael Card from his fantastic "Soul Anchor" album, which was released several years ago and entirely centered on the Epistle to the Hebrews. If you listen carefully to the lyrics, you will notice many references from the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, as well as other themes and truths brought out in the epistle. I hope you enjoy it! By the way, our next podcast--covering Hebrews 9--will take place in about two weeks.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Monday, November 8, 2010

Epistle to the Hebrews Study #10

In this episode (Villa Scriptura Podcast Episode #10), we are covering Chapter 8 of the epistle.  As the author of Hebrews continues to take us through the “solid food” of his message concerning the superior priesthood of the resurrected, exalted, and seated Son of God, he reminds us--in no uncertain terms--that we have NOW, in the present tense, a high priest serving as a minister in the true tabernacle, one who serves as a mediator of a new covenant which has been enacted on better promises.

Notes for this podcast episode can be accessed here: Study notes for Lesson #10.