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, January 8, 2011

Epistle to the Hebrews Study #13A (Hebrews 11:1-22)

In this episode (Villa Scriptura Podcast Episode #13A), we will begin by reviewing the warnings and encouragement the author has presented to his readers in his letter of exhortation, particularly toward the end of Hebrews 10.  In our previous podcast study in Hebrews 10, we witnessed how the author held before the holy brethren their own steadfast commitment to Christ under adverse circumstances in the past in order to encourage the same courageous stance in the present.  As the political winds of the mid-60’s A.D. in Rome began to shift, the men and women of the house-church suddenly found themselves weary with the necessity of sustaining the high level of commitment they had brought to Christ in those earlier years.

As our author moves forward in Chapter 11, he urges his readers not to throw away their boldness and to keep looking to the reward of the inheritance in the age to come.  Endurance is what is needed at such an hour, along with a continued assurance in things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. We hope you are as encouraged and challenged as we were, as we considered the lives of the “men of old” who “gained approval” by exhibiting faith in God’s unchangeable promises.  Indeed, God is utterly reliable, and His faithfulness to his promises guarantees that the reward for doing the will of God—as righteous ones who live by faith--will be reception of what He has promised!
Notes for both parts of Episode 13--covering material in Hebrews 11:1-12:3--can be accessed here:  Study Notes for Lesson 13 (Parts A & B)