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Hebrews 12:1-13
Teaching Time from Final Home Church - 2026
(A peak into what/how we teach)
Introduction:
When/what is the most confused you have ever felt? (Dormies discussed)
We shared our story of trying to get here 5 years ago (and all that entailed).
“Maybe you upperclassmen feel confused sometimes? AP classes get you worried / career paths change / applying to schools leaves you with uncertainty.”
In Home Church this morning, we wanted to talk about what we KNOW FOR A FACT we can be doing right now.
Passage Context/Transition:
We are going to go through some of Hebrews Chapter 12 today!
We are going to read each verse carefully…
Then discuss it…
Then do a little spiritual exercise at the end!
“Hebrews 12 is beautiful. It is full of very empowering statements about who we are in Christ and what we should do about it. It answers the question, “what am I supposed to do?” when we may be feeling confused. The basic idea of the chapter we want you to remember, as we read it, is this: Endure.”
We ask them - “What does it mean to endure?”
Reading/Discussion/Teaching of Hebrews 12:1-13:
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” v.1-2
Here the chapter begins with the word “Therefore.”
“Therefore” means to go back to a previous idea to understand the current idea.
Briefly went over Chapter 11 - “The Hall of Faith.”
Hebrews describes old faithful people from history as a great surrounding “cloud of witnesses” watching our lives and cheering us on as we run our current race. This is also where we see the “endurance” language of the chapter. The giants and patrons of our faith watch as we run, cheering us on so that we may continue to have an endurance that lasts!
We ask - “Who in your life has gone before you as a faithful follower of Jesus? What is their example?”
And how do we have endurance? (ACCORDING TO THE PASSAGE)
BY KEEPING OUR GAZE FIXED ON CHRIST.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate, perfect example of completing the race with endurance: He perfectly endured giving up His position in heaven, being crucified by the very people He came to save and rising again on the third day, receiving an eternal reward.
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you don’t grow weary and lose heart. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.” v. 3-6
Much of the time, when we are allowed to suffer, life gets confusing. Here in these verses our suffering is given a bigger perspective: Scripture is minimizing our hardship, not for the purpose of saying it is not valid or that our pain is meaningless and dumb, but that we have not yet endured the struggle against sin to the point of shedding blood. You could basically understand this as “you all have trials, you all have hardships, but don’t lose heart… remember Christ and be thankful that your struggle is not you being nailed to a cross.”
A bigger, more heavenly perspective of our circumstances gives us the encouragement we need so that our circumstances do not consume us.
(Tyler shares what Ellie’s Dad told him when his Mom passed)
“Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline — which all receive — then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” v.7-11
The Lord’s discipline is corrective in nature. There is no believer in Christ who will ever experience condemnation from the Lord. His discipline is not destruction, but correction and is used to educate and train us to be better sons and daughters of God. When we endure hardships, and see them as the corrective, merciful, firm teaching of the Lord, we can know that God is dealing with us!
It is said, “The man who is not disciplined by the Lord has an unregenerate heart.” Take heart and be encouraged that God is INTIMATELY involved in our suffering circumstances, because He is dealing with and teaching His children! We have all had our fathers discipline and correct us when we were under their rules. God disciplines those He calls children so they may “share in His holiness.” TO BE MORE LIKE HIM!
This is so important: God does not condemn or afflict us. He corrects and teaches us. There is a massive difference. Faithfully enduring during times of confusion, suffering or discipline is key! These are the times that shape us into a better picture of Jesus!
“Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight the paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.” v.12-13
An empowering and concluding statement to this section. Knowing that you are surrounded by the witnesses of heaven who paved the way for your faith with their blood; knowing that Christ has gone before you and endured the punishment for YOUR sin; knowing that your circumstances are not consuming; knowing that God is dealing with you INTIMATELY; and finally knowing you are considered a child of the Most High; be strengthened and make straight your path and march!…
Conclusion:
Paused teaching here to do a spiritual exercise and “make straight the paths.”
“Because we know that this is something we can do right now, today and every day.”
(We then had the dormies do a “Journal Exercise.” They wrote prayers of endurance to the Lord and we shared them).
Holy Week - A Sunrise Study and Story
Resurrection Sunday
A Sunrise Devotional - Study and Story
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
Colossians 1:15-22
The Story to Set the Scene:
Holy Week is a huge deal over here in the Philippines. The entire week, the population is abuzz with the spiritual and historical significance of the events this week seeks to commemorate. Being a predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines takes this week as an opportunity to showcase zeal and repentance before the Lord. While many express and understand this zeal in ways that are perhaps not in accordance with the statutes of Jesus and His Word, there is no doubt about this one commonly agreed upon thing: something big has happened, and everyone must stop to recognize it. Businesses shut down, school is let out, pilgrimage takes place and come Resurrection Sunday, the hills are silent. It was at the top of our school theatre’s stairwell, overlooking the Hills of Antipolo, awaiting the sunrise, a select group of Dormies who woke up extra early, came to discuss the following…
The Story to Begin the Study:
I remember fondly one of my best friends during my college days: David. David was (and still is) a man of great passion for the Lord and His Way. David was also a young man of great passion for not wasting his time on things he believed took our attention away from the Lord. So naturally, when he was forced to take a 3 hour, nighttime Philosophy lecture, David had a few choice words.
I met him after his lecture in the plaza of our campus at Moody Bible institute in Chicago to hang out…He was agitated. Bear this in mind, David is one of the greatest preachers I have ever heard, to this day; it was this night that I would hear his first sermon.
In a passionate tirade about this Philosophy class, the homework therein and the subject matter being studied, David preached these very words in the cold dark of the courtyard: “Why on earth would I care what these random old men have to say about the world or purpose or meaning? They are all DEAD! Jesus is ALIVE!” The most theologically rich excuse to get out of homework I have ever come across. And…he makes a point.
We are gathered here this morning (yes, this so very early in the morning) in order to give the first fruits of our day and our attention to Jesus. Afterall, it was at dawn that Jesus first appeared to people once He rose from the dead!
So, what is it about Resurrection Sunday that is so important? We all know the story, we have heard it a million times, so truly, what is it about today?
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 to get an idea.
The Study:
Verse 12 - Context: some people in the church of Corinth were not convinced of the resurrection. Either of Jesus’ resurrection or ours at the end of all things.
Verses 16-17 - This is the critical point of it ALL. If Jesus was not resurrected, then the only thing His life and death would have proven was that everyone’s suspicions were true…That He was a prophet and great teacher, but that’s it… The resurrection proves that He is in fact GOD, and that salvation can be had!
Verse 19 - If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then why should Christians be pitied the most? Think of the sacrifice of the martyrs throughout history. Think of the missionaries who uproot their lives in pursuit of building the Kingdom. Think of the self-denial in order to take up one’s cross. Without the Resurrection of Jesus, it would all be for nothing! But we know that it is not for nothing!
Verse 22 - Here is the core of the Gospel which we will get into with our next passage.
So, that explains today: the why of it all. Why is it so important? Because without the Resurrection, there really is nothing. No meaning, no faith, no purpose, nothing. It is because of The Resurrection that we have hope to begin with!
Prayer: Partner up, and let us pray together, thanking Jesus for today and all that today means. Let’s simply spend time, not asking for anything at all, but only praising Him. (This is what we did together; you can do this too!)
Next, let’s talk about exactly what The Resurrection accomplished by reading through Colossians 1:15-22
Further Study:
End of Verse 17 - Clearly Jesus has all of the authority of God. He is LITERALLY GOD in the flesh. The Resurrection proves this! Jesus is the One Who holds everything together!
Verse 18 - “Firstborn from the dead”; Jesus is so powerful, that He literally reversed death itself!
He showed that not even DEATH, the one “all powerful” thing, the big ugly that comes for us all, cannot hold down the power of the Son of God! AND, in His grace and mercy and goodness, He gives this to us! Followers of Jesus, will be resurrected!
And why do all these amazing things? TO HAVE FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING!
Study the Word - Preeminent: to have total control, inheritance and rule over EVERYTHING.
Today, Resurrection Sunday, presents a challenge to us all. The challenge is this: does Jesus have first place in your life? Have you recognized Him as Lord yet?
Verse 22 - Everything, everyone, God wants to bring back into a beautiful relationship with HIMSELF! He accomplishes this through His Son’s shed blood on the cross. The perfect sacrifice for sin among us and our creation.The Resurrection is the completion of that work!
End with a Song: In Christ Alone (It was here we sang together as the sun crested the hills and flooded our campus with first light).
May this devotional serve you well. May we all remember the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior and may we all celebrate His glorious Resurrection every day. Remember, Resurrection Sunday is not bunnies, eggs, ham and obligatory church service… Resurrection Sunday is the commemoration of a fact we are called to live, anticipate and sacrifice for every day we breathe: Jesus is ALIVE. And we too, those who endure to the end, shall LIVE forever as well.
Let HIM Cook!
It had been a while since Tyler made a fan-favorite: SHAWARMA CHICKEN! Tender, exotic, and so satisfying. Our Dormies loved it!
Where do you find your satisfaction? The Lord, in His Word says this, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8) It seems lately that the world continuously feeds us the most unfortunate and anxiety-inducing updates.. But those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus know that everything is going to plan.
There is nothing this world can offer us that will satisfy on the soul level... Not even the most delectable shawarma chicken with homemade pita. The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth; He is the ONE who saves, satisfies and promises "whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14).
Our Team has Grown!
This quarter, the newest addition to our team arrived in country: Uncle Carson, Aunt Kara and Baby Selah (Above picture: right side). They will be working as the Boarding Home Assistants; providing aid to the Dorm Parent Team wherever necessary.
We are already feeling the positive effects of their presence with us! They have very quickly become great friends with our family in particular. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they adjust to being a young family in a country far from their home!
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