Summer Hebrews Series #2: Hebrews 2:10-18 (Matthew 12:46-50) for Narrative Lectionary (July 21, 2019?)

Featured image: https://images.knowing-jesus.com/i/hebrews-2-15-freed-from-fear-of-death-yellow-7548

THEMES/IDEAS

Collect form

One commentator notes that Hebrews consists essentially of three things: Scriptural quotes/interpretation, theology, and exhortation. To me, this boils down to who God is/what God does and who we are and what we need to do/can do. This relates to the possibility of looking at Hebrews through the construct of a Collect, an originally Latin Roman Catholic prayer a particular form, basically consisting of an address of God that mentions the attributes of God that relate to the petition (O God, who….) and then a petition (empower us….) and a purpose clause (so that…). We are referring to this as “Who God is and what God does, and what we need and why.” This seems to encompass a lot of the book of Hebrews as it develops its theology of who God is and what God does in order to talk about what we need to do/can do and why. [For a more detailed explanation of the form of a collect (with 5 parts, adding an address of God, a conclusion calling on the mediation of Christ and an Amen) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collect

 

Christmas

This pericope is set for the first Sunday of Christmas in the RCL. (My husband and I are planning a Christmas in July for the last Sunday of the month; you could pair this whole series with Christmas/incarnation themes).

 

The folks at Working Preacher have commentaries for both the NL and the Christmas setting; this link has a few lines from each commentary and the links to each of them.

See https://www.workingpreacher.org/search/Default.aspx?cx=001947499050786061073:fplx-aun2rq&q=Hebrews%202:10-18&cof=FORID:10&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&search_domain=WWW

 

 

For the Christmas setting, see also http://www.textweek.com/yeara/christma1.htm

 

Vv. 10-12

Verses 5-12 were included in the RCL with 1:1-4. See http://www.textweek.com/epistlesrevelation/hebrews1_2.htm

and the blog from last week for details.

 

Other exegetical resources for Hebrews 2 are at the bottom of this blog…

 

 

HYMNS for Hebrews 2:10-18

(Numbers are from the Presbyterian Hymnal/1990)

2.10a

180 The God of Heaven

185.5-10 Psalm 33 (The .5-10 means verses 5-10 are particularly pertinent)

224 Bless the Lord, My Soul and Being

267 All Things Bright and Beautiful

271.1 Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Things

288 I Sing the Mighty Power of God

290 God Created Heaven and Earth

293 This Is My Father’s World

294 Wherever I May Wander

455 All Creatures of Our God and King

467.1+2 How Great Thou Art

 

2.10b

11.3 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?

75.1+4 O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair

140.2 Holy, Holy

155.3 Rejoice, the Lord Is King

341 Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!

346.2 Christ, You Are the Fullness

388.4 O Jesus, I Have Promised

389.4 O Jesus, I Have Promised

426.5 Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak

441.5 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

485 To God Be the Glory

492.3 Baptized in Water

518.4 Sheaves of Summer

 

2.11-13

385.3 O God, We Bear the Imprint of Your Face

 

2.11b-12,17a

55.4 That Boy-Child of Mary  (Bold type means the whole hymns is particularly pertinent)

157.1 Our King and Our Sovereign, Lord Jesus

518.4 Sheaves of Summer

 

2.14a

4.2 Creator of the Stars of Night

5.2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

14.1 Savior of the Nations, Come

27 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

29.3 Go, Tell It on the Mountain

36.2 In the Bleak Midwinter

41.2 O Come, All Ye Faithful

49.2+3 Once in Royal David’s City

 

2.14b-15

9.2 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

14.2 Savior of the Nations, Come

20.3 Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

26 Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

28.3 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

31.3 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

32 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

90.2 Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!

91.2 Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!

105 Because You Live, O Christ

107 Celebrate with Joy and Singing

108 Christ is Alive!

109 Christ Is Risen

110 Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands

112 Christ the Lord Is Risen Again

113 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!

118 The Day of Resurrection!

119.2 The Strife Is O’er

120R Hail Thee, Festival Day!

121.3 That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright

155.2 Rejoice, the Lord Is King

165.4+5 When in the Night I Meditate

281.3 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

290.4 God Created Heaven and Earth

360.5 Hope of the World

383 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

406 Why Has God Forsaken Me?

495 We Know That Christ Is Raised

533.2 O Perfect Love

538.3 Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing

540.4 God Be with You Till We Meet Again

582 Dying, You Destroyed Our Death (Memorial Acclamation)

601.5 Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)

 

2.17

3.1 Comfort, Comfort You My People

26 Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

85 What Wondrous Love Is This

103 Deep Were His Wounds, and Red

140.3 Holy, Holy

144.1+4 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!

296.2 Walk On, O People of God

341.1 Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!

355 Hear the Good News of Salvation

395.2+3 Have Mercy, Lord, on Me (Take Pity, Lord)

466 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

467.3 How Great Thou Art

485.1 To God Be the Glory

 

2.18

77.1 Forty Days and Forty Nights

80 Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley

81.2 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days

83.2 O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

97.1 Go to Dark Gethsemane

360.3 Hope of the World

388.2 O Jesus, I Have Promised

389.2 O Jesus, I Have Promised

403 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

 

BULLETIN COVERS/IMAGES

https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&q=hebrews+2+images&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwje8Yyg_7TjAhVBB50JHRlUBI8QsAR6BAgHEAE&biw=1482&bih=710

 

https://images.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/2

 

SERMONS

Complete sermon on the pericope (2nd one on the page); Christmas context

http://day1.org/623-the_future_of_preaching

 

Audio sermon from Princeton Seminary on the Fellowship of Suffering

https://preachingandworship.org/api/lc/94c5581e083ea2a5305a320a2da4968d5d2ba8c2e9d62

 

Another audio from Princeton, this one says it’s the worship service but it’s only 21 mins long so maybe not; with Chuck Colson reflecting on being in prison

 

 

http://commons.ptsem.edu/id/01638

 

Typed sermon from Arthur Landwehr sermon collection. “God Give So You Can,” Hebrews 2:9-13. Refers to a novel from 1964! Methodist pastor in Chicago.

 

45 minute audio of 1956 sermon from Princeton on Hebrews 2 addressing the faithfulness of God

http://commons.ptsem.edu/id/02544

 

An order of worship around Hebrews 2 from Calvin Symposium on Worship

The theme that year was Hebrews, so other pages may be of interest for the series.

https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/with-every-good-thing-series-yet-at-present-hebrews-2

 

PRAYERS

This set of prayers has one for each verse of Hebrews 2

https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/2

 

Offering prayer from UMC Discipleship

Dear God, for whom and through whom all things exist, you are the Sovereign of the universe! Yet you have named us among your beloved children and call us to live as brothers and sisters of Christ. On this World Communion Sunday, we rejoice that you gather us around the Table of your Son, the risen Lord. May our offerings reach out to bring hope and grace to our near and distant neighbors, whom you know and love. We pray in the most excellent name of Jesus. Amen. (Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12)

 

Reflection with prayer on the exact passage:

https://doers.org/february-14-hebrews-210-18/

 

Worship pieces (prayers, etc.) based on Hebrews 1-2, https://www.ministrymatters.com/worship/entry/6271/worship-elements-october-7-2018

 

 

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

(See bottom of page for exegetical resources for Hebrews 2)

My husband, who is preaching this next Sunday, felt like the assigned Hebrews pericope had a lot of overlapping themes with Psalm 69, which he also preached. See blog for 6/23 at https://wordpress.com/post/bjhlog.wordpress.com/224 for those themes to see if you agree and if any of those resources are helpful.

 

He is actually preaching Isaiah 40:25-31 and Hebrews 2:1-4 instead, with a theme of God not being done yet/who will pass the story on? Here’s the liturgical resources I wrote for those passages:

 

Call to Worship (for “other possibilities”; from Isaiah 40:27-28)

Original resource by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.

 

Don’t you know?

   Haven’t you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God;
he created all the world.
He never grows tired or weary.
     He strengthens those who are weak and tired.
Those who trust in the Lord for help are renewed
We rise on wings like eagles.
   We will run and not get weary;
We will walk and not grow weak.

ALL: AND TOGETHER WE WILL PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Prayer of Confession

Original resource by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.

O God, at times we allow ourselves to be distracted.

We forget to look for your work in the world.

We slide away from you, drawn by other pastures.

Forgive us. Re-focus and strengthen us.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon

Original resource by Barb Hedges-Goettl; please give credit if using/adapting.

We rejoice in the great salvation first announced by the Lord Jesus himself, and passed down to us by those who heard him speak. Thanks be to God for the Good News:

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

 

Hymns (for the “other possibilities”)

I Sing the Mighty Power of God

How Great Thou Art

Lift High the Cross

I Love to Tell the Story

On Eagles’ Wings

 

BULLETIN COVER (for the “other possibilities”)

We are using a photo of the congregation (serendipitously taken today!) to illustrate “Who is passing the story on.”

 

EXEGETICAL RESOURCES

 

Hebrews 2:10 on Jesus our Pioneer

https://preachingandworship.org/api/lc/e4bc14f834c25d7e52848f1e346b531e5d2bac5655a5f

 

Hebrews 2:14 on the incarnation

https://preachingandworship.org/api/lc/82f6fd7e3af40cfbca5541bb745650105d2bac56558c0

 

 

The ones below were targeted for my husband’s sermon on Hebrews 2:1-4, but you can access the later verses on most of them as well….

 

Contextualization of Hebrews 2 in the larger context of Hebrews and the whole Bible

https://bible.org/seriespage/word-warning-and-exhortation-hebrews-21-4

 

Word study & devotional application of Hebrews 2

http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=38977&columnid=3803

 

Sproul’s verse-by-verse exposition of Hebrews 2

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/scripture/hebrews_2/?type=devotional&sort=scripture

 

Verse by verse commentary from a Free Methodist church

http://hillsdalefmc.net/2018/07/19/pay-attention-hebrews-21-4/

 

Sermon notes from Blue Letter Bible

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/SermonNotes_Hbr/Hbr_7.cfm

 

Aquinas

https://dhspriory.org/thomas/english/SSHebrews.htm#21

 

Analysis drawing on a variety of commentators incl. word(s) study, discussions of other pertinent scriptural texts, illustrations & an extended section on “drifting away”

https://www.preceptaustin.org/hebrews_21-3

Author: katyandtheword

Pastor Katy has enjoyed ministry at New Covenant since 2010, where the church has solidified its community focus. Prior to that she studied both Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also served as an Assistant Chaplain at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and as the Christian Educational Coordinator at Bethany Presbyterian at Bloomfield, NJ. She is an writer and is published in Enfleshed, Sermonsuite, Presbyterian's today and Outlook. She writes prayers, liturgy, poems and public theology and is pursuing her doctorate in ministry in Creative Write and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She enjoys working within and connecting to the community, is known to laugh a lot during service, and tells as many stories as possible. Pastor Katy loves reading Science Fiction and Fantasy, theater, arts and crafts, music, playing with children and sunshine, and continues to try to be as (w)holistically Christian as possible. "Publisher after publisher turned down A Wrinkle in Time," L'Engle wrote, "because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was too difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adult's book, anyhow?" The next year it won the prestigious John Newbery Medal. Tolkien states in the foreword to The Lord of the Rings that he disliked allegories and that the story was not one.[66] Instead he preferred what he termed "applicability", the freedom of the reader to interpret the work in the light of his or her own life and times.

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