Sermons by Bernard Bell

Sermons by Bernard Bell

Well Done and Carry On

Many of us can remember favorite teachers from childhood. A good teacher congratulates students for progress made but also challenges and inspires to further progress. After last week’s harsh warning (6:4-8), the writer of Hebrews now reassures his readers of their progress, and challenges them to keep on.

Keep Faithful and Carry On

We return to Hebrews for the next four weeks, continuing our series Christ Before Us. We begin with one of the most difficult texts in the entire New Testament. Is it possible to lose your salvation? Many bring their theological convictions to this text, be they Calivinist or Arminian. But how might we read it in the context of the book of Hebrews, which is presented as a “word of exhortation”?

When God Comes Down

(Luke 1:67-79) “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,” cried Isaiah. Advent is a season of anticipating God’s coming; this is what advent means. In his song the Benedictus, Zechariah praises God that he has come down and visited his people and will again visit his people. How so? In the birth of two babies: John the Baptist and Jesus. Will the people be hospitable when God comes to visit? Are we hospitable to God’s visitation?

Back to School

Hebrews 5:11-6:3 Labor Day weekend marks the traditional end of summer. But many students have been back to school for a while already. Some may have found that they had regressed over the summer, and had to get back in the groove of learning. We expect students to progress from learning the ABCs all the way to advanced topics. The Christian life is also a school in which we are expected to advance from infancy to maturity, from milk to solid food.

He Was Heard

The psalmist cried to the Lord in his distress, and he was heard. Jonah cried to the Lord from the belly of the fish, and he was heard. Jesus cried to the Lord, and he died. But his reverent submission spoke from the grave, and was heard. Now we hear his voice and submit in obedience, finding thereby eternal salvation.

Finding Timely Help

Heb 4:14-16 Good help is hard to find, so the saying goes. The psalmist looked to the hills as he asked, “Where does my help come from?” He then answered his own question: My help comes from the Lord (Ps 121:1-2). Where do we look for help, especially during our spiritual journey? Our text tells us we can find timely help because we have a great high priest. We can boldly approach the eternal throne.