Focus This Week – Lay Aside And Persevere

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, 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, looking 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.”

Use the HEAR method as you spend time with today’s scripture.

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Sunday Edition

Good morning! We hope you’ll join us for worship today.  

On-Campus – Contemporary worship 9am and 11am, Blended 9:45am. 
Streaming online 11am at mybelmont.org/sermonsonline or facebook.com/mybelmont/live 

Verses for the week:

  • Monday – Hebrews 12:1-2
  • Tuesday – Ephesians 1:13-14
  • Wednesday – Philippians 1:6
  • Thursday – Matthew 7:21-22
  • Friday – 1 Corinthians 13:5

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Small Group Discussion

We’ve been reading this week about how Jesus is better. 

Discuss with your small group what you’ve drawn from your reading this week and how God has spoken to you. You can also pull from the questions in each day’s reading.

The HEAR method is also an excellent structure for your discussion as a group. If you aren’t currently in a group we’d love to help you connect with one. Contact sharon@mybelmont.org or go to mybelmont.org/smallgroups

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Elise Jones

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Better Than Works

Hebrews 11:1-6

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Faith is not just a matter of belief, but a matter of behavior based upon belief. Righteousness is by faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God. As followers of Christ, we should look to the example of those in the Bible, and live by faith every minute of the day!

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What areas of your life are you lacking in faith? 
  • Is difficult for you to surrender “control” of your life and live by faith?
  • Why is it impossible to please God without faith? 
  • How would you explain to an unbeliever why God doesn’t just care about your “good works?” 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Makena Blalock

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A Better Covenant

Hebrews 9:11-14

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Better than the High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Today as you start to read this devotional, I have a question for you. What holds the most importance in your life? Faith? Family? Friends? Money? Facebook? Sports? House? Bills? Fun?

Many of us might struggle to land on that one thing. Some would say that a few are equal in importance. For some, it might depend on the day. Others might not really know. However, whether we recognize it or not, something does hold first place in our lives.

Each person must decide what that one thing will be. We might claim one thing, but our actions will expose what is truly most important to us. No one has the ability to believe one thing and do another for very long.

The first verse shows that Jesus is the High Priest. He has been through the heavens. We are instructed to hold fast to our confession that we have made that Jesus is Lord. If this is true, then our daily lives must reflect our confession. Our actions flow from our confession. Jesus has walked through what we have walked through without sin. We struggle with sin, daily, and fail often, but Jesus never fell to sin.

I would like to take you back to our original question, what holds the most importance in your life? Many will say Jesus Christ, but in all actuality, it’s materialistic possessions, social media, or whatever consumes most of your time. The key to living a life where our confession matches our actions is to rely on the throne of grace as we see in the last verse. We must draw close to Jesus for his grace and mercy. Without Jesus, we will lose. We will live a life that is consumed with things that really don’t matter. If family comes before Jesus then you will fail. Please read that sentence again. The people of God can not lead the people of God or even their own families without placing Jesus first in their life. The church is seeing that more and more. More and more people who claim Christ as Lord place sports, fun, convenience, money, comfort, and even safety before Jesus. My friends, I encourage you to go to the throne of grace and hang out there for a while.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • What thing or things tends to creep ahead of Christ in your life? 
  • What ‘good’ things can become idols when we place them before Jesus?
  • What is the danger in that? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Macon Jones,
Pastor to Students and Young Adults

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