The conclusion to the series in Hebrews.

W.H. Mare defines a benediction as “a prayer found in Scripture in which divine blessings are invoked upon one’s own person or on others, or in which there is recognition that such blessings are present.”

In times of persecution and trial, the love that is to characterize our Christian confession and the Christian community comes under assault. There are routine fault lines where Satan acts to break Christian community apart – ways that he endeavors to undermine our witness and our confession. So Paul gives four basic exhortations that equip us to recognize and respond to Satan’s wiles.

What are the contours of Christian love as presented in Hebrews 13?

How should the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant affect our view of God and his expectations for us, especially for worship?

God’s goal in Christ is to bring us as His children to glory, to maturity. This is our future hope – God is going to teach us what it means to be real men and women, to be truly human. In the course of our lives, during the process of sanctification, God is training us, disciplining us, pushing us toward this goal.

As any fitness trainer will tell you, one of the keys to success in running a race is having a team of supporters – folks who cheer you on, hold you accountable, push you when you’re weak and discouraged, etc. And Paul understands that in the race of faith, the church is this team of supporters.