In a world infected by human sin and its toxic byproducts, accomplishing physical, intellectual, and relational goals requires hard labor. 

 “Dispersion,” scattering, is a bittersweet theme. On the one hand, the Creator authorized his animate creatures and humanity, their rulers, to “fill the earth”—very good. 

The Lord gives to his church “mercy servants,” whose deeds of compassion complement the gospel witness of his “Word servants.”

The seven servants were qualified to care for widows’ material needs because Christ’s church discerned that they were “full of the Spirit and wisdom.”  

The apostles’ response to the need of Greek-speaking widows in the Jerusalem church shows two truths that define how ministry must be done in Christ’s church.

Not only does the Lord love to lavish his grace to multitudes of people, to see them multiply to become a countless choir to sing his praise (as we saw in the first meditation on Acts 6:1-7); but he also delights in diversity—different kinds of people, speaking different languages and practicing different customs. 

The Jerusalem church’s appointment of seven servants to care for widows is a pivotal event in the spread of Christ’s gospel after the Holy Spirit’s descent at Pentecost.

Office Hours talks to Dr. Dennis Johnson about the Holy Spirit's role in our sanctification.

Now in the new covenant the Spirit of God (who empowered Israel’s kings, prophets, and priests) distributes to all believers his diverse gifts, to enable every member of Christ’s body to serve others and foster the growth of the whole church.

“These days, it seems, one sure-fire way to instigate a vigorous discussion in Reformed circles—whether around the Sunday dinner table or in the blogosphere—is to bring up the topic of “application” in sermons.”

Hebrews shows us that Psalm 102:25-27 reveals the eternal permanence of God's Son, our Savior, Jesus.

 Jesus, our priest-king, is seated in Heaven.

“In every age the Holy Spirit has done his life giving work bringing spiritually dead people to life.”

Jesus is the king who can be trusted to rule our lives and circumstances with absolute control, for he

would never succumb to power's corrupting influence.

Our hopes and lives can only rest secure in Jesus Christ the Son, who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Jesus the Son is superior to angels because God the Father directed all his angels to worship the Son.

God’s covenant promise to David, to build David’s “house” (dynasty) and establish David’s throne forever.

The prologue of Hebrews (1:1-4) concludes with the claim that the Son has inherited a name better than that of angels.

Office Hours talks with Dr. Dennis Johnson about his new book. 

Dr. Johnson addresses the importance of understanding the Old Testament in order to see the big picture of God's redemptive work.