The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 14: Hebrews 12:18-29)
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews - Ebony Lovely
God’s loving discipline shapes believers into maturity, even when it feels uncomfortable, and His correction is motivated by love, not anger. Like marathon runners, Christians must train through spiritual discipline, remove distractions and sin, and rely on community for encouragement. The message concludes by urging believers to fix their eyes on Jesus—the ultimate example of endurance—and to run their race faithfully, trusting His grace to carry them through, whether they are weary in the midst of it or just stepping onto the track.
Week 13: Hebrews 12:1-17
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 12: Hebrews 11:20-40
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Week 11: Hebrews 11:1-19
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this week’s message, Russ walks through Hebrews 10 and the three-part invitation at the heart of the book — to draw near to God with confidence, to hold unswervingly to hope even when life gets hard, and to encourage one another in community. The whole letter to the Hebrews builds to this bold invitation to live in God’s presence, anchored in hope and surrounded by others.Week 10: Hebrews 10
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this message from our Hebrews series, The New Covenant, Russ explores why the Old Covenant required blood and sacrifice — and what that reveals about the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s grace. Drawing from Hebrews 9, he explains how the sacrifices of the Old Testament were only a shadow pointing to Jesus, the perfect and final sacrifice whose blood brings complete forgiveness. This message unpacks the difference between the Old and New Covenants, what it means to “rightly divide the Word,” and why there truly is power in the blood of Jesus.Week 9: Hebrews 9:11-28
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
Hebrews 8 reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to update the old covenant— He came to establish a new one. In this message, Russ explains the difference between the old covenant of law and the new covenant of grace, and why following Jesus means we live under something far better.
Week 8: Hebrews 8:1-13
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 7 we meet one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible—Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews uses him to show us why Jesus is not just a great High Priest, but a better High Priest. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus is permanent, perfect, and the only true mediator who brings us near to God. In this message, Pastor Russ unpacks what Hebrews 7 teaches about Jesus, why He’s greater than any substitute we try to rely on, and how His better way gives us lasting hope, forgiveness, and access to God.
Week: Hebrews 7
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In this message from Hebrews 6:13–20, Pastor Russ reminds us that while people often break promises, God never does. His promises are secured by His oath and His character, and our hope in Jesus becomes an anchor for the soul—firm, secure, and steady through life’s storms. Unlike everyday wishful thinking, biblical hope is grounded in God’s unchanging word, and that hope points us to Jesus alone as the only foundation that will hold.
Week 6: Hebrews 6:13-20
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
This week at Maury Hills we welcomed Scott Utter as our guest speaker. Scott brought a challenging message from Hebrews 5:11–6:12, reminding us that faith isn’t meant to stay stuck in immaturity but to keep growing toward maturity in Christ. His words invite us to reflect on where we are in our spiritual journey and encourage us to take the next step forward with Jesus.
Week 5: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 - Scott Utter
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 4:14–16, we’re told that Jesus is not just our High Priest—He’s our Great High Priest. That means we don’t have to approach God like a nervous defendant in a courtroom, hoping for mercy. Because of Jesus, we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. In a world filled with anxiety and fear of being judged or rejected, this truth changes everything: you belong in the Father’s house because you’re with the Son.
Week 4: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
We love to argue about the greatest of all time—Jordan or LeBron, Brady or Mahomes. For the first Christians, the question wasn’t about sports. It was about Moses. Hebrews 3 makes a bold claim: Jesus is greater than Moses. We may not be tempted to follow Moses today, but we still wrestle with elevating rules over grace and old ways over Jesus. This passage calls us to fix our thoughts on Him, our apostle and high priest.Week 3: Hebrews 3:1-19
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
In Hebrews 2, we’re reminded of something profound: Jesus didn’t keep His distance. He “shared in our humanity,” becoming both fully God and fully human. That matters because it means Jesus understands our struggles. He knows what it’s like to be tempted, to suffer, and to face death itself. He didn’t just come to save us from a distance—He came close enough to walk in our shoes. In this message, Russ unpacks why the humanity of Jesus is just as important as His divinity, and how that truth gives us courage, comfort, and confidence today.📖 Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-18
The New Covenant: A Study of Hebrews
We’re kicking off a new series on the book of Hebrews, The New Covenant. In this opening message, Pastor Russ unpacks the prologue of Hebrews and reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God—greater than angels, prophets, or traditions. Many people see God as silent or scary, but Hebrews 1 shows us a different picture: through Jesus, we learn that God is not silent and He’s not scary. He speaks, He cares, and He looks exactly like Jesus.
Hebrews 1:1-14
Ricky Brown, Jesse Reyna, Ryan Morgan, and Aubrey Flagg share testimonies about the work of Hope Center Columbia.
Romans 8:24
Marvin Corr
In this final message of our summer "At the Movies" series, Russ explores the powerful true story behind The Long Game—a film about perseverance, purpose, and pressing on when life gets hard. Drawing lessons from the 1957 San Felipe High School golf team and their unlikely championship journey, this sermon unpacks what it really means to "play the long game"—in sports, in faith, in recovery, and in life.With reflections on personal regret, inspiring Hope Center testimonies, and scriptures from Galatians, Philippians, and Hebrews, this message is a timely reminder to stay the course. Don’t give up. Don’t lose heart. Keep going because the reward is waiting on the other side of perseverance.
In this week’s message, Ebony shares a deep and heartfelt reflection on the film The Six Triple Eight. She explores the inspiring true story, based on the accounts of living witnesses, and highlights the real courage of the all-Black, all-female battalion who served during WWII—women who were not fully recognized in their time.Ebony connects their story to the biblical truth of Imago Dei—that every person is made in the image of God and worthy of dignity. Drawing from Jesus’ interaction with the Canaanite woman, she reminds us that Jesus saw the humanity in people others overlooked. The challenge for us: see people the way Jesus did.
At the Movies Week 2
This message kicks off the "At the Movie" series with a look at "The Wild Robot."