The book of Hebrews may have been a sermon originally. The preacher was addressing Christians who had been Jewish. They were under persecution. Some were leaving their Christian faith. Others were considering it. The preacher urged them not to leave, arguing for the superiority of Christ.
Sermon Texts
Esther was a Jewish orphan. She found favor with the king of Persia and became his queen. She used her position to save her Jewish people. The book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God, but it still has some important lessons for us.
It wasn’t complicated for Jesus. It was not theoretical. It was as simple as taking a little child into one’s arms. When you welcome one little child in “my name,” Jesus said, you welcome me.
We had it all wrong as kids. We used to think sticks and stones could do more damage to us. Most of us have learned, though, that words can wound ever deeper.
The rich and the poor live in different neighborhoods. Their children go to different schools. They probably attend different churches. However, they are more alike than different.
This was big for James. We must hear the word of God, of course. But it must not end there. James said we must then do the word of God.