When I was a seminarian, I had a pastor-friend who, when he was teaching one night, mentioned that Hebrews was his favorite book of the New Testament. He was one of the most gifted teachers and fellow pastors I have known.

We are similar in our love of studying history and of how the book of Hebrews serves, among other things, as a commentary on the Old Testament as the blueprint for salvation history, the work of redemption. I think it was Augustine who said something like, “The Old Testament is the gospel concealed; the New Testament is the gospel revealed.”

For my fellow soldiers and civilians at Ft. B. Wednesdays from 1200-1300, we will continue an hour of fellowship, food (I’ll provide lunch), and time in the Scriptures–specifically in the book of Hebrews.

We will look at several themes we can relate to as soldiers, Christians, and/or anyone facing temptations of returning to one’s former ways.

We are all at different places in our pilgrimages, but we can work together as a team, and trust the Lord, as His Word addresses the following (and more) themes in the book of Hebrews:

• Fear (of others, of being ostracized, of persecution, of not having all the answers)
• Accurate faith in the hero of redemption: Christ
• Perseverance
• Trustworthiness of Christ & Christianity amidst hostile & competing worldviews

If you are nearby or can follow the blog, I’ll update the lessons for any/all who are interested.

Pro Deo et Patria (“For God and Country”),

–Chaplain Pirtle