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Summit Church

Jesus Our Fortress Pt 4 | A Bigger, Better Deal | Jim Ladd
Locations & Times
Summit Church
7200 S Clinton St, Centennial, CO 80112, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
A Bigger, Better Deal | 6 Habits
https://page.church.tech/7fb58731Hebrews 7:1-28
“This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”
“This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”
Jesus is a Priest Forever
King of Righteousness
King of Peace
King of Righteousness
King of Peace
The Big Idea: Jesus changes everything about being a human.
Because Jesus is both King of Righteousness and King of Peace, we don’t just receive grace — we become people who carry His presence into the world.
These five are communal and individual.
Five life-changing implications:
1. Our Relationship With God Is Not Fragile
Implication:
My standing before God does not depend on my emotional state, spiritual performance, or consistency.
Five life-changing implications:
1. Our Relationship With God Is Not Fragile
Implication:
My standing before God does not depend on my emotional state, spiritual performance, or consistency.
3. Our Failures Are Not Final
Jesus always lives to intercede.
You must break the cycle of:
Failure → Shame → Distance
And replace it with:
Failure → Grace → Return
Implication:
Jesus’ work continues after my failure.
That reality fuels resilience rather than shame.
Jesus always lives to intercede.
You must break the cycle of:
Failure → Shame → Distance
And replace it with:
Failure → Grace → Return
Implication:
Jesus’ work continues after my failure.
That reality fuels resilience rather than shame.
2. Our Access to God Is Direct, Not Institutional
Implication:
Faith is not fundamentally about religious systems, institutions, or intermediaries.
It is about direct access to God through Christ.
Implication:
Faith is not fundamentally about religious systems, institutions, or intermediaries.
It is about direct access to God through Christ.
4. Our Worth is Received, not Earned
Jesus’ sacrifice happened once for all.
Implication:
This frees people to work from identity, not for identity.
Jesus’ sacrifice happened once for all.
Implication:
This frees people to work from identity, not for identity.
5. Our Security Comes From an Eternal Anchor
But Jesus’ priesthood rests on “the power of an indestructible life” (v.16).
Implication:
The deepest stability in life must come from something beyond human systems.
Their ultimate security is not earthly permanence but divine permanence.
But Jesus’ priesthood rests on “the power of an indestructible life” (v.16).
Implication:
The deepest stability in life must come from something beyond human systems.
Their ultimate security is not earthly permanence but divine permanence.
Jesus’ priesthood is based on the power of an indestructible life.
Practice:
When you feel uncertainty about the future (money, job, family, health), pause and pray:
“Everything around me may change.
But Jesus does not.”
Then name one fear and surrender it:
“I trust You with this.”
This anchors your soul beyond circumstances.
Practice:
When you feel uncertainty about the future (money, job, family, health), pause and pray:
“Everything around me may change.
But Jesus does not.”
Then name one fear and surrender it:
“I trust You with this.”
This anchors your soul beyond circumstances.
RESPONSE:
Communion
- Receive Your Identity and Worth In Christ (The Red Dot on a mall map)
- Participate in the Family of God
- Love like Jesus where you live, work, study, and play
Communion
- Receive Your Identity and Worth In Christ (The Red Dot on a mall map)
- Participate in the Family of God
- Love like Jesus where you live, work, study, and play
Discussion Guide
Small Group Discussion Guide
Icebreaker Questions:
1. When you hear the word “priest,” what comes to mind?
2. Where do people today most commonly look for identity or worth?
Discussion Questions
1. What stands out to you about Melchizedek and how he points to Jesus?
2. How is it helpful that Jesus is both King of Righteousness and King of Peace?
3. The passage says the old system “made nothing perfect.” Where do you see people still trying to use religion to “perfect” themselves today?
4. What do you think it means that Jesus’ priesthood is based on “the power of an indestructible life”?
5. How does Jesus change everything about being human and how does that inspire you?
6. Hebrews says we now have a “better hope by which we draw near to God.” What does “drawing near” look like practically in your life?
7. Why do you think people rely on institutions or systems instead of a direct relationship with God? (people returning to Catholicism)
8. How would your prayer life change if you truly believed your access to God is direct and constant?
9. Jesus “always lives to intercede.” What does that mean for how God sees you today?
10. Where are you most tempted to find your worth (achievement, approval, success, etc.)?
11. What does it look like to live from identity instead of for identity?
12. How does the truth that “our failures are not final” reshape the way we handle sin or setbacks?
13. What would it look like for you this week to anchor your security in something eternal instead of something temporary?
Icebreaker Questions:
1. When you hear the word “priest,” what comes to mind?
2. Where do people today most commonly look for identity or worth?
Discussion Questions
1. What stands out to you about Melchizedek and how he points to Jesus?
2. How is it helpful that Jesus is both King of Righteousness and King of Peace?
3. The passage says the old system “made nothing perfect.” Where do you see people still trying to use religion to “perfect” themselves today?
4. What do you think it means that Jesus’ priesthood is based on “the power of an indestructible life”?
5. How does Jesus change everything about being human and how does that inspire you?
6. Hebrews says we now have a “better hope by which we draw near to God.” What does “drawing near” look like practically in your life?
7. Why do you think people rely on institutions or systems instead of a direct relationship with God? (people returning to Catholicism)
8. How would your prayer life change if you truly believed your access to God is direct and constant?
9. Jesus “always lives to intercede.” What does that mean for how God sees you today?
10. Where are you most tempted to find your worth (achievement, approval, success, etc.)?
11. What does it look like to live from identity instead of for identity?
12. How does the truth that “our failures are not final” reshape the way we handle sin or setbacks?
13. What would it look like for you this week to anchor your security in something eternal instead of something temporary?