Service Guide
October 4, 2026
Songs
Profession & Offering
The Human Condition
All: “We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.”
Confession & Prayer
Eternal God, we confess our sin to you:we have not done your will;we have broken your law;
we have rebelled against your love;
we have not loved our neighbors;
we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 2:5-18 (NIV)
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8and put everything under their feet.”,
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, m fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
Leader: You may be seated.
“The Humanity of Christ”
Tim Allen
Hebrews 2:5-18
Bottom Line: Jesus shared fully in our humanity and experienced death for us all!
A quotation of Psalm 8:4-6 is introduced in vv. 5-8a.
Two key phrases from Psalm 8:4-6 are expanded upon in vv. 8b-9.
Three reasons why it was necessary for Jesus to become a man and suffer death are found in vv. 10-18:
Reason 1: So that he could identify with us and bring us back into the family (vv. 10-13)
Reason 2: So that he could break the power of the one who holds the power of death (vv. 14-16)
Reason 3: So that he could serve as our faithful high priest and mediator before God (vv. 17-18)
Reflection Questions
How does this passage look back toward creation and the fall?
- How does this passage look forward to “the world to come?”
- What does this passage reveal about the present? In what ways do you feel the tension between the “already” and the “not yet?”
- What does this passage reveal about Christ?
- Why was it necessary for Jesus to become a man and suffer death?
- How does Jesus sharing fully in our humanity comfort and encourage you?
- How do the temptations and sufferings of Jesus help you in the temptations and sufferings you face?
- How do you see this passage applying personally and among the church?
- Who can you encourage with this passage this week?
Benediction
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!