Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church
February 8, 2026

      • John 4:23NKJV

  • Fairest
  • And Can It Be

      • Exodus 26:31–35NKJV

      • 2 Corinthians 9:6–7NASB95

  • Scripture Reading: Exodus 26:31-35
    Kid’s Time:

    I. Inferior Worship

    Hebrews 9:1 NASB95
    1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

    A. The Place of Worship

    1. The Holy Place

    45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet wide.

    a. Lampstand

    Hebrews 9:2 NASB95
    2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
    Symbolized the light of God that illumines our path.

    b. Sacred Bread

    Hebrews 9:2 NASB95
    2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
    Symbolized Him feeding His people. He is our daily bread.

    2. The Holy of Holies

    a. The Veil

    Hebrews 9:3 NASB95
    3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
    symbolizes that those worshippers had very limited access to God.

    b. Alter of Incense

    Hebrews 9:4 NASB95
    4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
    Pictures Christ’s intercession for us.

    c. Ark of the Covenant

    Hebrews 9:4 NASB95
    4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;

    d. Jar with Manna

    God provides for His people.

    e. Aaron’s Rod

    Korah’s rebellion in Numb 16. It showed that Aaron was chosen to shepherd the people of Israel, not Korah. Jesus is our true Shepherd.

    f. Ten Commandments

    Hebrews 9:5 NASB95
    5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
    The righteousness standard in His presence which only God can match.

    g. Cherubim

    Guarding the holiness of God in heaven.
    Revelation 4:6–9 NASB95
    6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
    1 Kings 8:27 NASB95
    27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

    B. The Performance of Worship

    1. Continual Performance

    Hebrews 9:6 NASB95
    6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,
    light the lamps, replace the bread, tend the coals, sprinkle the blood.

    2. Yearly Performance

    Hebrews 9:7 NASB95
    7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
    Day of Atonement — offer a bull at the priest’s expense to cover his personal sin and then a another sacrifice for the nation.

    3. Exclusive Performance

    Hebrews 9:8 NASB95
    8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,

    4. Deficient Performance

    Hebrews 9:9 NASB95
    9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
    Psalm 51:16–19 NASB95
    16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18 By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

    5. Physical Performance

    Hebrews 9:10 NASB95
    10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
    Reformation =
    Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 62.6 διόρθωσις, εως

    διόρθωσιςb, εως f: the process of establishing a new order—‘to establish a new order, forming a new order,

    If these ways of worship needed to be replaced, why would we mimic a failed system of worship today?
    We don’t simply replace all the elements of the Old covenant with new elements for the New Covenant.
    circumcision — baptism
    Tabernacle alter — church alter
    blood sacrifice — wine of communion
    Jesus established a whole new order not based upon physical symbols but on spiritual realities. The symbols now reflect and remind us of the spiritual reality we have in Jesus Christ.

    II. Superior Worship

    A. Through a Superior Tabernacle

    Hebrews 9:11 NASB95
    11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
    This is our true home. We are positionally with Jesus in the heavenly tabernacle/throne room.
    Ephesians 2:4–6 NASB95
    4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

    B. By Superior Blood

    Hebrews 9:12 NASB95
    12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
    His blood represents His life that was lived in perfection. By His precious, priceless life He paid for our lives not just for a day, or a year, or a lifetime, but for all days, all years, and all lifetimes.

    C. Superior Cleansing

    Hebrews 9:13 NASB95
    13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
    The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary b. Christ’s Death (9:13–22)

    Ashes of a heifer refer to the ceremony of the red heifer (

    Hebrews 9:14 NASB95
    14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
    without blemish - because Jesus perfectly obeyed the law in thought, word and deed, His blood can cleanse our conscience even though we have sinned and still sin in thought, word and deed.
    conscience = with knowledge - It is that voice in our heads that accuses us and condemns our actions. It says, “What you did was wrong, you are guilty and you deserve to pay for what you did.” The blood of Christ cleanses that conscience. It still screams that we are guilty, but now our conscience adds, “Your guilt has been paid by the death of Jesus. It is His guilt now. You are free from that guilt.” No sin can stick to the blood of Jesus because it was perfect blood.
    Serve the living God — the living God cannot be served by spiritually dead people. We must be made spiritually alive through Jesus so that we can serve Him. Now for the first time in our lives our service means something. It is acceptable to God and He is pleased with our worship.
    Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The New Significance

    In Christ, we are not cleaned-up old creatures but redeemed new creatures

    2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95
    17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
    This is a statement of fact not a wish or a possibility, but a spiritual reality. Don’t look back! Press on. Think according to this new reality. Live according to this new reality
    Next time:
    Hebrews 9:15 NASB95
    15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

      • Hebrews 9:1NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:2NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:2NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:3NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:4NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:4NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:5NKJV

      • Revelation 4:6–9NKJV

      • 1 Kings 8:27NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:6NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:7NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:8NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:9NKJV

      • Psalm 51:16–19NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:10NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:11NKJV

      • Ephesians 2:4–6NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:12NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:13NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:14NKJV

      • 2 Corinthians 5:17NKJV

      • Hebrews 9:15NKJV

  • Rock of Ages
  • My Hope Is In The Lord
Lamoille Valley Grace Brethren Church
pastorethan@lvgbc.net
8028883339
http://www.lvgbc.net
26 members