This video captures one of the highlights of the WorshipGod06 Conference hosted by Sovereign Grace Ministries this past August. Ryan Ferguson shared a memorized dramatic presentation of Hebrews 9Hebrews 9
[9:1]Now even the first covenant had regulations for
worship and an earthly place of holiness. [2]For a tent was
prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand
and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called
the Holy Place. [3]Behind the second curtain was a second
section called the Most Holy Place, [4]having the golden
altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all
sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the
manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of
the covenant. [5]Above it were the cherubim of glory
overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now
speak in detail.
[6]These preparations having thus been made, the priests
go regularly into the first section, performing their
ritual duties, [7]but into the second only the high priest
goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood,
which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins
of the people. [8]By this the Holy Spirit indicates that
the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as
the first section is still standing [9](which is symbolic
for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts
and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the
conscience of the worshiper, [10]but deal only with food
and drink and various washings, regulations for the body
imposed until the time of reformation.
[11]But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the
good things that have come, then through the greater and
more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of
this creation) [12]he entered once for all into the holy
places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but
by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal
redemption. [13]For if the blood of goats and bulls, and
the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a
heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, [14]how
much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our
conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
[15]Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal
inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them
from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
[16]For where a will is involved, the death of the one who
made it must be established. [17]For a will takes effect
only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one
who made it is alive. [18]Therefore not even the first
covenant was inaugurated without blood. [19]For when every
commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all
the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with
water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the
book itself and all the people, [20]saying, "This is the
blood of the covenant that God commanded for you." [21]And
in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent
and all the vessels used in worship. [22]Indeed, under the
law almost everything is purified with blood, and without
the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
[23]Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly
things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly
things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
[24]For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with
hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
[25]Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high
priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his
own, [26]for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly
since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has
appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away
sin by the sacrifice of himself. [27]And just as it is
appointed for man to die once, and after that comes
judgment, [28]so Christ, having been offered once to bear
the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal
with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
(ESV)
and 10 from the ESV Bible. The power of God’s Word came through in a fresh, compelling way. Ryan, a member of North Hills Community Church in Greenville, South Carolina, has actually memorized the entire book of Hebrews. However, we only asked him to share two chapters with us at the conference.
As my family celebrates Thanksgiving tomorrow along with most Americans, we are going to express gratefulness to God for the innumerable blessings we’ve received from his hand, including food, clothing, shelter, our church, friends, and more. But this video reminds us of the greatest reason we have for giving thanks. God has sent his Son to be the complete and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Anyone who turns from their sins to trust in what Jesus Christ accomplished can now draw near to God through the atoning death of the only Savior. Eternity won’t be long enough to express our thanks to God for his mercy and kindness to rebels.
By the way, if you’re interested in more info on Ryan, he is the Manager of the Fine Arts Center at Anderson University and also serves as a director in the theater department there. You can contact him at ryan.ferguson@charter.net. Also, if you’re interested in a practical, proven plan to memorize large portions of Scripture, I highly recommend this method proposed by Dr. Andy Davis.
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This is wonderful and soul stirring. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I pray that churches all across the world will be blessed and served by men and women who will stand up to present the word of God in this dynamic and affecting way. And I pray that all of us will be encouraged to hide God’s word in our hearts and commit more of it to memory.
Thanks again for the way you continually serve God’s people, Bob.
Rejoicing in grace,
Kyle
Comment by Kyle Carlson — November 22, 2006 @ 11:00 pm
I think Mr. Ferguson should record his own little version of the ESV :-P.
When I imagine Jesus, or Paul, or Peter, or the others, reciting the Scriptures to the masses, it is with this kind of passion and fervor. What light it sheds on those two wonderful chapters!
Comment by Carly Staley — November 23, 2006 @ 12:38 pm
Amazing.
Comment by Jonathan Moorhead — November 25, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Wow… thanks so much for posting this. How thankful for a passionate example like Mr. Ferguson; may we, as Kyle mentioned, be dynamic, charismatic, joyful, humble, and bold as we proclaim the power of God’s word.
Hope your Thanksgiving was receiving thanks and giving thanks and glory to God for all that He has done!
Comment by Brian J. Catton — November 28, 2006 @ 9:58 pm
Thanks for this video. What an inspiration it has been to me and a motivation for me to memorize the Scriptures. I believe Ryan has shown that he not only knows the Scripture but has understood them as well. May God be praised!
Bruce
Comment by Bruce Mackenzie — November 30, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
Absolutely fabulous! And extremely helpful in understanding that text. Praise God for Ryan’s gift.
Comment by Rod — December 5, 2006 @ 10:08 pm
Very interesting.
Hundreds of millions of Muslims memorize not just *single* books of the Qur’an, but the entire book.
Comment by Marcus — December 9, 2006 @ 12:19 am
Marcus,
Thanks for stopping by.
I’m not sure that “hundreds of millions” of Muslims have memorized the entire Qur’an, or what your point in sharing that statistic is. It’s not our memory that will save us, but our relationship with Jesus Christ.
I DO know that God promises to bless anyone who meditates on His Word ( Psalm 1Psalm 1This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.
), and memorization certainly contributes to effective meditation. Most importantly, though, God wants us to come to the know the Savior His Word directs us to trust in.
[1:1]Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2]but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
[3]He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
[4]The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
[5]Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
[6]for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Comment by Bob Kauflin — December 9, 2006 @ 6:03 pm
thank you so much.
Comment by Karen — December 9, 2006 @ 10:33 pm
Is amazing the power of the Scripture!
May God be Praised for give us His Holy Son and His Holy Bible.
God Bless You Mr. Ferguson because this has been a great blessing for me.
Thanks
Comment by Arnold — January 18, 2007 @ 9:38 pm