The House You're Building

Key Verse Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:28 Opening Reflection:  What are you most looking forward to when you get to heaven? Study: ·          Read through Hebrews 12:18-29.  How does this passage sum up all the points that the author has made in writing this letter to the Hebrews?  ·          Take time to compare the two mountains described in verses 18-21 and 22-25.  What are the key differences between the two?  What point is the author trying to make in this comparison?  It may be helpful to fill in the chart below either by yourself or with your Life Group.  Mount Sinai Mount Zion ...

Key Verse: Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord Hebrews 12:14 1.  Verse 12 starts with a "therefore."  Look back to the preceding verses.  What thought was the author connecting to his exhortation to strengthen what remains?  2.  In verses 12 and 13, the writer returns to the running analogy of Hebrews 12:1-3.  What advice does he give the runner in these verses?  What would being  lame spiritually look like?  What is the danger of continuing to follow Christ with a lame limb? 3. What are the commands the writer gives in verses 14 and 15?   4. Why does the writer exhort the Hebrews to pursue peace and holiness?  Do you think by the way you live people can see Christ in your life?  5.  In verse 15 the writer returns to a warning he gave in Hebrews chapter 4, the importance of making sure that none fail to enter God's rest.  This time, who ...

Key Verse: Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.  Hebrews 12:3 ·          Read Hebrews 12: 3-11 several times, preferably out loud.  How is this passage meant to encourage and strengthen the Hebrew believers?  What encouragement do you find in the passage? ·          Verses 3 and 4 reference sin.  Whose sin is the author talking about?  What in the text supports your conclusion? ·          How can the sin of others affect your faith endurance?  Why can we look to Jesus as a source of encouragement to endure in this “race” against sin? ·          Note each use of the word “discipline” in this passage.  What do you learn about God’s discipline of believers and of non-believers?  Is the autho...

Key Verse: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  -Hebrews 12:1 Opening Reflection:  Have you ever competed in a race?  What things were part of your preparation?  What lessons from this experience parallel your spiritual life? Study Questions: 1.  As this weeks study is only two verses, read it repeatedly and practice biblical meditation;  this practice involves repeated readings.  You may want to stop at each verb/noun and journal synonyms as you read to draw deeper meaning from the passage.  Consider reading in other translations through a website like biblegateway.com.  After meditation, what initially strikes you or encourages you about this verse? 2.  Verse 1 starts with a therefore.  How is the author using this word and "the great cloud of witnesses" mention...

Key Verse: And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God has provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.  Hebrews 11:39-40 In verse 32 the author of Hebrews mentions 6 men by name.  Pick at least two and read about their life.  As you read,  note: What actions did call God call them to do? What faith was required on their part to obey? Gideon - Judges 6:11-8:35 Barak - Judges 4:1-5:31 Samson - Judges 13:1-16:31 Jephthah - Judges 11:1-12:7 *David - 1 Samuel 17  *Samuel - 1 Samuel 3 *many stories of faith are recorded about David and Samuel.  These two passages are suggested for study but feel free to read about them in other parts of the Bible.   The end of verse 32 mentions "the prophets" and the following 6 verses describe the sufferings they went through in their obedience to God through faith.  What things in this lis...

Key Verse: He [Moses] considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.   Hebrews 11:26 This week, as you study Moses, the Israelites, and Rahab in Hebrews 11:23-31, meditate on and then discuss these two questions: (1) How did these people of history live out their faith in God and Christ Jesus who was to come? and (2) How can you do the same in today’s world? Moses ·          Read about Moses in Hebrews 11:23-28 and Exodus chapters 2 and 12.  You may also want to glance at Acts 7:20.  How did Moses and his parents’ actions demonstrate their faith? According to the text, what was the basis behind each of their actions?  The Israelites ·          Read about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in Hebrews 11:29 and Exodus 14. What led the Israelites to walk through the sea based only on God’s promises?...

Key Verse: But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed   to be called their God, for   he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 Abraham: Read Genesis 12:1-9 and summarize God's call to Abraham.  Now look carefully at verse 3.  Why did God want to bless Abraham?  Read Galatians 3:7-9.  How did his blessing benefit us?  How is he calling you to bless others by what you've received?  Verse 8 says that when Abraham was called he didn't know where he was going?  Have you ever experienced a calling from God where you didn't know where it would end up?  Hebrews 11:9-10 contrast two types of dwellings.  Where did Abraham live?  Where did he want to live?  Now read 2 Cor 4:16-5:8.  How does Paul express the same desires as Abraham?  What do Paul and Abraham focus on to help them walk by faith?  Does that work for you?  Read verse ...