Hebrews: Consider Jesus

We tend to consider ourselves and how worthless we are or how awesome we are. In the book of Hebrews, God wants us to consider who we really are, consider what life is really about, and most importantly Consider Jesus. Join us, as we encourage one another through the book of Hebrews, to Consider Jesus. #hebrews #2021

Starter

• What fears do you often find your mind wandering toward? What emotions and actions do those fears elicit?

Pray

Lord, as we finish our Hebrews study together, may we take your exhortation in Chapter 13 seriously. Let us continually offer up to You a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess Your name. Help us to boldly say, “You are our helper; we will not be afraid. What can man do to us?” Amen

Study Questions

"I WILL NOT BE AFRAID”

The book of Hebrews was written to exhort believers and specifically Israelites to consider Jesus in the face of their culture. Some believers were turning back to practicing the sacrificial system of the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled so they could escape being persecuted. As the writer walks the hearers and readers through much of the Old Testament ideas and systems, his desire is to clearly show them how to Consider Jesus in their life now.

In the first 10 1/2 chpters of Hebrews, God has the writer lay the foundation for the readers and hearers to Consider Jesus. The writer transitions with a strong call to surrender and live BY FAITH after considering Jesus. He then uses a series LET US statements as a picture of what that process of surrender might look like. As the author finishes his message, he gives all of us a reminder to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name, so “we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.”

READ: Hebrews 12:28-13:9, 1 John 4:15-19

1. In 12:28-29, we are told to hold onto grace which is the pathway to serving God acceptably and in turn overcoming fear. The author lays out what hodling on to grace looks like in 13:1-9.
   1. Discuss what it practically looks like to hold onto grace in Jesus thorugh brotherly love, hospitality, remebering the persecuted, marriage, money, leadership, following leaders, and teachings?
2. We have cheapened relatioinships and specifically marriage in our culture toady because of our percieved fanticies and fears.
   1. What are some of those false fanticies and fears in relationships today?
   2. Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:37 are the simple remedy to our realtionship fanticies and fears. What might it practically look like to live out Matthew 5:37 in relationships?
3. In the context of talking about money and being satisfied, God has the the writer of Hebrews quote Pslam 118 which starts with “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever“. How do you think our thankfullness and relationship health go hand in hand especially in overcoming our fears?
4. How can an unbiblical view of money, comfort, and fear get in the way of us living out, “Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. What can man do to me?”
5. How can 1 John 4:15-19 be a huge help as we learn to “boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. What can man do to me?”
6. Look at 13:7-9 again and read 2 Timothy 4:1-4. From those verses, what is the proper way, holding onto grace, to evaluate and imitate leaders? Why don’t we do it and instead fall for our own desires?

READ: Hebrews 13:10-16

1. Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp publically on a cross for all to see not in the private holy place of the temple. Why do you think that might be significant theologically if we are NOT TO BE AFRAID?
2. Hebrews 13:16 says to do what is good. In a world that calls “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20) and tries to make us AFRAID, how might we determine what is truly good and not to be feared?