The Journey Continues

1 Peter Chapter 5

1) What kind of example about living out your faith are you providing to others?  When others see you, how do they believe they should be living their lives?

2) What is humility?  How do you live a humble life in today’s aggressive culture?

3) Are you on the devil’s hit list?  How can you be prepared for his attack?

The final chapter of 1 Peter brings us words of challenge and action.  First, Peter calls on us to be examples to others.  In verses 1-4, Peter calls the elders to live out the caring role of a shepherd.  While he lists some of the details of how to do this, his point is that the elders should live in a way that provides an example of how all should live.  Beyond these words, I believe we are all called to live before others as an example of what it means to truly follow Christ.

The next call to action is not what you might think of from someone issuing the final words of a letter.  In verses 5-6, Peter calls us to be humble; to be submissive.  Humility is a key issue in the New Testament modeled by Jesus Himself (see Philippians 2:1-8).  Unfortunately, humility is not valued in our culture today.  Although humility is often viewed by society as weakness, we must strive to live the humble lives modeled and taught in the Bible.

The final call to action is a word of warning.  In verses 8-9, Peter reminds us that we have an enemy that we need to be aware of and prepared for.  But notice the warning has an internal and an external component to it.  “Be alert,” for the devil is roaming around looking for his next victim.  But also “be self-controlled.”  That is, have your own life in order as to not give the devil the opportunity to make you that next victim.

 

Hebrews Chapter 1

1) How can you describe Jesus while speaking of God?  What is the relationship between the two?  What do they share?  How are they different?

2) What is the status of the angels?  What place do they have in the hierarchy of heaven?

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians with the goal of helping them realize and remember how superior their faith in Christ was compared to their Jewish beliefs.  The writer, who is unknown, starts by showing how Jesus is superior to the prophets.  Verses 1-2 say, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”  The writer continues by showing the readers that Jesus truly was God.  Verse 3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”  The understanding that Jesus was both fully God and fully man was and is absolutely fundamental to the faith.

The next comparison made is between Jesus and the angels.  According to verse 4, “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”  The writer then quotes from several Old Testament passages showing how the Son is higher than the angels.  Angels are part of God’s creation; Jesus is the Creator Himself.

 

Hebrews Chapter 2

1) What causes your mind to wander?  When is it that you have a hard time focusing?

2) What are you afraid of?  What causes you to be fearful?

3) Who are you most able to identify with?  What kind of person are you able to connect with easily?

Pay attention!  These are the writer’s words at the beginning of Chapter 2.  The call is to pay attention, “to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”  What have we heard?  We’ve heard about the great salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ (2:3).  This salvation has changed our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17) and set us on a whole new course (Galatians 5:25) with a whole new purpose (Colossians 1:10).  This is a big deal.  Pay attention!

The ultimate fear in life has to be death.  While there are many other phobias that people struggle with, one thing we all have in common is the fear of dying (thanatophobia).  However, Jesus came to change this!  His death put an end to death, so that in Christ we will live forever.  Paul wrote in Romans 5:17, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”  With death taken care of we truly have nothing to fear.

It seems like we relate best to people most like us.  That is, the more we are like someone the easier it is to connect with them.  Apply this to our relationship with God and we find that through Jesus we are able to connect completely.  This is because Jesus was, “made like his brothers in every way.”  He knows us and identifies with us and since, “he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

 

Hebrews Chapter 3

1) What does it mean when someone is “fixated” on something?  What is something you are engrossed with?

2) What can you do to help stay the course of faith?  How can you keep on track in the midst of the challenges of life?

3) How close together are what you know and what you do?  How much space is between your understanding and your practice?

Chapter 2 started with a call for us to pay attention.  Here in Chapter 3, we are challenged to “fix our thoughts” on Jesus (3:1).  A fuller understanding of this phrase is “to observe fully; to behold, consider, discover, perceive.”  This indicates a deliberate focus, an intense look.  David asked for one thing (Psalm 27:4).  Mary chose one thing (Luke 10:41-42).  Paul did one thing (Philippians 3:13-14).  What would it be like for you to be fixated on Jesus?

The Israelites came to a time of testing at the edge of the Promised Land and failed.  As a result, they wandered in the desert for forty years until an entire generation perished.  What happened?  And how do we keep this from happening again?  According to Hebrews 3:12, they had sinful, unbelieving hearts.  Since sin still has the ability to derail us from God’s best, the writer calls us to encourage one another in the midst of the journey.  Mutual concern, accountability and challenge will help keep us on track.

In recapping the story of the Israelites at the end of Hebrews 3, the writer refers to them as those who “heard and rebelled.”  Could that be said of us?  Could that be said of you?  It would be one thing to not know what God has for us; what He expects from us.  It’s quite another to know and to choose to go against it.

 

Hebrews Chapter 4

1) What is something about being a Christ-follower that you believe is true, but have a hard time living out?  What needs to be combined to make this happen?

2) What do you believe about God’s word?  What impact can it make in our lives?

3) What was the role of the high priest for the Jews?  How does Jesus fulfill this role for us today?

Same message – different people – different response.  The writer continues speaking about the faithless generation of Israelites that died in the wilderness in Chapter 4.  They heard God’s plan, but didn’t have the faith to live it out (4:2).  They knew it, but didn’t believe it with their lives.  We must be people that have a clear understanding of the details of what we believe, but also the faith to live it out.

God promised rest to those that would follow Him and no rest to those that rebelled (4:6).  To affirm the power of God’s word, the writer of Hebrews shares verse 12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Make no mistake – God’s word will accomplish what He desires, down to the very details of our life.

Thus far in this book, the writer has addressed people who were falling away from their new found Christian faith.  The writer of Hebrews reminds them, and us, to fully live out the faith we profess because of what Jesus has done (4:14-16).  He has gone to heaven on our behalf as high priest where He intercedes for us and represents us before God.  Further, Jesus is a high priest Who fully understands us because He, “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”  As a man, He knows us.  As God, He can do something about it.

Hebrews Chapter 5

1) How dependent are we on Jesus for our right relationship with God?  What other ways are there for us to connect with God?

2) How well are you able to guide others in the faith?  What impact are you having on the younger Christ-followers around you?

3) What benefit is there to growing in the faith?  What advantage would you realize as you continue to learn more about God’s ways and God’s Word?

Make no mistake about it: our right position before God is only possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.  We are not able to stand on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9), nor is any other man able to stand for us (Hebrews 5:3).  Rather, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

The writer of Hebrews paused the conversation about Melchizedek (it will get picked up in Chapter 7) to address the immaturity of the Hebrew Christ-followers.  The time they had spent following Christ should have had them at the place of leading others, but they had been slow to learn (5:11).  Our growth is not only for our own good; we have the responsibility to lead others, as well.

In charging the Hebrews with immaturity, the writer spoke very practically of the advantage mature followers have over them.  Specifically, the writer speaks of distinguishing good from evil (5:14).  But how does this come about?  It is through the constant use of what God has made available to us through our relationship to Him.  We are to learn and then live out what God shows us.

Hebrews Chapter 6

1) What are some childish behaviors that are out of place for those older?  What do you think about people who display such behavior?

2) Consider the word picture of verses 7-8.  In the context of maturity, what is this about?  How does this relate to your life?

3) What do people mean by the word “hope”?  How do you understand the word “hope” from a biblical perspective?

“It’s time to go on.”  This is what the writer of Hebrews is saying in 6:1.  Those new to the faith had already learned the basics.  Now it was time to go on to a greater understanding of what they believed.  This is the same for us.  We must continue to learn; we must continue to grow.  We must go on to maturity, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”  Ephesians 4:14-15

God has a plan and purpose for all He does and incredibly we have the opportunity to be a part of it.  But like land that drinks in rain, we must produce a crop that is useful.  We need to be growing in our faith (maturing) so we can make a difference as part of God’s plan.  Otherwise, we become worthless.  “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”  1 Corinthians 3:12-15

The end of this chapter (6:13-20), speaks of the certainty of God’s promise.  And in this passage we read about hope.  Here, hope is referred to as “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  But what is this hope based on?  It is based on the promise of God (6:13-18) and the work of Jesus (6:19-20).  Far beyond wishful thinking, we have a hope that is sure.

Hebrews Chapter 7

1) What’s a word picture?  How are word pictures used to describe something we don’t quite understand?

2) What’s something you were trying to accomplish that took your making a change in order for you to be successful?  What’s a change you need to make now for something to work out?

3) Name an accomplishment that you are especially proud of.  What did it take for you to complete this?

We have heard about Melchizedek since Chapter 5.  Now we are finally made aware of who he was.  Melchizedek lived during the time of Abraham.  He was “king of Salem and priest of God Most High.”  But most importantly for us, he was picture of a future king-priest – Jesus.  “Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:20

The Law and its priests would never be able to accomplish restoring us to God.  That was a system that would continue forever without any other result.  So something different was necessary; another priest from another order (7:11).  So after years and years of Aaron’s ancestors, Jesus comes in the order of Melchizedek (7:17).  The Law proved itself weak and useless (7:18), but Jesus made it possible for us to draw near to God (7:19).

Every attempt by man to become right with God has ended unsuccessfully.  Even the priests of the Old Testament died before restoration could happen (7:23).  But Jesus “is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (7:24-25).”  We are completely saved!  All the work of restoration has been completed.

Hebrews Chapter 8

1) What image do you have of what Jesus is doing today?  How do you picture His involvement in the day-to-day issues of your life?

2) Name some items that bear the phrase “new and improved.”  What’s so different about them compared to the item it replaced?

3) How did people relate to God before Jesus came?  How do we relate to Him now?

We get a glimpse into what Jesus is doing today in verses 1-2.  Here we read He is seated at the right hand of the throne and serving in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle.  The seated aspect identifies His kingly role; His authority over all things.  The serving aspect identifies His priestly role; His ministering on our behalf.  Like Melchizedek, whom we read about earlier, Jesus is both king and priest.

New and improved!  It doesn’t seem like those two words should go together.  Either you’ve improved on something that was before or you’ve created something new.  When Jesus came it wasn’t to improve upon the covenant already in place; it was to establish a new covenant between God and His people.  Jesus wasn’t qualified to be part of what was already in place (8:4).  He came to set up a new, superior and better way (8:6).

The new covenant that Jesus instituted was based not upon the law but upon a relationship.  Connecting with God would no longer be about the external, but rather the internal.  No longer knowing about Him, but rather knowing Him intimately (8:10-12).  Jesus made it possible for us to have an ongoing, vibrant, personal relationship with God.