Hebrews Week 7 Study Questions

New and Improved! (Hebrews 8:1-13 & 9:11-28)

This week's questions:

1. Hebrews' author believes that the Old Covenant (OC) was deficient (8:7). According to the writer, even God found fault with it (8: 8)! How can this be? What did the OC entail? Did God make a mistake?

2. In 8: 13 the writer says that God rendered the OC 'obsolete.' What does that mean? Should we do away with the Old Testament altogether? Should Christians only rely on the New Testament now? Explain.

3. The word 'covenant' is mentioned twelve times in chapters eight and nine. The author is comparing the natures of the two covenants. In the OT the word commonly referred to legal matters between two parties. In essence, it was an agreement. Therefore, if the Israelites did all that God asked them to do, they would be blessed. If they defaulted on their responsibilities in the agreement, there were consequences (see Dt. 28). In the NT, however, some commentators believe the 'covenant' has more to do with God's disposition towards His own. In other words His promises to us are not contingent on our allegiance to a list of rules. What do you think? What, if any responsibility, do we share in this New Covenant?

Sermon Audio: New and Improved! (Hebrews 8:1-13 & 9:11-28)

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Sermon Audio: A Friend in High Places (Hebrews 7:1-28)

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Hebrews Week 6 Study Questions

A Friend in High Places (Hebrews 7:1-28)

This week's questions:

1. In what ways does the character of Melchizedek foreshadow the person of Jesus, according to the author of Hebrews?

2. Hebrews has consistently maintained that Jesus is a priest forever in the "line" of Melchizedek (5: 6, 10, 6: 20, 7: 11, 17 & 21. The word "line" has been translated in other versions as "order" or "like." Other synonyms for the term are "manner," "nature" and "kind." It is a reference to the special nature of His priesthood.

a. In what ways are the priesthoods of Jesus and Melchizedek alike, according to Hebrews 7?

b. Melchizedek's priesthood, like that of Jesus, is of an eternal nature and kind . Why is this important? How does it surpass the Levitical priesthood?

3. The author insists that because of Jesus, the eternal high priest, we are the recipients of a "better covenant" (7: 22). In light of the preceding, why don't we offer sacrifices to Jesus? What, if anything, do we have to do?

4. Meditate a bit on 7:24-25, considering the notion of "forever." Practically speaking, what does it mean for Jesus to be able to "save completely" and to be your Intercessor forever? How does that make you feel?

Sermon Audio: Moving Forward, Not Backward (Hebrews 5:11-6:20)

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Hebrews Week 5 Study Questions

February 10, 2008 Moving Forward, Not Backward (Hebrews 5:11—6:20)

This week's questions:

1. The author compares some Christians to babies who are only able to digest milk (5: 13). The writer insists that they have not matured enough to handle the "solid food" of our faith (5: 14). How should we understand this "solid food" of the Christian faith? Practically speaking, how is this solid food consumed?

2. "Falling away" is something that keeps coming up in Hebrews (we'll see the idea again in 10:26). What is meant by "falling away" from the faith? (Try to discern what it entails and what it does NOT entail).

3. In 6:10 the author speaks of things that "accompany" or "come with" salvation, and he is confident that his audience will display these things. What might those things be?

4. Within this passage we get our first glimpse into the motifs of hope, faith and patience (6: 11, 12). These are key themes in Hebrews. The writer will expound upon them in greater detail in chapter 11. Explain the significance of these themes in the salvation that is in store for God's people.

Sermon Audio: The Most Sympathetic Ear (Heb. 4:14-5:10)

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Hebrews Week 4 Study Questions

February 3, 2008 The Most Sympathetic Ear (Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10)

This week's questions:

1. A couple of weeks ago, we discovered that Hebrews depicts Jesus as a "faithful high priest" (2:17). Then we looked to the Old Testament for High Priest references in order to get a better understanding of the author's illustration. This week the ministry of Jesus as High Priest is further elucidated. According to Hebrews, priests are able to minister effectively to God's people regarding their sins because the priests themselves are able to relate to the scourge of temptation and sin (5:2, 3). Jesus, however, is depicted as One who encountered every temptation that is common to mankind, but was without sin (4:15). Thus how can someone who never sinned truly relate to the human predicament?

2. Note that 4:16 insists that because Jesus was tempted as all human beings are, we can have confidence when we pray.

a. What does it mean to pray with boldness, or confidence?

b. What is it that is promised to us?

c. How does this make you feel?

d. How might you pray differently in the future, in light of this verse?

3. In 5: 8 Jesus is said to have "learned obedience." What does this mean? Would Jesus have to have been disobedient at some point in order to "learn obedience?" Explain.

4. Looking Ahead: Melchizedek.

The author, quoting Psalm 110, says that Jesus is a priest forever according to the order, or type, of Melchizedek. In a word, Jesus is not a Levitical priest like Aaron and his sons were. This will be expounded upon in greater detail later on (Chapter 7). However, read Genesis 14:17-24 and Psalm 110. These are the two OT references to Melchizedek. Who was he? What was/is his significance?