Hebrews 6:1-8

1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Questions to consider:

• What is the significance of “therefore” in verse one?
• What is (a) God’s and (b) your part in your maturing?
• What, do you think, is the purpose of the warning at this place in the Hebrews’ letter?
• What is its meaning to you?

Possibilities for prayer:

The image of land that receives rain and produces good things being blessed by God is a beautiful one. Let’s ask God to make us into that type of people; the type of people who receive from God and take those blessings, lessons, and opportunities and turn them into something powerful and beautiful. Ask God to give you eyes to see the “rain” falling upon you and to show you how best to use that rain for God’s glory.

Hebrews 5:11-14

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Questions to consider:

• What is the basic problem of the Hebrews?
• To what extent is this your problem? What can you do today to change?
• What is the standard for determining righteousness?
• To what extent do you have trouble distinguishing good and evil? Why?
• How can you have accurate judgment?
• How high in your priorities is knowledge of God’s word?

Possibilities for prayer:

The ability to distinguish good from evil seems like a pretty important ability to have, and one that we may not be naturally born with. The author of Hebrews suggests that such an ability is gained through the consumption of “solid food.” It seems that the solid food to which the author refers may be deep and powerful knowledge of God’s word. Today, let’s ask for an increase in desire to know and understand the word of God, as well as revelation of the truths that can be gained from the study of it. Let’s push into the ability to know good from evil, and ask God to guide us in that pursuit.

Hebrews 5:4-10

4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, 

"You are my Son; 

today I have become your Father."

6 And he says in another place, 

"You are a priest forever, 

in the order of Melchizedek."

7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Questions to consider:

• Although Jesus is not a descendant of Aaron, how is he able to be called a high priest?
• In what ways does Jesus’ life qualify him to be a high priest and demonstrate his priestly function?
• In what ways has Jesus been made perfect?
• How is obedience related to suffering in (a) Jesus’s life and (b) your own life?

Possibilities for prayer:

The statement of Jesus having learned obedience through suffering speaks to our own lives as well. Does it change how you understand suffering in your own life? I hope that it does--because this means not only that we are taught obedience through the struggles that we experience, but we are also being linked to God as children. If Jesus was to be expected to learn obedience through trial and tribulation, how much more should we! Today, let’s ask for the endurance to make it through times of suffering. But even more than that, let’s ask for a transformation of the way in which we understand suffering in our lives, to recognize the power that it has to produce obedience, and draw us closer to God.

Hebrews 4:14-5:4

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

Questions to consider:

• Compare and contrast Aaron and Jesus as high priest.
• What are the qualifications for a priest? What is his purpose?
• How do the qualifications of Jesus as high priest enable you to act in accord with verse 16?
• In honesty, what is your attitude toward (a) the ignorant and (b) the wayward?

Possibilities for prayer:

It seems to reflect the generosity and grace of God that the fact that Jesus was tempted just as we are gives us the space to approach God’s throne with confidence--even though Jesus did not succumb to temptation and we do. Approaching God’s throne-- repenting and seeking forgiveness-- should not be a frightening thing because God wants to grant us mercy and give us grace to help us in our time of need. Today, let’s thank God for the mercy and grace that we are consistently extended, despite our unworthiness.

Hebrews 4:11-13

11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive 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. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Questions to consider:

• Explain the sort of disobedience evidenced by the Israelites in the wilderness?
• What excuses do you use to hide spiritual laziness? Why?
• Characterize the word of God. Compare or contrast your personal view of Scripture.
• Why can’t you fool God about your attitude toward him?
• How does God’s word prevent you from pleading ignorance concerning your true attitude?

Possibilities for prayer:

The author of Hebrews reminds us that the word of God is alive and active. My guess is that many of us recognize that the statement is true in some kind of vague or nebulous way; but what would our lives look like if we lived them in that knowledge, with complete and utter faith in the truth of that statement? All of our actions and thoughts could be so much more different, and our world could be transformed! Let’s ask God to increase our understanding of what it means for His word to be alive active, and to give us courage to live lives that reflect the power of that truth.

Hebrews 4:1-10

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

"So I declared on oath in my anger,
'They shall never enter my rest.' "

And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it "Today." This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: 
 "Today, if you hear his voice, 
 do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his.

Questions to consider:

• Upon what basis is the author convinced that believers can now enter God’s rest?
• What is the purpose of the illustration of creation in the discussion of rest?
• Expand the meaning of God’s rest.
• What is the qualification for entering that rest?
• What are two events that allow a person to enter God’s rest?

Possibilities for prayer:

Rest is a concept that people in New Haven especially seem to have a difficult time actually embracing. We are often caught up in the various things that we have going on, things that we have deemed important (and in a certain sense, likely are). But God allows us rest, rest that is found in Him and is better even than rest in the human sense. Today, let’s pray against the hardening of our hearts, that we might be among those people able to enter into and truly experience the rest that God has to offer.

Hebrews 3:12-19

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold firmly till the end our original conviction. 15 As has just been said: 


"Today, if you hear his voice, 

do not harden your hearts 

as you did in the rebellion."

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Questions to consider:

• In what ways have you been aware recently of the deceitfulness of sin?
• List characteristics of the Israelites who did not enter the land of rest?
• Which of these characteristics describe your experience?
• Whom should you exhort (v 13) today.
• How do you respond to exhortation from others? Why?

Possibilities for prayer:

Much like the author of Hebrews, I like the idea of encouraging each other daily. It seems that we often don’t realize how much a few simple words of encouragement can mean to a person; it’s so easy to be an encourager. Today, let’s ask God to bring to mind a couple of people that would really benefit from some encouragement. Then let’s take a moment to actually encourage those people (as well as others that we meet along the way!).