Paperback
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
- 19 lessons that lead you through the book of Hebrews
- Wide margins and extra space for your reflections
- Discussion questions for group study
- Thought-provoking reflection questions and prompts
- Notes for further study
- Applications to help you go deeper
- Helpful excerpts on the historical context
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780891092728 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tyndale House Publishers |
| Publication date: | 10/09/2018 |
| Series: | LifeChange , #17 |
| Pages: | 192 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.45(d) |
| Age Range: | 12 Years |
About the Author
The Navigators is an interdenominational, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people "know Christ and make Him known” as they look to Him and His Word to chart their lives.
Navigators have invested their lives in people for more than seventy-five years, coming alongside them life on life to study the Bible, develop a deepening prayer life, and memorize and apply Scripture, The ultimate goal is to equip Christ followers to fulfill 2 Timothy 2:2—to teach what they have learned to others.
Today, tens of thousands of people worldwide are coming to know and grow in Jesus Christ through the various ministries of The Navigators. Internationally, more than 4,600 Navigator staff of 70 nationalities serve in more than 100 countries.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Lesson One
OVERVIEW
The Book of Hebrews
"To read it is to breathe the atmosphere of heaven itself. To study it is to partake of strong spiritual meat. To abide in its teachings is to be led from immaturity to maturity in the knowledge of Christian truth and of Christ Himself. It is to 'go on unto perfection.'"
The epistle to the Hebrews reigns unchallenged as the best New Testament commentary on the Old Testament and its relationship to Jesus Christ. It makes clear that the sacrifices and other priestly activities were but shadows pointing forward to Christ, the once-for-all sacrifice for sin, the true Priest, the one mediator between God and mankind. Indeed, Hebrews may be considered a grand portrait of Christ with the Old Testament as its background.
First impressions
If you are like most people, when you receive an important letter you probably read it straight through first to see what the writer has to say in general. After that, you may go back to examine particular sections more closely. This is just the way to study a biblical letter. In this lesson, you'll take a broad look at Hebrews to lay the groundwork for detailed study in future lessons.
Start by reading the letter through from beginning to end in one sitting. Try reading parts of it aloud, such as 12:1-3,18-29. Get a general impression of what the author is getting at. Think about questions 1 and 2 as you read.
1. Repetition is a clue to the ideas and concepts a writer considers most important to his message. What words and concepts occur over and over in this letter?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What seems to be the author's attitude toward his readers? How does he feel about them? (Angry? Thrilled? Frustrated? Impersonal? Compassionate?) ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. How does he refer to his letter in 13:22?
____________________________________________________________
4. What do your answers to questions 1 through 3 imply about the author's reasons or aims in writing this letter?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Contrasts
5. Briefly scan through the letter once again, this time paying attention to the contrasts the author uses in supporting his main theme.
(1:1-4) Revelation through prophets contrasted with ________ ____________________________________________________________
(1:5–2:18) Angels contrasted with ____________________
(3:1-6) Moses contrasted with ______________________________
(3:12–4:10) Canaan rest contrasted with_______________
(4:14–5:10) Aaron's priesthood contrasted with _______ ____________________________________________________________
(5:11-14) Spiritual infancy contrasted with ________________ ____________________________________________________________
(6:1-20) Apostasy contrasted with __________________________
(7:1-28) Aaron's priesthood contrasted with ________________
(8:1-13) The old covenant contrasted with___________________
(9:11-28) Sacrificial blood of animals contrasted with______ ____________________________________________________________
(10:1-18) Repeated Levitical sacrifices contrasted with_____ ____________________________________________________________
(10:19-39) Perseverance contrasted with_____________________
(11:1-40) Faith contrasted with_____________________________
6. What do these contrasts suggest to you about the author's goal in this letter?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
7. In ancient manuscripts, this letter is entitled, Pros Hebraious, "To Hebrews." This probably refers to a group of Hebrew Christians. Why do you think the approach you observed in questions 5 and 6 would have been effective with first-century Jewish Christians?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Doctrinal and practical
8. Throughout Hebrews, the author gives theological teaching and then says, "Therefore ..." Below, summarize the theological points he makes in each doctrinal section, then summarize the practical "therefore" that should result from the doctrine.
doctrine (1:1-14)_______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (2:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (2:5-18)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (3:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (3:7-19)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (4:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (4:6-10)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (4:11)____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (5:11-14)__________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (6:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (7:1–10:18)__________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (10:19-22)________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (11:1-40)__________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (12:1)____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (12:7-11)__________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (12:12)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (12:14-27)_________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (12:28)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
doctrine (13:11-14)_________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
therefore (13:15)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Theme and purpose
9. Based on what you have learned so far, what do you think the author of Hebrews was trying to accomplish with his readers?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
10. How would you summarize the main theme(s) of this letter in a sentence?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who wrote it?
As valuable as Hebrews is, little is known with certainty about its occasion, background, and author. Many authors have been suggested through the centuries; the three most worthy of mention are Paul, Apollos, and Barnabas. Paul is well-known as the founder of a dozen key churches and the writer of thirteen other New Testament letters. Apollos was a Jew from Egypt, who became a great Christian teacher and whom Paul mentioned as an equal (see Acts 18:24-28; 1 Corinthians 3:5-6; 4:1,6). Barnabas, another Jewish Christian leader, was Paul's senior partner in ministry until Paul grew into a mature apostle (see Acts 4:36-37; 11:25-26; 13:1-3; 15:36-41; 1 Corinthians 9:6). Any of these men had the stature to pen a letter with the Holy Spirit's stamp of authority.
All we know for certain about the author is that he was thoroughly familiar with the Jewish religious system, that he and his readers knew each other (see Hebrews 6:9; 13:18-19,23-24), and that Paul's aide Timothy was known to both (see 13:23). Whoever he was, the author was a superb writer as well as an inspired thinker; his Greek is the most elegant in the New Testament. "We may compare it [Hebrews] to a painting of perfect beauty, which has been regarded as a work of Raphael. If it should be proved that it was not painted by Raphael, we have thereby not lost a classical piece of art, but gained another master of first rank."
Who received it?
Whatever is known today of the original readers is derived from the epistle itself. The earliest manuscripts have the simple title "To Hebrews." This group was apparently a single congregation of Hebrew Christians living somewhere in the Roman world (see 5:11-12; 6:9-10; 13:23-24). Precisely where? Suggestions include Jerusalem, Alexandria, Caesarea, Ephesus, Rome, and Syrian Antioch, but no one knows for certain.
In the final analysis, the precise destination is no more important than the author's identity. "Regardless of who wrote it, or where it was first sent, the Christian church has rightly regarded it down through the ages as a powerfully relevant message from God, who has definitively spoken in His Son."
The situation
The writer makes it clear that this group of Jewish believers was going through severe persecution (see 10:32-34), probably on religious grounds, by non-Christian Jews.
For a first-century Jew to become a believer in Jesus Christ required a great sacrifice. He was immediately branded as an apostate and a blemish to the Jewish nation. He was considered "unclean" in the strongest possible sense. Defecting Jews were immediately expelled from the synagogue; their children were denied the privilege of attending the synagogue school; they lost their jobs in geographical areas controlled by the Jews; in short, they lost everything of earthly value to them. Furthermore, the Jewish high priest had the authority in Judea, and to some extent in other provinces, to throw troublesome Jews in jail (compare 10:33-34). It was circumstances such as these that apparently caused many of these Hebrew believers to wane in their commitment to Christ.
At first, these Hebrew Christians joyfully accepted persecution (see 10:34). But after a while, it apparently became too much for them to bear and their endurance weakened (see 10:35-36). The warning passages in the letter suggest that these believers were degenerating in faith. While they never considered actually renouncing Jesus Christ, they nevertheless contemplated drifting back into the outward observances of Judaism (including rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices — see 2:1; 4:14; 7:11; 10:1; 13:9-14). They apparently reasoned that if they took part in such rites, the Jewish leaders might be satisfied and leave them alone.
The writer set out to warn them about the futility of such reasoning. If they lapsed from Christianity back into Judaism — as they had already begun to do to some extent — they would be identifying themselves with an obsolete system and a Christ-rejecting nation that was under judgment. The writer accordingly pointed them to a better way. His argument was revolutionary: Because of Christ, everything is new. Everything is better. The old has passed away, so hold on to your faith and commitment. Don't retrogress. Instead, patiently endure your present circumstances. Your faith will be generously rewarded. This is certain, for God's promise cannot fail.
Your response
11. What are some of the questions that you would like to have answered as you delve more deeply into Hebrews? (Your questions can serve as personal objectives for your study.)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
12. Did your overview of Hebrews suggest any areas of your life that you want to work on during this study? If so, jot them down, along with any plans you already have to deal with them. Take each one to God in prayer, asking Him to show you His priorities for your application and to give you His strength to become what He desires. If anything in the book has convicted you, confess your failings to God.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
For the group
This "For the group" section and the ones in later lessons suggest ways of structuring your discussions. Feel free to select what suits your group and ignore the rest. The main goals of this lesson are to get to know Hebrews as a whole and the people with whom you are going to study it.
Worship. Some groups like to begin with prayer and/or singing. Some share requests for prayer at the beginning, but leave the actual prayer time until after the study. Others prefer just to chat for a while and then move on to the study, leaving worship until the end. It is a good idea to start with at least a brief prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance and some silence to help everyone change focus from the day's busyness to the Scriptures.
Warm-up. The beginning of a new study is a good time to lay a foundation for honest sharing of ideas, to get comfortable with each other, and to encourage a sense of common purpose. One way to establish common ground is to talk about what each group member hopes to get out of your group — out of your study of Hebrews, and out of any prayer, singing, sharing, outreach, or anything else you might do together. Why do you want to study the Bible, and Hebrews in particular? If you have someone write down each member's hopes and expectations, then you can look back at these goals later to see if they are being met. Allow about fifteen minutes for this discussion so that it does not degenerate into vague chatting.
How to use this study. If the group has never used a LifeChange study guide before, you might take a whole meeting to get acquainted, discuss your goals, and go over the "How to Use This Study" section. Then you can take a second meeting to discuss the overview. This will assure that everyone understands the study and will give you more time to read all of Hebrews and answer the overview questions.
Go over the parts of the "How to Use This Study" section that you think the group should especially notice. For example, point out the optional questions in the margins. These are available as questions for group discussion, ideas for application, and suggestions for further study. It is unlikely that anyone will have the time or desire to answer all the optional questions. A person might do one "Optional Application" for any given lesson. You might choose one or two "For Thought and Discussions" for your group discussion, or you might spend all your time on the numbered questions. If someone wants to write answers to the optional questions, suggest that he use a separate notebook. It will also be helpful for discussion notes, prayer requests, answers to prayers, application plans, and so on.
Invite everyone to ask questions about how to use the study guide and how your discussions will go.
Reading. It is often helpful to refresh everyone's memory by reading the passage aloud before discussing the questions. Reading all of Hebrews is probably unreasonable, so choose a couple of passages that evoke the book's flavor, such as 1:1-4 and 12:18-29. Try to make the letter sound like a living person talking.
First impressions. Ask group members to share their answers to questions 1, 2, and 3. Questions 4, 6, and 7 probably don't need discussing. To avoid making question 5 tedious, go around the room taking turns stating each contrast. Likewise for question 8, go around the room taking turns stating a doctrine and its "therefore." Then invite answers to questions 9 and 10.
Questions. Give everyone a chance to share questions about the historical background (in this lesson) and the letter. It is good to clear up any confusion as early as possible. However, don't answer any questions that deal with specific passages. Write those down and let the group answer them when you get to the passages.
Some people dislike giving any attention to the human author of inspired Scripture because this seems to denigrate its divine authority. If necessary, explain that this series takes the view that just as Jesus was fully God and fully man, so the books of the Bible are eternal messages from the Spirit of God and messages from particular men in particular times and places. Just as Jesus' humanity and divinity are both essential to His mission and nature, so the humanity and divinity of the biblical books are both important. When we refer to the human writer of this letter, we are in no way denying divine inspiration.
Application. If application is new to some group members, you might make up some sample applications together. Choose a paragraph or verse and think of how it is relevant to you and some specific things you could each do about it. Share your answers to question 12.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Hebrews"
by .
Copyright © 2013 The Navigators.
Excerpted by permission of NavPress.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
How to Use This Study, 5,
One — The Book of Hebrews (Overview), 9,
Outline of Hebrews, 20,
Two — Christ Superior to Prophets (1:1-4), 21,
Three — Christ Superior to Angels (1:5–2:18), 29,
Four — Christ Superior to Moses (3:1-6), 43,
Five — Warning Against Unbelief (3:7-19), 51,
Six — Unbelief: Consequences and Cure (4:1-16), 59,
Seven — Superior Priestly Qualifications (5:1-10), 67,
Eight — Spiritual Degeneration (5:11–6:12), 77,
Nine — God's Promise Certain (6:13-20), 87,
Ten — A Superior Priestly Order (7:1-28), 95,
Eleven — The New Covenant (8:1-13), 105,
Twelve — The Earthly Tabernacle (9:1-10), 113,
Thirteen — A Superior Sacrifice (9:11-28), 121,
Fourteen — Once For All (10:1-18), 129,
Fifteen — Perseverance (10:19-39), 137,
Sixteen — By Faith (11:1-40), 147,
Seventeen — Discipline and Commitment (12:1-29), 157,
Eighteen — Exhortations (13:1-25), 167,
Nineteen — Looking Back (Review), 175,
Study Aids, 181,
Related Subjects
Customer Reviews
Explore More Items
