The Greater Mediator - Week 8
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
For the week of October 25th
Connecting (Aim for 15 minutes)
Breaking the Ice/Think Time
In your opinion, what does it mean to have a guilty conscience?
Quick Review… Looking back at your notes from this Sunday’s sermon, what caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Understanding the Truth (Aim for 30 minutes)
Read Hebrews 9:1-10
1. What word does the author use to describe the “place of holiness”? Read Hebrews 8:5, what was God’s intended purpose for the earthly tabernacle and old covenant?
2. List and describe the parts of the earthly tabernacle based on verses 1-5.
3. According to 9:7, who could go into the most holy place? How often could they go and what was required for them to access it?
4. According to Leviticus 16:1-2, what day is Hebrews 9:7 referring to? Read Leviticus 16:2 carefully, why is the most holy place such a significant spot?
Read Hebrews 9:11-28
5. What did Jesus Christ do and accomplish according to verse 11-12?
6. According to Hebrews 9, the old covenant gifts were made every year, were without external physical blemish, and were unable to perfect the conscience. Contrast this to Christ in Hebrews 9:12-14, how is He different/superior?
7. What type of redemption did Christ secure for us according to Hebrews 9:12? Read Titus 2:14 & 1 Peter 1:18. What has Christ ransomed (redeemed) us from and for according to these verses?
8. Per Hebrews 9:28, what will be the purpose of Christ’s second coming?
Living the Truth (Aim for 20 minutes)
9. Read Hebrew 9:14. How has God “purified your conscience from dead works to serve the living God”? Because of Christ’s work, what are ways He has changed you to now serve Him in your home, workplace, church, etc. (Remember, serving is both our attitudes & actions.)
10. Are there sins that you still allow to weigh on your conscience that God has forgiven? Are you still holding onto sins of others that God desires that you forgive (Mt 6:12)? Take a moment to close in prayer as a group and ask God to enable you to fully receive His forgiveness and to extend it to others. (Remember, forgiveness doesn’t = forgetting/not keeping boundaries until trust is rebuilt, but God does desire that we forgive and love others as He loves us.)
Prayer Requests (Aim for minimum of 10 minutes)