Hebrews: He has Spoken - Week 3
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
For the week of September 20th
Connecting (Aim for 15 minutes)
Breaking the Ice/Think Time
Have you ever set out on a trip and ended up lost? Share a few stories in the group of times you’ve been lost or gone the wrong direction. Why did you get lost?
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 3:1-6 (Jesus is Greater than Moses)
1. As members of God’s household, what does it mean to “share in a heavenly calling” (vs. 1)?
2. How does Hebrews 3:4-6 contrast Moses and Christ? What is the difference in their roles?
3. Moses was a faithful servant in the house of God in spite of the Israelites’ faithlessness (Num. 12:17). However, Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses because of his perfect faithfulness as the Son who not only presides over but also built the house of God (1 Chron. 17:14–17; Heb. 3:1–6). For the original audience, who were familiar with the Old Testament, what was the significance of the author comparing Jesus to Moses? What can we learn from Moses faithfulness?
Read Hebrews 3:7-19 (Warning: Failure of Exodus Generation)
4. After exploring the contrast between Moses’ and Jesus’ faithfulness, the author now turns to the responses of their followers by citing Psalm 95:7–11. The author warns against the unbelief of a sinful hardened heart causing one to fall away (Heb. 3:7–12). How do these strong words help keep us from living in rebellion? How does this passage help us see the difference between genuine faith and false faith?
5. In Hebrews 3:13–14 the author explains how mutual encouragement and accountability can be the antidote to the corrosion of unbelief. How does heeding the exhortation of these verses keep Christians resolved to persevere to the end?
6. In Hebrews 3:15, the author returns to Psalm 95:7–8 and reminds the readers of the exodus generation’s failures (3:16–19; see Ex. 17:1–7; Num. 14:20–38). How does the exodus generation’s unbelief and failure to enter God’s rest point to both the warning of falling away and the hope we have in Jesus Christ?
Living the Truth (Aim for 20 minutes) – Consider breaking up in same gender groups.
7. What sin or temptation are you going through right now? Have you fallen astray from God or hardened your heart towards Him in some way? Behind every sin is some sort of fear, lie we’re believing, discouragement, etc. What’s behind your stuggle? Maybe you’re not struggling with a major sin or temptation right now, but where are you prone to or weak. Reflect on these questions, share and pray for each other.
Prayer Requests (Aim for minimum of 10 minutes)
Sources: Capps, Matthew. Hebrews (Knowing the Bible). Crossway.