Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Strive to Rest (Hebrews 4:9-11) Sermon Series: Interior Re-design: Making Space for God

Transcription

1 Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Strive to Rest (Hebrews 4:9-11) Sermon Series: Interior Re-design: Making Space for God LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? DIGGING DEEPER 1. Background reading (Hebrews ch. 1 4; and Psalm 95) a. Read Hebrews chapter 1 to 4; it will take you approximately 20 minutes. Note some of the key words or themes which are repeated several times. Psalm 95 is the passage the writer of Hebrews quotes from. At is commonly accepted and understood the writer of Hebrews was actually interpreting this Psalm in these verses in Hebrews. We observe a certain fervor in the voice of the writer as we read these opening chapters. One can imagine he scarcely took a breath as he spoke these thoughts in his mind and onto paper. The writer is building an argument, a case of sorts, so you might find it helpful to circle or put squares around the numerous therefore words found as linkages between points. There are several key words (themes) which are used frequently within the first four chapters. They include: hearing (2:1,3; 3:7,15,16; 4:2,7); disobedience (2:2; 3:18; 4:6,11); the supremacy of Jesus, including His incarnation; salvation (1:14; 2:3, 10); the importance of today (1:5; 3:7,13,15; 4:7); and rest (3:11,18; 4:1,3,5,8,9,10,11). Page 1 of 6

2 2. A closer look at the day a. Read Hebrews 2:6-9. What do you understand about the current time? We observe the time of rest is not yet fully accomplished. b. Read Habakkuk 2:2,3; Hebrews 10:25,36-37; Revelation 1:1, 22:7,12,20. What do you understand about the future? The writer of Hebrews mentions the day very specifically. The passage in Hebrews is an echo from Habakkuk as well as others. The writer of Hebrews is desiring to communicate a very specific day will come. It is yet some time in the future. But it is sure and specific. The book of Revelation begins in chapter 1, verse one by speaking about Jesus and concludes in the verses of chapter 22 by Jesus saying, He is coming. The very central and important truths, based strictly on these specific readings, is that Jesus Himself will come back to earth one day. It will be a specific day, and it will specifically be Jesus. It is at this time, when He will bring His work to completion. c. What do you believe? (check out article 13 in our church statement of faith or go to our web site and view it under the What We Believe section). Attached to this facilitator study guide is article #13 of SEMC s Statement of Faith. IN MY LIFE 1. Ask yourself: How have I felt when I took time to rest or a time of stillness? What was a particularly excellent thought or choice I made during or as a result of stillness? 2. Designate the time: When will be my designated time of stillness? What will I need to change in order to incorporate this regular time of stillness? Will you need to talk to your boss; spouse; or parent? Will you speak to your friend or family member and encourage them as well? 3. Strive for stillness: You have license, permission, now what? What are some ways you will rest? Group, friend, or family discussion What is my definition of a good work ethic (and life ethic)? Does it include intensity, speed, diligence, volume? What else might it include? How do I currently propagate a certain work ethic? Do I ask questions like, so what keeps you busy, or encourage and admire someone for the amount of time they spend working? Page 2 of 6

3 Thanks Bryan Wilkerson, Sr. Pastor, Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA; for the year theme concept and this series title. Word Study Remains: allow, leave it to someone to do something i ; (used 7 times in the NT; primarily in the book of Hebrews); To leave behind. ii Sabbath rest σαββατισμός: (v. 9) (used only once; here in this text); a Sabbath observance iii ; a special religiously significant period for rest and worship a Sabbath rest, a period of rest. ; there still remains for God s people a period of rest He 4.9. iv In the NT used only of an eternal rest with God (Heb. 4:9). Therefore, the intimation is that the Sabbath was instituted as a symbol of that eternal rest at the completion of God s work. The basis of the idea is the Divine rest, the rest on which God entered at the completion of His work of creation. Participation in this rest is a divine gift to man.; In Heb. 4:9 we have the word sabbatismós, referring to the rest which is going to be enjoyed by the people of God when their earthly work is finished.; This passage links the idea of divine rest indissolubly with the Sabbath. v The writer s argument is briefly as follows: The inspired message in Psalm 95 speaks of a rest of God. The Psalmist tells how in the days of Moses this rest lay open to God s people, but they did not enter in through Neither then nor at the entry into Canaan under Joshua was the divine idea of rest realized. The Psalmist, in fact, implies that the divine idea still remains unrealized and still awaits fulfillment; and the author of Hebrews, taking the Psalmist s word as the last utterance of the OT on the subject of rest, applies it with confidence to his hearers of the NT epoch. He draws the inference that there remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismós] to the people of God (Heb. 4:9). The word sabbatismós is used here purposely in lieu of katápausis, the word employed throughout the remainder of the passage. It not only denotes the divine rest as a Sabbatic rest, but it links together, in a most suggestive way, the end with the beginning, the consummation with the creation. vi the author learns from Ps. 95:11 that the wilderness generation did not enter into κατάπαυσις. Rest was denied them because of unbelief and disobedience, though there was rest as a blessing of salvation from the time that God rested from His work of creation, Hb. 4:3 5.; The author of Hb. bases this hope of heavenly rest on his exposition of Ps. 95:7 11 and Gn. 2:2 and he gives his discussion a hortatory thrust. vii Page 3 of 6

4 Rest (same word in both v.10 and v. 11) κατάπαυσις: noun; (used 9 times in the NT; primarily in the book of Hebrews) ceased from activity viii ; to cease one s work or activity, resulting in a period of rest to rest, to cease from work. καταπαύω a and κατάπαυσις appear to differ in meaning from ἀναπαύοµαι a and ἀνάπαυσις b (23.80) in that the emphasis of καταπαύω a and κατάπαυσις is more upon the cessation of activity resulting in rest rather than upon the mere restorative character of rest. καταπαύω a : αὐτὸς κατέπαυσεν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ he will rest from his work He κατάπαυσις: τίσιν δὲ ὤµοσεν µὴ εἰσελεύσεσθαι εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν αὐτοῦ he made this solemn promise that they will never come in and rest with him He ix rested καταπαύω: verb; (used 4 times in the NT; primarily in the book of Hebrews); cease activity; cause to rest x to cause someone to cease from activity and as a result to enjoy a period of rest to cause to rest, xi strive: do one s best, make every effort; be eager, implying readiness xii ; enter: metaphorically go into state or condition (gleanings from word study dictionary) xiii ; fall: Metaphorically of persons, meaning to fall into or under; Used in an absolute sense, to fall into sin, transgress, to sin (Rom. 11:22; 14:4; 1 Cor. 10:12). Hence, also to fall with the meaning of to be made miserable, to perish (Rom. 11:11; Heb. 4:11; Sept.: Prov. 11:28; 24:16). xiv same sort: example, model, pattern xv ; (used 6 times in the NT); to show, forewarn; for warning (Heb. 4:11). xvi disobedience: unwillingness or refusal to comply with the demands of some authority to disobey, xvii weakness (v. 15): incapacity, a state of weakness or limitation xviii ; a state of incapacity to do or experience something incapacity, weakness, limitation. xix salvation: In the NT, salvation is deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences, involving an attachment to the body of Christ, and admission to eternal life with blessedness in the kingdom of Christ xx ; to rescue from danger and to restore to a former state of safety and well being to deliver, to rescue, to make safe, deliverance. 2xxi Page 4 of 6

5 Text Study * Passage in other Bible translations. English Standard The New International New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New King James The New Revised Standard New Living Translation 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest of God, 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest of God; 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest of God. 9 There remains therefore a rest of God. 9 So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 9 So there is a special rest still waiting of God. 10 for whoever has entered God s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 10 for anyone who enters God s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 10 for those who enter God s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. 10 For all who have entered into God s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. Page 5 of 6

6 i Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLG 657, #4). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. ii Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G620). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. iii Swanson, J. (1997). iv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:651). New York: United Bible societies. v Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). vi Ibid. vii Theological dictionary of the New Testament c1976. Vols. 5-9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (7:34). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. viii Swanson, J. (1997). ix Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). x Swanson, J. (1997). xi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xii Swanson, J. (1997). xiii Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993).... Sept (Septuagint) xiv Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). xv Swanson, J. (1997). xvi Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). xvii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xviii Swanson, J. (1997). xix Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). NT (New Testament) xx Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). 2 2 The meanings of σῴζω a and σωτηρία a in this subdomain differ from the meaning of ἐξαιρέομαι a (21.17) in implying not only a rescue from danger but a restoration to a former state of safety and well being. It is this aspect of the terms σῴζω and σωτηρία which provides such an excellent basis for their use in denoting religious salvation (see footnote 4). xxi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Page 6 of 6