INTRO TO HEBREWS Week 1 June 3, 2018 1. Read the whole book of Hebrews at least one time, two for extra credit. 2. Find the keywords for the book of Hebrews (recurring words, count them). 3. Who wrote the book? Who was it written to? How do you know? 4. What is different about the beginning of this epistle compared to others found in the New Testament? 5. How does God speak to us today? How did God speak in times past according to Heb. 1:1? Why is this significant? 6. How do we know the message we have now is from God and is the way he speaks now? (Heb. 2:3-4). 7. Is the new way God communicates with man better than the old way? Why or why not? Explain. 8. In your own words write what you think is the purpose or main theme of the book of Hebrews. (Hint: Use keywords).
A BETTER NAME Hebrews 1:4 Week 2 June 10, 2018 1. Read Hebrews Chapter 1 and list all the words or phrases that are used to describe or name Jesus. 2. What is the more excellent name that was given to Jesus? ( Heb. 1:4-5) 3. What is the significance in a name for the readers of the book of Hebrews? 4. Make connections between name and authority from the text. Why do you think the Hebrews needed to know that this name is better? 5. What other names are found in the New Testament for Jesus Christ?
BETTER THAN THE ANGELS Hebrews 1:4 Week 3 June 17, 2018 1. How many times is the word angel or angels used in this book? 2. What is an angel according to the Bible NOT the world or movies? Can a loved one who dies become an angel according to the Bible? 3. Why did the Hebrew writer take the time to explain that Jesus was better than the angels? 4. List other times in the New Testament where angels are mentioned and tell what their significance is. 5. What was the Hebrew peoples attitudes toward angels? 6. What does it mean that Christ was made lower than the angels for a little while? (Heb. 2:7). Why is this significant in understanding Jesus? 7. Heb. 2:7-8. List two things that happened to Christ after the little while he was made lower than angels.
BETTER SACRIFICED/BETTER BLOOD Hebrews 9:13-14 Week 4 June 24, 2018 1. How many times is blood and how many times is sacrifice used in Hebrews? 2. How are all things purified according to the law? Heb 9:22. How was the 1st and 2nd Testament dedicated? Heb. 9:18. What did Moses do to the book, people, tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry? Heb. 9:19-21; Ex. 24:3-8. 3. According to Heb. 10:1 how often did they offer sacrifices? 4. What does the text say about the blood of bulls and goats? Heb. 10:4. Why is this significant? 5. How do we enter the Holy Place? Heb. 10:19. 6. Read Hebrews 10:8-10 and note the differences in the old sacrifice and the new sacrifice. What words are used to describe? 7. Fill in the blank without the there is no (9:22) 8. Why is this so significant to the Hebrew people?
Week 5 July 1, 2018 BETTER THAN MOSES 1. What does Chapter 3:2-6 say about Moses compared to Christ? 2. How many times is Moses mentioned in the book of Hebrews? (Hint: Count how many times you find his name). 3. List what Hebrews says about Moses in Heb. 11:23-29. 4. Why is Moses so significant to the Hebrew people? 5. How is Moses similar to Christ in what he did for God s people? 6. According to Heb 11:39-40, how did the men and women under the old covenant gain approval? Did they receive what was promised? Why or why not? 7. Read I Cor. 10:1-11. Make observations about Moses and the wilderness wanderers and what we can learn from these scriptures that will help in our discussion of Moses.
BETTER COVENANT Hebrews 8:7 Week 6 July 8, 2018 1. What is a covenant? Reference at least two covenants in the Bible. Why is this word significant to the Hebrews? 2. Read Hebrews 9:15-22. Who is the mediator of a new covenant? 3. Why was Christ able to institute a new covenant? (9:14) 4. What will those who are called receive? 5. What did Christ have to do to be the mediator of a new covenant? 6. What is necessary in order for a will to be in force? 7. How did Moses put the first covenant into effect? (9:19-22) 8. Explain why we are no longer under the old and why we should be thankful.
BETTER TABERNACLE Hebrews 9:11 Week 7 July 15, 2018 1. How many times is the word Tabernacle used? (Hint: primarily in chapter 9). 2. Explain the significance of the Tabernacle to the Hebrew readers. What do you know about what is contained in the Tabernacle? 3. Why did the Hebrew writer use the image of the Tabernacle and not the Temple? 4. Read Heb. 9:1-5. What was contained in the Ark of the Covenant? (9:4) What was on top of the Ark of the Covenant? (9:5) 5. Read Heb. 9:6-7. Where did God dwell in the Tabernacle? 6. Read Heb. 9:8. What could not be disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing? 7. Read Heb. 9:11-12. What is the greater and more perfect tabernacle and how did Christ enter into it? 8. Read Heb. 10:19-20. What is the way into the Holy Place? (9:8).
BETTER HIGH PRIEST Hebrews 4:14-15 Week 8 July 22, 2018 1. List three things you know about the High Priest in the Old Testament. What are the duties of a High Priest? 2. Read Hebrews 4;14-16 list at least three things that make Christ the the better (really the BEST) High Priest? 3. Read Hebrews 6:20-7:12. 4. Read Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalms 110:4. Who is Melchizedek? What do we know about him? 5. Why is this significant when considering Jesus as a better High Priest? 6. Read Hebrews 5:1-9 and sum up in your own words what we learn about High Priests in these verses. Also, read Hebrews 7:24-28 and make notes regarding this topic. 7. Can you give an example of an unfaithful Priest?
BETTER WAY Hebrews 10:19-39 Week 9 July 29, 2018 1. We read that we have confidence to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way. What is the new and living way? 2. How was the new and living way inaugurated for us? 3. List the three Let Us statements found within this text. (vs 22-24). Discuss each one and how we can put these imperatives into practice. 4. According to vs 32-34 what will come along with this new and living way? How did the early christians respond to this when it happened to them? 5. How will God s righteous ones live according to vs 38-39?
BETTER FAITH Hebrews 11 Week 10 August 5, 2018 1. How many times is the word faith used in just chapter 11? How many times in the whole book of Hebrews? 2. How is faith defined in 11:1? 3. We see a history of faith recorded for us in chapter 11. How far back does the author go? What does this say about the importance of what we believe in regards to our origins? 4. List the actions of the faithful. What did they do to show their faith? (ex: Abel offered). Pick two of these people and re-read the account of their life. 5. According to vs. 6, without faith what is it impossible to do? Why? 6. Read vs. 33-38. What is the author trying to communicate about the caliber level of faith that these men and women possessed and the type of people they were? 7. What did they (the people listed in this chapter) NOT receive? (vs 39). Why would this point be a HUGE deal to the Hebrews? 8. What was God s plan? (vs 40) 9. What did the great men and women of the past need to be made perfect and to receive what had been promised? 10. Why is our faith after the cross a better faith?
BETTER POSSESSION / BETTER COUNTRY Hebrews 11:16 1. Why are these two topics connected? Week 11 August 12, 2018 2. Read Genesis 13:14. Who was the land promise given? How is the promised land described in Exodus 3:8? 3. What would the Hebrews have felt when their possessions and their country were mentioned based on their history? 4. Why was the idea of a country so important to the Hebrew people? 5. Why is the new country and new possession better? 6. Joshua 1:3-4; Joshua 1:13 and Heb 4:1-11. Where was the promised land? What rest did the wilderness wanderers find and what rest do we as christians enter into in relation to a better country?
Week 12 August 19, 2018 BETTER MOUNTAIN Hebrews 12:18-23 Mt. Sinai 1. Read Exodus 19. What did God say would happen on the third day? (vs 11) 2. How was God going to come? (vs 9) 3. What were the limits/bounds for the people concerning the mountain and what would happen if the people did not follow God s instructions? (vs 12-13) 4. What did the mountain look like on the third day? (vs 16,18) Mt. Zion 5. According to 2 Samuel what was the physical Zion and where was it? 6. Heb. 12:22 defines Mt. Zion as: 7. What does Ps. 87:2-3 say concerning Zion? 8. What does Revelation 14:1 say about Mt. Zion? Read Hebrews 12:18-24. Make a simple chart with one side listing the qualities of the mountain we have not come to (vs 18-21) and the other side listing the qualities of the mountain we have come to (vs 22-24). Why is Mt. Zion the better mountain?
Week 13 August 26, 2018 CONCLUSION / APPLICATION OF LET US Hebrews 12:1-17; Chapter 13 1. Read Hebrews 12:1-17. List the let us statements in vs 1. How are we to carry out these imperatives? (vs 2-3) 2. Why does God discipline us? (vs 6-11). 3. Fill in the blank. Pursue with all men, and the without which no one will. 4. How does the writer describe Esau? (vs 16). What can we learn from Esau? (vs 15-17). 5. Read chapter 13. List three practical exhortations found in chapter 13. 6. List three groups of people in vs 1-3 we can show love, care or concern? 7. What does the Hebrew writer say about marriages? 8. What should our attitude be about money? 9. What are the sacrifices of praise we offer God (13:15) and what are the the kinds of sacrifices that please God (13:16)? How do these verses relate to application?