“our perspective on faith is not the view of the writer to the Hebrews”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 11:30-40
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Shocking Contrast

The first person to open our discussion commented on the abrupt, even unexpected contrast in verse 35.

“Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured.”

All of chapter 11 so far has been one encouraging example after another of the “heroes of the faith.”  Then the writer sums up with a brief list of names well known in Jewish history.  But then, as one group member commented, he takes a sudden ninety-degree turn, a complete change of direction into increasingly disturbing descriptions of torture and suffering. Continue reading →

“God had repeatedly answered the flimsy objections that Moses raised”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 11:23-31
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

“What Should I Say?”

Before our discussion of the passage in Hebrews 11 began, one member of our group shared from some of his recent reading.  The author was responding to a friend confiding a difficulty.  The passage finished with the question by the writer, “What should I say?”  The response was surprising. Continue reading →

“faith grows by little bitty trusts”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 11:8-22
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Several general observations marked the beginning of our discussion about this passage.  The writer drew attention to a variety of expressions of faith, from active obedience to passive submission.  But even that distinction raised differences of opinion among us. Continue reading →

“trust puts God in God’s place and it puts us in our place”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 11:1-7
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Shift in Style

Moving from Hebrews 10 into chapter 11 marks a distinct change in the pastor’s approach. The first nine and a half chapters have been a continual blending of sermon styles: exposition and explanation, exhortation and encouragement, caution and warning, comfort and reassurance.  (See a suggested outline that illustrates this pattern.)  The end of chapter 10 reads like a summary of those categories:

• • ¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence… (Exposition)
  • ²² let us draw near…hold fast…consider how to stimulate… (Exhortation)
  • ²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully… (Warning)
  • ³² But remember the former days… (Reassurance)

In chapter 11, the style shifts.  Continue reading →

“The trouble started with their ‘forsaking the assembling together”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:18-39
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Putting It Together

Our discussion this week drew together passages from the last three weeks.  The richness and theological density of this section was far too much to tackle in its entirety in one week.  Earlier, we spent a week on each of the three clear logical divisions.  The pastor moved from confident hope to alarming harshness to joyful reminder.  Now it was time to put those seemingly disparate pieces together. Continue reading →

“endurance based on a Person, not on circumstances”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:25-39 
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Stick and A Carrot

When we began our discussion, someone pointed out that this passage contains the same language as earlier in Hebrews.  Like the pastor’s pattern in chapter 6, this passage follows a stern warning with comforting encouragement.  The “stick” of warning (Hebrews 6:4-8 and 10:26-31) paves the way for the “carrot” of reassurance (Hebrews 6:9-12 and 10:32-39).  This was a good example of the value of studying a biblical book in its entirety, even over the course of several months.  Seeing that kind of repeated pattern gives us a clear idea of what was foremost on the writer’s mind. Continue reading →

“…there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:18-31
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Change of Tone

The writer abruptly changes from inspiring words (“stimulate” and “encourage” one another) to an ominous “terrifying expectation of judgment.”  Why does his tone change?  Who does he have in mind? What does he mean by “sinning willfully?”  A challenging passage provoked significant discussion. Continue reading →

“Meeting was unhealthy for your life, not meeting was unhealthy for your soul.”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:14-25
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Way Through the Veil

Our discussion started with questions about the veil in verse 20, and, more particularly, the connection between the veil and the flesh of Jesus.  The writer to the Hebrews had mentioned the veil before, introducing the idea that Jesus had entered as our forerunner (6:19-20), and later to clarify that the veil separated the holiest area of the tabernacle from all else (9:3).  How was Jesus’ flesh a veil? Continue reading →

“the priest never sat down”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:3-18
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Curious Quotation

Early in our discussion one person raised an awkward question.  Comparing Hebrews 10:5b with the Old Testament passage being quoted (Psalm 40:6) is a bit puzzling at best.

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened
(Psalm 40:6a)
Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me (Hebrews 10:5b)

What are we to make of that difference?  The quotation in Hebrews is quite different from the text in Psalms.  Does this shake our confidence in the inspiration of Scripture?  Should it?  Is it better just to ignore the problem and move on? Continue reading →

“my approach to my flesh was fleshly”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:3-18
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

This opening paragraph usually encourages you to “look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.”  That is always good advice, but this entry is a bit different.  Our group never actually discussed the Hebrews passage in our usual excruciating detail.  But our dialog was particularly relevant to the study of Hebrews and especially as we approach the remainder of chapter 10.

Conversations that Matter

We usually begin our group with a short time of worship, then we may have some (or much) general conversation about how we are doing.  Then we move to a discussion of the biblical passage.  One member commented on the reality of a lack of progress in the Christian life. Continue reading →