Monday, February 28, 2022

Hebrews 13 | Small Group Questions


In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

Small Group Questions | Evidence of Faith | Hebrews 13

For the last several months we have studied the book of Hebrews. Some people in the early church were considering walking away from their faith and returning to the Law of Moses. In the book of Hebrews, the author encourages them to stay strong in their faith. Through this book we have learned that Jesus is greater than anyone who has come before Him. We learned about how Jesus brought in a New Covenant. We learned about living out our faith on a daily basis. In Hebrews 13 the author talks about the evidence of our faith. Because of everything that has brought the early church to this point, the author ends by exhorting them to continue living strong in their faith. 

1) In the introduction to the sermon we recapped the entire book of Hebrews. As you think about the book of Hebrews, what is one passage or chapter that helped you grow the most in your faith? What was so important in that section of Scripture? 

2) Read Hebrews 13:1-6. The author offers us a number of ways to show the evidence of our faith. Read 1 Peter 4:7-10, Matthew 25:39, and Matthew 5:32. What area do you need to focus most on as you grow in your faith? 

3) The author reminds us to not be consumed with money and find contentment in what we have. Read Proverbs 11:25, Romans 12:8, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. What has changed in your life when you focus on being generous with your money?  

4) Read Hebrews 13:7-9. The author is teaching us how to bless our leaders in the local church. Share with your group someone who invested in your life spiritually and what you would want to say to that person. 

5) Next the author teaches us about submitting to the leaders in the local church. read Hebrews 13:17, Romans 13:5, and 1 Peter 2:13. How does our obedience to  church leadership make it a benefit to us? 

6) Read Hebrews 13:10-16. The author wanted the church to keep the praise of Jesus on their lips. Read Psalm 96:1, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 149:1. What is the new song that Jesus is teaching you to sing to Him as you live a life of worship? 

7) The final encouragement we received is to live an equipped life (read Hebrews  13:20-21). Thinking about your walk with Jesus; what has equipped you the most in your faith and where would you like to continue growing? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 



Sunday, February 27, 2022

Hebrews 12:14-29 | Small Group Questions



In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this sermon Doug Meye wrote the small group questions to accompany his sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS – The Drumbeat - Hebrews 12:14-29

1) As you go through life, are there some guiding phrases that come to your mind and again? Where did these come from (e.g., parents, mentor, life experience, etc)? 

Read Hebrews 12:14-29

2) What is the most encouraging thing that comes to you from this passage?

3) Verse 15 calls us to live in such a way that we measure up to the grace of God. When did God’s grace become really real in your life? How did you respond to this amazing grace?

4) What are the 3 ways suggested in verses 14-17 that we might fall short of God’s grace? Is any of these a temptation for you? If so, which one? Does the passage suggest a way to combat this temptation?

5) In verses 18-22 the writer talks about two mountains. Why do you think he uses these images?  What is the difference between the two mountains? 

6) If you are a follower of Jesus, you have come to the second mountain, Mt. Zion (22-24). Note the things happening at this mountain. How would you explain the meaning of these in everyday language?  How does knowing that these things are your reality as a Jesus follower help you stay the course?

7) Extra credit: Read Haggai 2:6-10. How do the words of the prophet Haggai in these verses relate to what the writer of Hebrews is talking about in 12:25-27? What thing/themes found in Hebrews are either mentioned specifically or foreshadowed by the words of Haggai?

8) Can you give an example of a time when your world was being shaken but you experienced being part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken? 

The writer says, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe.”

As a group, spend some time in prayer in which you express your worship to God for who he is, the grace He has given you, the mountain to which He has brought you, and that belong to His unshakeable kingdom.

Who in your life needs to experience what God has privileged you to experience? Spend some time praying for them by name.

Pray for the ministries of Coastline—that God would provide for every need, that He would raise up workers, and that God would do a mighty work in and through his people at Coastline. 



Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Hebrews 12:4-13 | Small Group Questions






In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

Small Group Questions | Useful Discipline | Hebrews 12:4-13

As we near the end of the letter we see the author encouraging the Hebrew people to continue following Jesus and not give up. The author takes the time to encourage them, using God’s word, to endure the disciple they are going through. He knows that when they endure this season of their life they will mature in their faith. The problem is they have slowly drifted from the Lord and become dull to God’s word. They are in desperate need of a revitalization of their faith. In Hebrews 12:4-13, the author provides three reasons for them to stand strong in their faith. First, they have God’s word. Second, they can endure the discipline of the Lord. Finally, they will preserve during their season of discipline. Study these questions to learn more about useful discipline. 

1) Neal shared a story about wanting to quit playing football his sophomore year of high school but his mom wouldn’t let him. Share about a time that you wanted to quit something and the lesson you learned through that discipline.  

2) Read Hebrews 12:4-6. The author teaches us that God disciplines those He loves (read Deuteronomy 8:5, Job 5:17, and Psalm 94:12). How does God’s word provide the discipline in your life that you need to grow spiritually? 

3) Some of the early church had become dull to the word of God (read Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 5:11-12). Have you had a time in your life that you became dull to the word of God? Where are you currently reading in your Bible? 

4) Read Hebrews 12:7-9. We are encouraged to endure God’s discipline because He disciplines those He loves (see Proverbs 12:1, Jeremiah 10:24, & Revelation 3:19). What are some reasons we don’t endure the discipline from God? 

5) Read Hebrews 12:10-11. Most of us would prefer to bypass the discipline of our earthly father and Heavenly Father. What happens to people who grow up with no discipline? Why do you think God disciplines us so we can share in His holiness? 

6) The author teaches us that the outcome of enduring discipline is that we find a “harvest of righteousness and peace.” What one area of your life are you lacking peace and you need to allow God to discipline you? 

7) Read Hebrews 12:12-13. These final verses sound like the encouragement of a coach. Where do you need this group to encourage you to embrace the Lord’s discipline in your life? Where are you feeling weak and tired? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 





Tuesday, February 08, 2022

4 Things That Faith Isn't






Hebrews 11 has some of the richest passages on faith:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.(Hebrews 11:1-3). 
When I first became a believer I thought that verse 1 was the definition of faith. I thought that this was how we define faith in following Jesus. What I learned is that this is not a definition of faith but a description of faith. This is what faith does when it is lived out. 

You and I make decisions of faith every day. When you sit in your car you have faith that it will start and make it to your destination. When you filled out your direct deposit paperwork you had faith that your employer would get your money on time. Some of you eat at Taco Bell and have faith that it’s good for you body! You have more faith than me. 

When we focus on Hebrews 11:1 there are two words that stick out on this description of faith. They are confidence and assurance. 

I looked at some other Bible translations and we have very similar words: 
"Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1 (NLT). 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1 (ESV).
The ESV and NIV both use the word assurance while the NLT teaches us about the reality. We all know what it’s like to have confidence. Confidence we’re going to get the job, confidence the situation will work out, confident that we can run that yellow light. Faith isn’t only confidence. There is an assurance of what we don’t see. There is proof, verification, or evidence of the unseen things of God. God is visible, you just have to look for Him. 

Sometimes it’s helpful to know what something isn’t so we can know what something is. Let’s quickly talk about four things that faith isn’t. 

1) True Biblical faith is not blind optimism. 
Some people think that faith is just being super super optimistic and ignoring the truth around us. I’m an eternal optimist but that is not faith, that is optimism. 

2) Some people think that faith is a manufactured feeling of: hope so
The key word here is manufactured. We are not manufacturing anything. Our hope has roots in Jesus Christ. Faith is also not a hope so but more of a know so based on what we read in Scripture. If you write down Genesis 15:6 you will read that Abraham trusted God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham didn’t have a hope so feeling. He trusted God. 

3) Faith is not a steep intellectual ascent to understand all types of doctrine. 
This would be a disciple of knowledge. You don’t have to know all the Christian doctrines to have faith in God. We do need confidence but usually when we have confidence we don’t know all the factors involved. 

4) Faith isn’t belief without evidence. 
If you look at the description of faith again, you will see that there is an assurance of what you see. That means there is evidence of God’s great work here on earth. If you read the entire Bible you will see evidence for your faith. I highly encourage you to read the Bible every day. 

What then is faith, in Biblical terms? This is what the author has set out to teach the early church in this chapter of Hebrews. 

So let me answer the question of what Biblical faith is: 
“True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences.” -Warren Wiersbe. 
I love this definition because it keeps the confidence that is required of faith but adds the obedience to God’s word. Many of you have a confidence in God’s word, that is why you’re here. Some of you are looking for strength in God’s word today. That is why you’re here. Obedience in spite of what we see, hear, or consequences involved. 

* I'm very grateful for the Warren Wiersbe and his work on Hebrews. Much of this was adapted from his book. 

Monday, February 07, 2022

Hebrews 12:1-3 | Small Group Questions



In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Fix Your Eyes on Jesus | Hebrews 12:1-3

One of the primary reasons that the author wrote this letter to the Hebrew people is because they were contemplating about leaving their faith in Jesus. They had considered returning to temple worship and the Law. Essentially they were abandoning Jesus and returning to Moses. In Hebrews 12 we are exhorted think about the plurality of saints who’ve gone before us in the faith. The author just listed dozes of them in Hebrews 11. We see the author give a strong encouragement to fix our eyes on Jesus. The reason we can fix our eyes on Jesus is because we know that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. Study these questions to grow in your faith. 

1) Neal opened the sermon with a story about the Kenyan runner, Eliud Kipchoge, who finished a marathon in under two hours. What did this man have to give up and what did he need in relational support to accomplish this task? 

2) Read Hebrews Hebrews 12:1. The author reminds us that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. He is referring to the saints who’ve gone before us. Have you read the Old Testament so you can know these saints stories? 

3) We are also encouraged to throw off all the sin that hinders us from following Jesus. Read Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:5, Luke 5:8, and John 5:14. What does these passages about Jesus teach us about leaving our life of sin? What sin do you need to leave? 

4) Read Hebrews Hebrews 12:2. Once we leave our life of sin we need a new focus. The author encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Read Psalm 132:2 and Matthew 15:8. Talk about what stops you from looking solely to Jesus. 

5) The author teaches us that Jesus endured the cross for our sake. Read Mark 15:37-38, Luke 22:63-64, and John 19:34. Looking at these passages, talk about the physical pain that Jesus through to save us from our sins. 

6) Read Hebrews 12:3. The author brings the passage full circle and exhorts us to look to Jesus as the example of our life. How come we fail to look to Jesus as our example for living? What characteristics of Jesus do you want more in your life? 

7) We talked about four ways to follow the example of Jesus: Be compassionate to others, Endure suffering, Be generous, and Invest your life into others. What one of these are your implementing in your life this week? Why and how?

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 



Thursday, February 03, 2022

Trusting Jesus Fully 




About five years ago I was really struggling with trusting God. Saying it out loud makes it sound so petty. I ended up meeting with a life coach. I shared my heart with him. At one point I said: “I think I just need to trust Jesus more.” That was my motto in life. Work harder, stay up later, study more, stay later than everyone else and I will figure it out by sheer grit. I thought the life coach would congratulate me. He paused and said, “You don’t need to trust God more, you need to trust God fully.” I was speechless. He said what Jesus had been telling me for years.

Wednesday, February 02, 2022

Hebrews 11:32-40 | Small Group Questions










In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | The Hall of Faith Part 2 | Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11 focuses on living a life of faith when we can’t see the outcome. The end of Hebrews 11 focuses on growing in our faith when we are faced with suffering. Last week the author went from the book of Genesis to the book of Joshua. It seems that he realizes if he continues at this current pace he is going to run out of paper. So he speeds up his thoughts. He moves from chronological progression to the faithful people in Israel. The focus is still on faith. In the couple verses we read he covers: the Judges, the early monarchy, and the prophets. We don’t want to suffer. We like our comfortable lives but God meets us in times of suffering.

1) In the sermon we learned that our faith grows most in suffering. Share about a time that you suffered, for your faith, and what you learned about your faith. How did this time shape you as a follower of Jesus? 

2) Read Hebrews 11:32-34. Finding strength in our weakness. We read about Gideon, Samson, David, and many more. They were all strong men of God but had times of weakness. Where are you weak right now? Where are you struggling? 

3) Our world is obsessed with strength. We have stores dedicated to physical fitness. The gym is a huge industry. Thinking about your spiritual life, where are you growing even though you might be weak (see Psalm 31:9, Isaiah 40:29, and Mark 10:44-45)

4) Read Hebrews 11:35-38. We move to this sudden shift to the theme of torture. Read Jeremiah 20:2 and 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. When you think about the Saints before us being tortured, how does that make you feel about your freedom? 

5) Many of the early Christians were also beaten and killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. Read Acts 12:1-4, 14:19-20, 21:30-32. After reading these stories about the early church leaders, how do you feel about suffering for Jesus? 

6) The author wraps up the hall of faith in two sentences (read Hebrews 11:39-40). These heroes of the faith were commended for their faith but they never received what had been promised. What did they not receive? 

7) As we look at this final section of Hebrews 11 we see a language of community. Unlike the early Hebrew culture the American culture is an individual culture. How can we grow in the community aspect and lessen our individualistic nature? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus.