Sunday, October 24, 2021

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 | Small Group Questions




Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For the next several months we are going to look through 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 | Our Great Teacher | Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Hebrews chapter 5:11-6:12 are focused on Jesus as our great teacher. The early church was experiencing a time of persecution. Christians were being killed for their faith in Jesus and some considered returning to their Jewish customs. The worries of the world began to choke out their spiritual growth. That is where the author of this letter comes in to encourage them to keep following Jesus. He identifies four marks of spiritual immaturity. You can tell he knows them personally because he is kind in his comments. After identifying that, he encourages them to grow in their walk with Jesus. Some of them had become lazy and needed the motivation to push on with Jesus. 

1) In Luke 7 we read The Parable of the Sower. In this parable Jesus uses the example of a farmer to help the disciples understand the Kingdom of God. When you think about this parable, what soil is your life planted in? What soil do you want to be planted in? 

2) Read Hebrews 5:11-14. The author gives four marks of spiritual immaturity. The first mark is a dullness to the word of God. Have you ever been dull to God’s Word? Share how you keep the word of God fresh in your life. 

3) The final mark of spiritual immaturity is being unskilled in using God’s word. Do you have a plan to memorize Scripture so you can be skilled in God’s word? How can you grow in knowing God’s word? (Psalm 119:105, Colossians 3:16, John 15:7). 

4) Read Romans 7:7-12. The Apostle Paul shares at length to teach us the value of the Law and the Scripture in our lives. Knowing that scripture teaches us how to follow Jesus, how can we apply Scripture to our lives to see life change? 

5) Read Hebrews 6:1-3. We are exhorted to move forward in spiritual maturity instead of shrinking back in our faith. What is one area that you sense God calling you to move forward in spiritual maturity? (see Philippians 3:14)

6) Read Hebrews 6:4-8. This passage has caused many people to doubt their faith. Neal shared four ways to interpret these verses. He thinks this is a hypothetical situation. What do you think and why? 

7) Some people in the early church had become lazy in their faith (read Hebrews 6:11-12). If you have become lazy in your faith, what do you want to change? No matter your situation, how can you help others grow in maturity? 

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

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