Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Pastor Rich began a new series called “Life Together”. “Unknown knowns” are realities that we deliberately choose to ignore. In America, our need as Christians to be in close connection with one another and our need for Christian fellowship is an unknown known. From Deut 10, we learn the importance and significance of what it means to “remember”. We’re instructed to remember God when things are hard; remember God at work; remember God’s way of teaching us humility; remember God’s way of disciplining us; remember God when things are good; remember your need for community.
Koinonia = the sharing of life together. There are many “one another” references in the general epistles – James, 1 Peter and 1 John. Why do you need to be knit together in some kind of group with other Christians in order to be a good Christian? One very simple reason is because you can’t obey the dozens of commands in the Bible of what you are to do for another Christian unless you are connected with other Christians. When we remember (practice) community, we need to remember our need for support. Dr. Cloud wrote in How People Grow:
People’s most basic need in life is relationship. People connected to other people thrive and grow, and those not connect wither and die. It is a medical fact, for example, that from infancy to old age, health depends on the amount of social connection people have. Infants and older people die from a lack of relationship, and those in the middle suffer and fail to recover from illness.
At the conclusion of the message, there were three videos communicating our need for accountability and support, our need for others to walk through hard times and bear life’s trials with us, and finally showing our need for others to encourage us and help us grow in our faith.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What were one or two things that resonated with you about this weekend’s sermon?
• Who is someone who challenges your faith, and why? Please share briefly.
SCRIPTURE STUDY
Context – The writer of Hebrews was writing to encourage Hellenistic Jews to remember the supremacy of Christ and to give exhortations on how to live and grow in their faith. The writer goes to great lengths to show that Christ is better; better than Angels, better than Moses, better than the old covenant, better than the old priest(s) and priesthood, and a better sacrifice for us. Read Heb 10:1-18 for context for this passage.
• Vv 19-21 What is the “therefore”, there for – what idea is important for understanding this passage? Remember the writer’s audience is Jews – what is different now than from before? What is the most Holy Place (Lev 16:2), and why is it worth remembering? What was the role of the High Priest (Lev 16)? What is the curtain (Mark 15:38) and it’s significance? Consider for a moment how drastically different the whole world would’ve been for Jews who followed Christ – can you share an experience (most likely with Christ) when something changed for you and everything was different from that point forward (positive or negative)?
• V 19 – confidence is more akin to “possessing the right, or authority” to do something. How does that enhance your understanding of 19-21? Chris has done all the “hard work”. A helpful analogy NT Wright offers is to think about Jesus throwing a party. He’s already done everything – the shopping list has been made, the food bought and prepared, the house cleaned, the invitations have been sent…everything is prepared…then we move to v. 22 “let us draw near” or continuing the analogy – since we’re on the select guest list, let’s enjoy the most amazing party ever conceived because Christ has planned and prepared it for us…
• V. 22a How should we join in this “party” - how do we “draw near”? (A. with a “sincere heart”). Notice that being in God’s presence is not external in the former way of the Priesthood, but internal (1 Sam 16:7). Contrast a sincere and insincere heart? What’s one characteristic of a sincere heart (listed in the verse)? Have you seen your faith grow more or wane some in the last year? Why? Please share briefly.
• What makes your faith grow? Rather than stand out on the street or in the yard and watch from a distance, come in and join the party…better yet, get out on the dance floor.
• V. 22b As we’re drawing near to God, what happens to our hearts? (a. cleansed of guilt by the blood of Christ). Has anyone ever let sin fester in your heart – what do you do and how does that affect your relationship with God? What is a sign for you that you might be living with a guilty conscience? What does the sprinkling represent? (A. sprinkling of blood represents purification, and similarly, the power of God to forgive and release us from sins). Can anyone share an example where God has broken the power of sin in your life, and you’ve been set free from your past?
• V.22c What does washed with pure water mean? (A. power of baptism - not just outwardly, but inwardly clean). What does baptism signify for the believer? (A. obedience and surrender)
• V. 23 What is our hope, and how are we encouraged to live? Has your hope been tested recently? How have you handled it and what does it mean to you to “hold unwaveringly”?
• V. 24 Recall the one-another texts and imperatives from the sermon – what mindset should we have as followers of Jesus. At this point in the text, it’s no longer just Me-and-Jesus, it’s “us”, the people of God.
• What’s the first imperative we read? What two things require others’ help in doing well? The word consider implies a deliberate intentionality - how well do you spur your friends and fellow small group members on – what would that even look like? Who have you seen do it well?
• V. 25 What’s the second imperative? Imagine you’re on a team or in a choir and you never practice together, how well would you do come game or concert time? Apparently, some Christians are doing what? It seems to be a challenge to meet together, despite the fact that the health of our faith depends on how well we’re knit into community – why is that? What’s an obstacle for you? How do we break through?
MINISTRY APPLICATION
• What are some practical ways to build community in your group?
• Who are people who have given up on “life together” – ask God for ways to reach out to them.
• If anyone feels disconnected, or is not experiencing the kind of “both/and” life of nearness to God and to other believers that we just studied in Heb 10 – pray that God would break in and reveal what’s at the root. Consider opportunities to build deeper relationships with others in your group.
• In what ways is God asking you to “spur” others on? How might he use you and your gifts this year to affect others? Consider possible ways you could receive more training? Who might serve as an encouragement to you and your faith? Pray with one or two others for more insight?
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Pastor Rich began a new series called “Life Together”. “Unknown knowns” are realities that we deliberately choose to ignore. In America, our need as Christians to be in close connection with one another and our need for Christian fellowship is an unknown known. From Deut 10, we learn the importance and significance of what it means to “remember”. We’re instructed to remember God when things are hard; remember God at work; remember God’s way of teaching us humility; remember God’s way of disciplining us; remember God when things are good; remember your need for community.
Koinonia = the sharing of life together. There are many “one another” references in the general epistles – James, 1 Peter and 1 John. Why do you need to be knit together in some kind of group with other Christians in order to be a good Christian? One very simple reason is because you can’t obey the dozens of commands in the Bible of what you are to do for another Christian unless you are connected with other Christians. When we remember (practice) community, we need to remember our need for support. Dr. Cloud wrote in How People Grow:
People’s most basic need in life is relationship. People connected to other people thrive and grow, and those not connect wither and die. It is a medical fact, for example, that from infancy to old age, health depends on the amount of social connection people have. Infants and older people die from a lack of relationship, and those in the middle suffer and fail to recover from illness.
At the conclusion of the message, there were three videos communicating our need for accountability and support, our need for others to walk through hard times and bear life’s trials with us, and finally showing our need for others to encourage us and help us grow in our faith.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What were one or two things that resonated with you about this weekend’s sermon?
• Who is someone who challenges your faith, and why? Please share briefly.
SCRIPTURE STUDY
Heb 10:19-25 (TNIV):
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the
Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the
curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us
draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let
us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all
the more as you see the Day approaching.
Context – The writer of Hebrews was writing to encourage Hellenistic Jews to remember the supremacy of Christ and to give exhortations on how to live and grow in their faith. The writer goes to great lengths to show that Christ is better; better than Angels, better than Moses, better than the old covenant, better than the old priest(s) and priesthood, and a better sacrifice for us. Read Heb 10:1-18 for context for this passage.
• Vv 19-21 What is the “therefore”, there for – what idea is important for understanding this passage? Remember the writer’s audience is Jews – what is different now than from before? What is the most Holy Place (Lev 16:2), and why is it worth remembering? What was the role of the High Priest (Lev 16)? What is the curtain (Mark 15:38) and it’s significance? Consider for a moment how drastically different the whole world would’ve been for Jews who followed Christ – can you share an experience (most likely with Christ) when something changed for you and everything was different from that point forward (positive or negative)?
• V 19 – confidence is more akin to “possessing the right, or authority” to do something. How does that enhance your understanding of 19-21? Chris has done all the “hard work”. A helpful analogy NT Wright offers is to think about Jesus throwing a party. He’s already done everything – the shopping list has been made, the food bought and prepared, the house cleaned, the invitations have been sent…everything is prepared…then we move to v. 22 “let us draw near” or continuing the analogy – since we’re on the select guest list, let’s enjoy the most amazing party ever conceived because Christ has planned and prepared it for us…
• V. 22a How should we join in this “party” - how do we “draw near”? (A. with a “sincere heart”). Notice that being in God’s presence is not external in the former way of the Priesthood, but internal (1 Sam 16:7). Contrast a sincere and insincere heart? What’s one characteristic of a sincere heart (listed in the verse)? Have you seen your faith grow more or wane some in the last year? Why? Please share briefly.
• What makes your faith grow? Rather than stand out on the street or in the yard and watch from a distance, come in and join the party…better yet, get out on the dance floor.
• V. 22b As we’re drawing near to God, what happens to our hearts? (a. cleansed of guilt by the blood of Christ). Has anyone ever let sin fester in your heart – what do you do and how does that affect your relationship with God? What is a sign for you that you might be living with a guilty conscience? What does the sprinkling represent? (A. sprinkling of blood represents purification, and similarly, the power of God to forgive and release us from sins). Can anyone share an example where God has broken the power of sin in your life, and you’ve been set free from your past?
• V.22c What does washed with pure water mean? (A. power of baptism - not just outwardly, but inwardly clean). What does baptism signify for the believer? (A. obedience and surrender)
• V. 23 What is our hope, and how are we encouraged to live? Has your hope been tested recently? How have you handled it and what does it mean to you to “hold unwaveringly”?
• V. 24 Recall the one-another texts and imperatives from the sermon – what mindset should we have as followers of Jesus. At this point in the text, it’s no longer just Me-and-Jesus, it’s “us”, the people of God.
• What’s the first imperative we read? What two things require others’ help in doing well? The word consider implies a deliberate intentionality - how well do you spur your friends and fellow small group members on – what would that even look like? Who have you seen do it well?
• V. 25 What’s the second imperative? Imagine you’re on a team or in a choir and you never practice together, how well would you do come game or concert time? Apparently, some Christians are doing what? It seems to be a challenge to meet together, despite the fact that the health of our faith depends on how well we’re knit into community – why is that? What’s an obstacle for you? How do we break through?
MINISTRY APPLICATION
Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.
• What are some practical ways to build community in your group?
• Who are people who have given up on “life together” – ask God for ways to reach out to them.
• If anyone feels disconnected, or is not experiencing the kind of “both/and” life of nearness to God and to other believers that we just studied in Heb 10 – pray that God would break in and reveal what’s at the root. Consider opportunities to build deeper relationships with others in your group.
• In what ways is God asking you to “spur” others on? How might he use you and your gifts this year to affect others? Consider possible ways you could receive more training? Who might serve as an encouragement to you and your faith? Pray with one or two others for more insight?
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