Hebrews: A Book Study – Wk 5

Hebrews 5:7-8 (NLT)

7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

1. Learned obedience is submission.

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT)

11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

2. Learned obedience is a second yes.

Hebrews 6:1-3 (NLT)

1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

– What does saying yes to my human desires look like?

– What does saying yes to God’s instructions look like?

Hebrews 13:4-5 (NLT)

4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

Hebrews 6:4-8 (NLT)

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. 8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

3. Learned obedience leads to new freedom in Christ.

Hebrews 6:9 (NLT)

9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: Learned obedience is choosing submission to Jesus out of deep reverence for God.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Hebrews 5:7-8. What do you think it could have been like for Jesus to learn obedience?

▶ Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Share a personal example of “learned obedience”, something you choose to do out of reverence for God.

▶ Read Hebrews 6:1-3,9. What are some basic human desires where God offers a better plan?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read Hebrews 6:4-8. Consider the “falling rain” God offers for us to “bear a good crop”. What does that mean for you personally? Is there a particular step of learned obedience God is calling you to act on?

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Consider pairing up and praying over each other. Thank God for the highs, lift up each other’s lows, and pray strength and courage for learned obedience.