Hebrews: A Book Study – Wk 3
Hebrews 4:1-3 (NLT)
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,
“In my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.
Hebrews 3:16-19 (NLT)
16 And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
Luke 13:6-9 (NLT)
6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
Hebrews 4:11 (AMP)
11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].
The promise of God’s rest is living with an inner calm through faith in Jesus.
1. The wilderness is God’s pottery wheel.
2. The wilderness is not wasted time.
CALM: Courageously Accept Life’s Mysteries.
3. The wilderness will tempt you to complain or teach you to be calm.
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: The promise of God’s rest is living with an inner calm through faith in Jesus.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Hebrews 4:1-3. What does the promise of God’s rest mean to you?
▶ Read Luke 13:6-9. Think about a time when you wanted to give up but God moved in your favor. What was the process like as you waited?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.
Read Hebrews 4:11. Are you in a period of waiting that seems like a wilderness? What’s one promise of God that you can hold onto in this season to experience the promise of God’s rest in your life?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Pray for those who are experiencing a time of wilderness in their lives, for stronger Faith in God, and together, thank God for all His promises.