DEVELOPING COMMUNITY



DEVELOPING COMMUNITY

Learning more about each other

(Choose One)

A) In a recent article, Bill Ray, Litchfield Park, Arizona, and Brian Lowery, associate editor, reported:

Rest and relaxation doesn't seem to come as easily or naturally to Americans as it does to those in other nations. According to the 2006 World Almanac and Book of Facts:

• a worker in Italy averages 42 vacation days per year.

• a worker in France: 37 days

• a worker in Germany: 35 days

• a worker in Brazil: 34 days

• a worker in the United Kingdom: 28 days

• a worker in Japan: 25 days

• a worker in America: just 13 days

The typical U.S. employee averaged 1,804 work hours in 2006. By comparison, the typical employee in Norway averaged 1,407 hours and the typical French employee, 1,564 hours. (Sources: Ken Park, The World Almanac and Book of Facts (2006) (World Almanac Books, 2006), p. 755, and "Numbers," TIME (9-17-07), p. 20

Question: Do wish you could have more vacation time? What would your “top three” relaxing vacations be?

B) Can you identify with the following “statistics” reported by Lori Joseph and Bob Laird, "Americans Working Too Hard," USA Today Snapshots; source: Hilton Generational Time Survey of 1,220 adults in January 2001?

Percentage of Americans who say they:

Need more fun: 68

Need a long vacation: 67

Often feel stressed: 66

Feel time is crunched: 60

Want less work, more play: 51

Feel pressured to succeed: 49

Feel overwhelmed: 48

Question: What one adjustment could you make in your life to feel less “stressed”, “crunched” and “overwhelmed”? What is the “biggest” “pressure point” in your schedule right now?

C) Psalm 46:10 says, “Be Still (cease, stop, rest) and know that I am God.” We are not very good about “stopping”, “resting” or being “still” in our society. What is one obstacle in your life that keeps you from “quiet moments” to “be still” and know He is God?

D) What is the most restful place you have ever been? What made it such a such a restful location? (From Hebrews, John MacArthur, p. 99).

DIGGING IN

Getting Started

(Choose One or Two)

Question #1 – Take the time to read Hebrews 4:1-13 out loud as a group. Reflect on the passage. Is there anything from the reading of this passage or the sermon on Sunday that was a challenge to understand? Share it and discuss it!

Question #2 – Take another minute or two to reflect on Hebrews 4:1-13. What “key verse” would you select that captures the theme of this passage? Now in six words of less give Hebrews 4:1-13 a brief “title” that captures the “heartbeat” of these verses. Your title should tell a prospective reader what this section of the epistle is about.

Question #3 – At the beginning of his sermon Randy talked about “Disregarded Warnings” and gave several examples. As humans, why do you think we often disregard “warnings” that are given for our good?

Question #4 – There are five warning passages in Hebrews. Where are they located? Identify them (sermon notes, p. 1). What is the focus of each “warning”? In other words, what are the passages warning the readers about?

Question #5 – In his sermon Randy said, “The author’s argument has been that Jesus Christ is supremely sufficient to handle anything and everything that comes your way in life. He is “superior” to anyone and everyone that you may be tempted to run to or turn to – to escape whatever difficulty has come your way.”

What are some of the major things people turn to in our society to survive the suffering and difficulty? Why do you think people turn to other things rather than God?

This is week #8 of our small group study in Hebrews. Write a question or two of

your own that you can ask to help your small group “dig in” and “get started” with the study and discussion. You know your group better than anyone else which makes you specially positioned to ask good questions.

As a leader you know the interests, needs, and level of maturity of those in your group. Let God speak to your heart from Hebrews 4:1-13. When you pray and ask Him then He will guide your heart and mind to help you form questions that are particularly suited for your group. Don’t underestimate yourself! You can help your group “Dive Deeper” into the passage in this next section.

DIVING DEEPER

What does Hebrews 4:1-13 teach us?

(Choose Several)

Question #1 – According to Hebrews 4:1-3, who will inherit the “Rest” God promises?

Question #2 – How would you define or describe genuine “faith” (Hebrews 4:2) and “belief” (Hebrews 4:3)? (Compare to Hebrews 3:19). What criteria do chapters 3 and 4 give us for determining if a person’s “belief” is authentic? What other “indicators” of genuine belief does Scripture give us?

Question #3 – In the sermon, Randy cited “statistics” which describe the large number of young people in our society who are leaving the Christian faith. Many of these young adults say they believe in nothing. They are called “nones” because they have no belief. Why do you think this is happening? What is causing this phenomenon?

Question #4 – How would you define or describe the “Rest” that God offers (Hebrews 4:4-10)? What is it exactly? In other words, what is the author talking about? (From Hebrews, John MacArthur, p. 99).

Question #5 – What is the meaning of “Sabbath rest” in the context of this chapter (see Hebrews 4:9)? (Hebrew: Our Superior Savior by Woodrow Kroll, p. 33).

Question #6 – What does Hebrews 4:10 mean? “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”

Question #7 – What is the significance of the phrase “has also rested from his works as God did from His”? Why is an accurate understanding of the meaning of this phrase so important?

Question #8 – Augustine once said, “You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee.” What do you think he meant by this statement? (From Hebrews, John MacArthur, p. 100).

Question # 9 – In the sermon Randy made this statement:

THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

IS FROM A POSITION OF REST

What did he mean (sermon notes, p. 4)? Do you agree with this statement? Why?

Question #10 – According to Hebrews 4:11-13, how do we enter into (or obtain) God’s rest?

Question #11 – What does the phrase, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest” in vs. 11 mean? Does this mean we must “work” to obtain our salvation?

Question #12 – Do you agree with the following statement? Why? Support your answer with Scripture.

“Grace is opposed to merit, but it is not opposed to effort.” (Bradley Nassif, professor of biblical and theological studies at North Park University, Chicago, Illinois)

Question #13 – What role does God’s Word play in helping us to “enter into God’s rest” according to vv. 12, 13?

Question #14 – How do these verses describe the power of God’s Word? What other verses can you think of that give a similar description of God’s Word? (Hebrew: Our Superior Savior by Woodrow Kroll, p. 33).

DOING WHAT IT SAYS

What Does it mean to me?

(Choose One)

Question #1 – What one truth or insight from this study do you want to apply to your life this week? Please share with the group.

Question #2 – Read Matthew 11:28-30. What is preventing you from experiencing this kind of “rest” in your Christian life right now? What can you do to change this?

Question #3 – John MacArthur asks, “What sort of things keep people from experiencing God’s perfect rest? He defines “rest” as salvation. How would you answer this? Do you know of one person you could talk to about God’s perfect rest this week? Who? Share with the group and pray for the people you mention.

Question #4 – How can you develop a heart that is “open” to the Word of God (vv. 12, 13) rather than “hardened” to the Word of God?

BE SURE AND CLOSE IN PRAYER!

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