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Exhortations Then and Now

1. CONNECT

   10min
   In our last session, we saw that the author of Hebrews exhorted his audience using ancient persuasive rhetoric. At this point, we want to explore the goal of his exhortations. What did he attempt to accomplish in the lives of his first readers? How do his exhortations speak to our lives today?

2. Reflection

   As we've seen, the author of Hebrews wrote so that his audience would reject local Jewish teachings and remain faithful to Jesus. Those who first received this book were tempted to find safety and comfort by following teachings that made them more acceptable in their local Jewish communities. Although we do not face precisely the same temptation, all of us are tempted to compromise our faith in Christ in ways that make life easier for us in our modern cultures.

3. Guiding Question

   How do we run the risk of compromising our faith in Christ to find acceptance, comfort and safety in our modern world?

4. WATCH

   15min

5. DISCUSS

   15min
   1. Hebrews 13:8-9 tells us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." The "strange teachings" that drew the original audience away from the supremacy of Christ were associated primarily with Jews outside of Palestine. What were some of these "strange teachings"? 2. As Christians today, we're not usually tempted to follow ancient Jewish teachings. What kinds of widespread false beliefs today tempt us, especially in times of trouble? 3. The book of Hebrews exhorted the original audience to remain faithful to Christ by understanding Jesus' superiority over angelic revelations (1:1-2:18), over Moses' authority (3:1-4:13), over Melchizedek (4:14-7:28), in the new covenant (8:1-11:40), and in practical daily perseverance (12:1-13:25). Why was the supremacy of Christ so important for these first century believers as they faced trials?

6. APPLY

   15min
   1. How is Christ superior to the false hopes the world offers us today? Why do we sometimes fail to remember that Christ is supreme over every false belief? 2. What are some practical ways we can love and care for others whose beliefs are different than our own without being drawn into those beliefs ourselves?

7. CHALLENGE

   Recommended reading: Hebrews 10 This week, list some of beliefs and practices in our modern culture that pull you and your family away from acknowledging the supremacy of Christ. Finish with a time of prayer.