Hebrews 4:14-5:10
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This is the fourth sermon in our series on the book of Hebrews This sermon is on ‘Our Great High Priest’.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
CONNECT: Encourage someone in their faithful following of the Lord Jesus this week.
WARM-UP Question
- Why might have the author needed the recipients to be encouraged to ‘hold firmly’?
- What are the times in which we may be most at risk of ‘loosening’ our grip on the faith that we profess?
READ Hebrews 4:14-16
- What is the “faith we profess”? How would you explain this to a friend who does not yet believe?
- Where is Jesus now and in what form? What is the significance of Jesus’ ascension and now where he resides? (Try to think both about the significance of who Jesus is and what it now means for us.)
- Have you ever thought that you need a Great High Priest? Why do we need Jesus as our only priest?
- On what basis is Jesus able to empathise with our weaknesses completely? Is being tempted sin?
- How are you comforted in the knowledge that Jesus can empathise with you completely? How is, or how could, that reality be reflected in your prayer life?
- What is meant by approaching ‘God’s throne of grace”? What do we receive as we approach God?
- How significant is it that we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence? What is the basis of that confidence? How should that confident approach be reflected in our lives?
READ Hebrews 5:1-10
- What were the core functions of the priests in the Old Testament? How is a modern ‘priest’ different?
- In what ways is Jesus’ priesthood superior to that of the priests of old?
- Who was Melchizedek? What key point about Jesus’ priesthood is the author seeking to make?
- Re-read verse 7. Can you think of some examples of when Jesus offered up prayers like this?
- What does it mean that Jesus ‘learned’ obedience and once ‘made perfect’?
- As followers of Jesus what is the relationship between our trust in Jesus as well as our obedience?
- In response to the reality that our following of Jesus is imperfect, how does this section of Hebrews encourage us that it is good for us (in every way) to keep running to God?
APPLY: What is a need that you can confidently approach God’s throne of grace for?
Prayer
Dear Jesus, our Great High Priest! How we thank you that because of your greatness and goodness that we can with confidence approach God’s throne of grace. Thank you that it is because of your death and resurrection that we can be assured of your mercy as we look to you. Please help us to run to you, to delight in you, and demonstrate our trust with great obedience. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Frontline This Week: How can you integrate your work into your faith? Read more.
Listen:
Read:
Other Helpful Resources (For Series):
- BOOK: “The Majestic Son” by Peter Adam
- VIDEOS ON SERIES: "The Book of Hebrews” by Don Carson
- SERIES: “Hebrews: Such a Great Salvation!”
- VIDEO: The Bible Project Hebrews Overview:
