Week 44: Hebrews

Prepare these questions for Sunday, February 9, 2014.  We will not meet February 2 due to myLife.

Hebrews is a letter written to people of Jewish descent who were also Christians. It was probably written before the year 70 AD, but enough time after Jesus died and rose again that these people were not witnesses to his life and death. No author is named, but Timothy is mentioned in the end of the book so it must have been someone who knew him.

1. Much of this book references the Old Testament (especially in chapters 3, 7, and 11). What is the purpose of all of these references? How do they influence how you read this book?

2. What is a covenant and what is the "new covenant" that is talked about in chapter 8? How does this covenant affect our lives if we are Christ followers?

3. Read verses 4:12-14. What characteristics about God are revealed in these verses?

4. Hebrews is filled with words of encouragement and exhortation. Read the following verses: 5:12-13, 11:1-3, 12:1-3, and 13:1-8.  Use your own words to summarize each set of verses. What message(s) can be taken from these words when read together? How is this message useful to you today?

Week 43: Matthew 18-28

Prepare these questions for Sunday, January 26, 2014.

We continue with the rest of the book of Matthew, which adds more parables and the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. These passages cover some of the most well-known portions of the Bible.

1. One of the key concepts of Matthew is that those considered weak, unimportant, or insignificant are of great value to God. Look at the passages in 18:1-14, 19:16-30, 20:1-16, and 20:20-28. How do these stories convey the message that God values the humble?

2. Through both parables and responses to religious leaders (the Sadducees and Pharisees), Jesus reveals some of what frustrates and angers God. Read chapter 18:21-35 and chapters 21, 22, and 23. Based on these verses, what qualities anger God, especially regarding so-called "religious" people? Are you guilty of any of these behaviors in your own life?

3. Memorize the verses found in chapter 22:37-39. These are called the "Greatest Commandment" and are the crux of how anyone claiming to follow God should live his or her life. What would look different in your life if you were to live out this "greatest commandment"?

4. Chapters 24 and 25 deal with another big concept: no one knows when Jesus will return (or when your earthly life will be over) and you are expected to make good use of the gifts you've been given while you're here. How did Jesus explain these ideas in these chapters? What can you do differently this week that will help to ensure that your talents are not wasted during the unknown amount of time you have on this earth?

5. The end of Matthew details the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Read these verses and try to ignore what you think you already know about this story. Read only what is written and not what you've seen in movies or books. What, if anything, stands out to you that you didn't know or think about before? Why, according to these verses, did Jesus die on the cross?

6. The verses in 28:18-20 are called The Great Commission. They are the last words spoken by Jesus before his ascension into Heaven and they are directed at those who chose to follow him. What impact do you think these words had on his followers at that time? How can you apply them to your life now?