Why Jesus? The Point of No Return

Introduction:

The Call to Maturity (Hebrews 6:1-12):

1. Maturity means Moving On from the Basics . (Heb 6:1-8)
2. Maturity means Loving God . (Heb 6:9-10)
3. Maturity means Imitating the Faithful . (Heb 6:11-12)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Hebrews 6:1-12

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. Why is it impossible (Heb 6:4-6) to bring someone back to repentance if they experience the blessings of the Gospel and then fall away?
   

3. Why does your service to others in the church have to be motivated by your love for God (Heb 6:10)?
   

4. Who is a Christ-follower that you’ve observed that is worth imitating (Heb 6:12)? What about their faith do you find inspiring?

Breakout
Pray for one another for an earnest pursuit of following Jesus!

Why Jesus? Because He Makes Us Mature

Introduction:

Three Signs You Aren't Mature (Hebrews 5:11-14):

1. You can't Teach . (Heb 5:12-13)
2. You have no Discernment . (Heb 5:14)
3. You aren't Applying God's Word. (Heb 5:14)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Hebrews 5:11-14

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. How can you convince an immature person that they are immature?
   

3. How do we know that these “immature” people being addressed in this passage are merely “church-goers”, not born again believers? What does the text say that leads to this interpretation? (Note: this will become more clear as we get into the very next passage!)
   

4. Why do you think that discernment is so lacking in the church? How can HBC (you) foster an environment of discernment?

Breakout
Pray for the immature in our church to truly get serious about their walk with Christ.

Why Jesus? Because He is Our High Priest

Job Qualifications of the High Priest Jesus Christ

Introduction:

Job Qualifications of the High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-4):

1. Must be a Man . (Heb 5:1)
2. Must be Appointed by God . (Heb 5:1,4)
3. Must offer Sacrifices . (Heb 5:1,3)
4. Must Understand others. (Heb 5:2-3)

Jesus' Resume' Meets the Qualifications (Hebrews 5:5-10):

1. Jesus was fully Man . (Heb 5:1)
2. Jesus was Appointed By God . (Heb 5:5-6)
3. Jesus offered a Sacrifice . (Heb 5:9-10)
4. Jesus Understands you. (Heb 5:7-8)

   Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

3 Things Jesus Understands, and Teaches Us, About Trials:

1. Sometimes Suffering is God's will.

   Philippians 3:10 - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...

2. Knowing God's will doesn't mean Doing God's will is easy.
3. God's will is all that Matters .

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Small Group Discussion
Read Hebrews 5:1-10

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. Why was it important for the Jews to understand that Jesus qualifies to be the High Priest? Why is it important for our church to understand?
   

3. Why is suffering sometimes God’s will for His people? How did Jesus serve as an example on how to pray when we suffer? See Matthew 26:39.
   

4. What does it mean that Jesus “learned obedience through what He suffered” (v8)? How does suffering teach us obedience towards God?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Why Jesus? Because He Gives Me Access to God

Introduction:

“My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.”
- Horatio Spafford

Since Jesus is My High Priest... (Hebrews 4:14-16):

1. I must hold fast to What I Believe . (Heb 4:14)

   Luke 16:16 - The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

2. I must remember that I Do Not Struggle Alone . (Heb 4:15)
3. I must boldly approach The Lord for Help . (Heb 4:16)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Romans 8:37

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:24-25a

For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. - Hebrews 2:18

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Small Group Discussion
Read Hebrews 4:14-16

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. What does it mean that Jesus is our great high priest?
   

3. What does it look like to hold fast to our confession/what we believe? Where do you see many churches and self-proclaimed Christians making compromises right now?
   

4. Why is it so empowering to know that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses and temptations?
   

5. How can you become more bold and confident in your prayer life?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Blinded by Anger

Introduction:

When I'’'m Blinded by Anger... (Jonah 4):

1. I cannot see that God's plan is better than Mine . (Jonah 4:1-4)
2. I cannot see that My Comfort isn't the Point . (Jonah 4:5-9)
3. I cannot see any Needs of Anyone Else . (Jonah 4:10-11)

   Matthew 12:40-41 - For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

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Small Group Discussion
Read Jonah 4

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. Have you ever found yourself frustrated by God’s plan? How would you encourage someone who’s going through that right now?
   

3. In what ways can the pursuit of comfort in the church today lead us to miss the point?
   

4. What are some areas where you need to be transformed from “Jonah” to “Greater Jonah” thinking?
   

5. Who is your Nineveh today? How is God calling you to view them with compassion?

Breakout
Pray for one another.