wisdom

Synopsis and Homework Week 9

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I grew up and lived the majority of my adult life in the cold war era. We had an enemy. The enemy was well defined. Its name was communism. I feared communism. I would strive to live a life free of communism. The thought of including anything in my life that reflected communism was repugnant.

I don’t say this to start a debate about democracy verses communism. That’s not the point. Please don’t go down a political trail. Just understand, in my culture, in my upbringing, and in my heart communism was feared…deeply.

I say this to introduce you to how I see the author of Hebrews introducing the idea that we as Christians have one thing to fear…unbelief. Unbelief is the root cause of everyone who falls away from God. Unbelief is the root cause of everyone who fails to enter God’s rest. It should be feared. (Hebrews 4:1)

Therefore, in this paradox we call the Christian life, we live without fear in this world by fearing unbelief. We rest in God by striving to live in God’s design for the Christian. (Hebrews 4:11) We fight to win a race we know we can’t lose.

There is only one way to live a fearless life resting in God and that is striving to destroy unbelief.  To strive means to devote serious effort or energy. The reason we devote serious effort toward destroying unbelief is clear. Whoever fails to strive, as did OT Israel, will fall on the way, fail to enter God’s rest, and be yet another example of disobedience.

HOMEWORK:

Read Philippians 2:12-18

Paul is instructing the church in Philippi to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. (Verse 12) How does this idea of Paul’s line up with the idea of striving to enter God’s rest? (Hebrews 4:11)

Paul presents an example of working out your salvation as (verse 16) holding fast to the Word of life. How does this idea of Paul’s line up with the idea of exhort one another as long as it is called today? (Hebrews 3:13)

Paul urged the Philippians to stand true, to have the mind of Christ, and to work out their salvation in obedience. Above all, they were called to be like Christ. And in verse 17 and 18 what was the end result of this striving? Hint: Rejoicing!…Joy in Responsibility!

Teaching Outline Week 9

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The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Fear Unbelief and Live Fearless

Hebrews 4:1-11 

Outline 

(Verse 3:19)

We ended last week with the idea that unbelief is the great enemy of the Christian

(Verse 3:12, 13)

God has a design for the Christian life to destroy unbelief – Vigilance and Exhortation

Chapter 4:1-2 The promise of rest is still open…

Therefore, fear unbelief (only thing that can keep you from entering God’s rest)

For, everyone heard the Gospel, but only those with faith received the benefit.

Example : Joshua and Caleb

They heard the Gospel : Exodus 34:6-7

They believed God: Numbers 14:8-9

This example and the author of Hebrews presents; It is not Biblical to think that the Gospel life is a single act of faith with all else being idle and automatic.

God is restful but not idle.

Vs 4 – Creation

Creation is complete, on the seventh day God rested… (Genesis 2:2)

But God is at work in creation (John 5:17)

Basic Science – Matter cannot be created or destroyed,

But it is ever changing and moving.

Rest happens in the heart

Vs 7-8 – Not feet crossing a boundary, but a heart in harmony with God.

Paradox of the Christian Life

Vs 11 – Strive to Rest

Resting in God’s promises because we have faith, we believe; but living out our salvation in fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Receive great joy in the promises and live fearless of death/world by fearing unbelief and longing for God’s design for perseverance.

Synopsis and Homework Week 8

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One doesn’t hear the word exhort much any more. Simply put, when the Bible requires us to “exhort one another” we are to talk to each other. (Hebrews 3:13)  Not just trivial conversation, but life changing, life molding, conversation. Such conversation can only happen when we exhort one another with the Word of God.

Patriarch Project places a heavy emphasis on mentoring through Bible study. When the author of Hebrews tells us to exhort one another every day the picture that it paints is Christians hungry for the truth gathering often with mentors and peers growing in Christ.

The result is living a life of solid Christ-like decisions and holding firm our hope to the very end. God has a design for living out the Christian life. Part of that design is life together, in the Word, growing and holding fast.

Homework:

King Solomon was wiser and more impactful in the world in which he reigned than any other king in history. Most of us are familiar with the account of God asking Solomon what he desired. Solomon responded that he desired to lead the nation with wisdom. God gave him wisdom unparalleled by any before or since. Wisdom enabled his life to overflow with accomplishments. God was so pleased with Solomon’s response that He gave Solomon much more. (Read 2 Chronicles 1:7-13)

Now, how did Solomon come to ask so wisely for wisdom? Did he just happen to ask God for the right thing at the right time? The answer is clear: Solomon had a father, King David, who years before spent time with his son in exhortation. That’s right, Solomon had a mentor. It was his father who told him what to seek. It was his father who passed on the wisdom of the Word of God to his son. If King David had not prepared the way for his son, Solomon would not have known what to ask for and how to build all those wonderful projects. (Read 1 Chronicles 22:11-16)

List all the ways Solomon stood on the shoulders of his father…

Teaching Outline Week 8

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The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews) 

Commentary

Community Project

Hebrews 3:7-19

Outline

Verse 6… 
We are His household IF,
               We hold fast in Hope. 
Therefore, (picking up in verse 7) 
               Don’t be like those who didn’t enter the Promise land. 
The point of verse 14 is:
               If you are born again, you WILL endure faithful to the end. 
                               Same as John states in 1 John 2:19; They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 
                               Same as Paul states in Philippians 1:6; And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 
However, (Verse 12) Persevering involves vigilance  
                               We must be “taking care” in our daily lives 
That “taking care” happens in community and is God’s design (Verse 13) 
                               God uses means by which we endure and verse 13 states that YOU are the means 
of another’s perseverance.  
How the Cross and Eternal Security come together: 
               Luke 22:20  ----------  Jeremiah 32:40 
LIFE APPLICATION: 
To run from community is to run from God’s design to keep you.
Assurance of salvation is directly linked to necessity of community. 
The most awesome life is to live in this beautiful design.

 

Synopsis and Homework Week 7

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The author of the book of Hebrews attests to the Scriptures being the very Word of God when chapter 3 verse 7 opens our study with the words… “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says”. The proceeding verses are a direct quote from Psalm 95. By implication then, God wrote the Psalms (and the rest of Scripture).  Don’t overlook this amazing truth.

The Bible, though penned by human hands, is not man’s words about God. It is God’s word about Himself. To open the Bible and read is to step into the presence of God.  That is why Romans 10:17 says;

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Psalm 95 and 96 were utilized as a call to worship in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Both paint glorious pictures of our God and both make very serious warnings about those with hearts that fall away from God’s Glory.

The author of Hebrews has our best interest at heart with the very serious warnings that we encountered in chapter 2 verse 1 and now in chapter 3 verses 7 through 19.  The book of Hebrews paints a majestic picture of Jesus and announces stern warnings to all who do not treasure Him.

So, Hebrews is teaching us that true faith, saving faith, is enduring faith. So far we have seen that God uses (but not limited too) two “means” by which our faith WILL endure to the end. The first being a heavenly host of angels as life long helpers (chapter 1 verse 14). The second is His Word (the Bible) as stated in chapter 2 verse 1 and chapter 3 verses 7-8, 15 as warnings.

It is clear the author of Hebrews does not think a born again believer can lose their salvation. In fact, verse 6b and verse 14 teach just the opposite. However, they both teach eternal security not by looking to the past, but look to the future as proof one is truly part of the house of God.

This is the way all believers must live! In community, in the Word, growing in faith each day. This life is a war. The enemy, the devil, would have us drift blissfully into hell. Instead, we swim with all our might upstream, fighting against the schemes and darkness of this world. The reason we fight to persevere is not because we may be lost, but to prove we are not.

HOMEWORK:

Read Hebrews 3:7-19 again. Now focus on verse 12 and answer the following question:

Is verse 12 a “throw away” verse for the Christian? If not, why not?

Teaching Outline Week 7

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The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews) 

Commentary

Don’t Be Like Those Guys

Hebrews 3:7-19

Outline

Reminder from verses 1-6: 
Jesus is greater than Moses
               Jesus made Moses
               Jesus is God           
               Jesus is the Son and Heir 
Verse 6… 
We are His household IF,
               We hold fast in Hope. 
Therefore, (picking up in verse 7) 
               Don’t be like those who didn’t enter the Promise land. 
Psalm 95:8-11 (Used as a call to worship in the days of worship at the Temple)
               Verse 7 – 11:
                               These people:
a.       Heard the voice of God
b.      Was motivated to follow
c.       Saw God’s mighty works
d.      Had unbelieving hearts
e.       Didn’t make it in the end 
LIFE APPLICATION: 
Living daily in Christ is all important. 
Without the Bible we drift away from God. 
Do not treat the Grace of God with contempt. 
Do not try to fix your behavior, just fall in love with Jesus!

 

The Normal Christian Life

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Watchman Nee is one of my favorite authors. His book, The Normal Christian Life, summarizes in Biblical detail what is “normal” for a Christian. I had only one problem when I finished reading…my normal day didn’t match the normal Christian life I had just read about. My normal day was a lot more me and fell far short of Galatians 2:20;

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

I remember thinking after the first few pages, “I need to fix my normal day!” However, by the end of the book Nee lovingly and firmly brought to light what needed fixing. It wasn’t my outward actions, it was my heart. The truth is, Jesus isn’t only the Savoir that died for me; He’s not only the Savior that rose for my justification; He is the Savior that dwells within me. He is a present Help. He is constant Friend. We abide together! Today, and every day I spend on this planet is a day I need to be dead to self and alive in Christ!

And so, we pick up tomorrow, Wednesday January 8th: 11:45am and 6:00pm, in the Word and pray our hearts melt in its truth and mold our normal Christian life.