04/28/24

Jesus is Better

Richard White, Pastor

"A Better Altar" - Hebrews 13:7-16

1. Hebrews tells us to remember our leaders who spoke the word of God to us, (vs 7). Who are some influential shapers of your spiritual life and how did they influence your faith?  Who are you influencing and how?
2. Verse 8 declares that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. What is this telling us about the person of Jesus Christ? What have you seen of his constancy in your life or in the lives of others through the years?  How does this truth impact your faith?
3. What are some strange and diverse teachings (vs 9) that Christians are tempted to be led away to in our day?  What is often the promise in those teachings with regard to you and God,  and how does grace really answer that?
4. Our altar is the cross of Jesus from which we feast on grace (9, 10).  What is grace and how has it strengthened your heart, can you give any examples of this?
5. Like these Hebrew Christians, nobody wants to be blasted as a thing of reproach or disgrace; but Jesus was and we are to bear the reproach he endured. (vs 13).  What does this look like in our society, our lives? How does grace sustain us in suffering?  How does understanding Jesus’ suffering encourage believers facing trials today?
6. In verse 14, the author speaks of "here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." How does this perspective on the transient nature of earthly life influence our priorities and values as Christians?  How does it help us bear reproach for Christ?
7. Why do you think the author calls praise, the “sacrifice” of praise?  How is praise a sacrifice for you?
8. How might “acknowledging his name” (vs 15) be a sacrifice? 
9. How is doing good and sharing with others a sacrifice?
10. In what way do these sacrifices please God?