Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ. In Him is everything we need.
Welcome to afaithtalk. We’re nearing the end of this study already! Today we’re in Hebrews 12. I read the NIV mostly, so grab yours and get a writing utensil and something to write upon. If I were sitting with you I would hand you the paper, but alas, this is impossible over the digital bits that get this lesson from my hands to you. I hope that all of it is an immense blessing to you.
Before we start, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we’re here again to study Your word. Help. I need You to lead. I need You to give the words, the stories, whatever it is that in this twelfth chapter of Hebrews that You want us to see, You have to reveal it and I’m counting on it; that You will. Thank You, Lord. All for Your Glory.
Read Hebrews 12:1-2, which we read last week in connection with chapter 11’s many examples of faith.
Back in Chapter 9, we discovered how, but it’s easier to understand, in light of this chapter, this time, from The Message, it’s the end of verse 14. After Jesus has done all this for us, sacrificing His life to save us and restore our relationship to God, he freed us and made it: ‘so that we can live all out for God.’ So throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race set out before you with perseverance. One step at a time.
Read Hebrews 12:3
Consider Him so that you will not grow weary or lose heart. It’s said in many ways in the Scriptures. Keep believing. Keep your confidence in the hope ahead of you.
Read Hebrews 12:4-6
God Disciplines His Children
What do you suppose ‘not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood’ in the struggle against sin means?
Read Hebrews 12:7-10
Discipline: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character (m-w.com #3). If you’ve known His discipline, rejoice, for that is the way to know you are His.
Read Hebrews 12:11-13
What does discipline produce?
Read Hebrews 12:14
Warning and Encouragement
Make every effort… I’ve heard that before, does it sound familiar to you? It’s in 7 more places in Scripture. Go to these places and see why to make every effort: Luke 13:24; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 4:11; 2 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 3:14. Write out the reasons under the heading Make Every Effort. Include Hebrews 12:14 too.
Read Hebrews 12:15-17
How can you see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God? Live in Him, with faith, through grace, flee from all sin and trouble that so easily entangles. Because we are all together in this faith and the risk to one is a risk to all.
Read Hebrews 12:18-21
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
These are examples of stories from Exodus 19, 12 and 13 if you wish to go back and read them. This is why the heading is calling ‘the Mountain of Fear’.
Read Hebrews 12:22-24
See why this is called the Mountain of Joy?
Read Hebrews 12:25
Read verse 25 again.
Read Hebrews 12:26-29
Write out verse 28-29.
Let us be _____________ Worship God with ___________ and ________.
Thank You, Jesus. I praise and honor Your Name, for You have done all of this, given all of this, for us. Thank You.