Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

Hebrews 12:1 tells us that sin will slow us down in "the race God has set before us." On a practical level, how does sin remove our perseverance?

Jesus was able to endure the cross by keeping His eyes on eternity. What are some ways that we can daily focus on Heaven?

Read Genesis 25:29-34. Why does the author of Hebrews describe Esau's behavior as sinful?

Hebrews 13:15 says, "Let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." How would you describe "a continual sacrifice of praise to God?"

What is one thing you have learned about the book of Hebrews that you plan to remember forever?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

The Most Holy Place in the Jerusalem temple was a terrifying place because God's fierce presence was there and would kill anyone unworthy who entered. How does it make you feel that we can boldy enter the Most Holy Place?

Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." What are some practical ways that you can encourage the faith of your friends and family?

Hebrews 10:27 talks about a "raging fire" that will consume God's enemies. Romans (5:10 & 8:7) tells us that before we were God's children, we were His enemies. Do you see your unsaved friends as God's enemies?

Hebrews 11 makes it very clear that people have always been saved by faith in God, not by good works. Under the Old Covenant, why did the Jews have to continually offer sacrifices if they were saved by faith?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

Why was it required for priests to repeatedly sacrifice animals, yet Jesus only had to die once? What made Jesus' sacrifice unique?

The Jews continually sinned and broke their covenant with God, causing separation from Him. Why does our sin not break our covenant with God and separate us from Him?

How comfortable are you with the idea of cutting a covenant? Does the bloody contract-making process of the Hebrew people make you thankful that our process of contract making simply requires a signature?

If the purpose of the old covenant was to prepare the world for Jesus, does that mean God planned the death of Jesus in the beginning of time? If no, when do you think God determined that a perfect sacrifice was needed?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

God's covenants with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, and with David were examples of God making relational promises and commitments to men. List some covenants that you've made with people in your life. (Example: mortgages, marriages, business deals, user agreements, employment contracts, driver's license, prenuptial agreements, etc.)

Hebrews 9 describes a very bloody Jewish sacrificial system of killing animals for temporary forgiveness of human sins. Are you comfortable with the fact that it was established by God?

How would you react if the Jews resumed animal sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple today?

Jesus is the mediator between God and man. Because of His sacrifice, we can enter the holy of holies continually. Talk about your habits of regularly meeting with God.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

Hebrews 8:1 says Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father. What does this say about what Jesus accomplished on the cross and what God the Father thinks about His sacrifice?

Hebrews 8:6 says, Jesus "is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises." How are Jews saved? Is there any value in observing/obeying the old law, the Jewish covenant?

The fact that the new covenant replaced (Hebrews 8:7) the old testament doesn't mean the Old Testament isn't valuable, but it does mean that it's not as applicable to our lives. When you read the Old Testament, are you tempted to try to apply its instructions to your life?

The old covenant was never meant to be applied to the church. It was meant to prepare the world for Jesus. What dangers do you see in continuing to abide by the old covenant even though its purposed was fulfilled when Jesus came.

If you have time, read Exodus 20:1-17. How many of the ten commandments apply even to those who live under the new covenant?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

Jesus is our great high priest, and He is our king. Considering the fact that kings rule over people and priest advocate for people, what is the significance of Jesus being both?

The tribe of Judah was the ruling people, the tribe of kings. The tribe of Levi was the religious tribe. What does it imply that Jesus is from the tribe of Judah rather than from the tribe of Levi?

Hebrews 7:19 says “the law never made anything perfect.” What does that say about the old law? Why would God establish the law if it didn’t make anything perfect?

Before Jesus died He said, “it is finished.” Why was Jesus’ sacrifice a once-for-all sacrifice, but the other high priests had to repeatedly offer sacrifices? 

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Here is the discussion question for this episode:

 

The role of the priest was to represent people to God. The catholic church practices penance. The protestant church doesn't require Christians to use priests as a mediator between God and man. Which tradition do you think is honoring the lessons of Hebrews 5 & 6? (See I Timothy 2:5)

Only God's goodness can save us. Does God's grace give you the confidence to come boldly before the throne of God or are you more distracted by your own insufficiencies?

When you read the author of Hebrews criticizing these Jewish Christians for being immature in their faith, how do you feel? Describe your own journey from milk to solid foods.

When God saves us, He makes us holy. Hebrews 5:19 tells us that we can enter into the inner sanctuary (the holy of holies) with Jesus? He is the High Priest who makes us high priests. What does that tell us about what God's grace accomplished in our lives?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Next week we’ll finish Hebrews 4 and go through Hebrews 5. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

Hebrews 4 describes Heaven, our eternal promised land, as a place of rest. What kind of rest are you most excited to experience in Heaven: rest from labor, from worry, from temptation, from relational struggles, or something else?

If God rested, we should too. What sabbath (resting) habits have you built into your life?

The author of Hebrews says we should tremble with fear at the thought of some people missing out on God's eternal rest. Does the idea of people dying without believing in God evoke emotions in you?

Hebrews 4:13 says, "Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." Does the idea of Jesus (our judge) knowing everything about us cause you to feel fear? Or do you feel excitement knowing that your judge chose to die so that you could be made holy?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Next week we’re going to go through Hebrews 4. Here are the discussion question for this episode:

 

In John 5:46 Jesus says, "If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me." This chapter makes the case that Jesus is greater than Moses because as a profit, it was Moses' calling to point people to Jesus. Why do you think the Jews didn't recognize Jesus when so many profits predicted His arrival?

Hebrews 3:6 and 3:14 talks about staying faithful to God until the end. Do you think someone can stop believing in Jesus after they start believing in Him?

The rebellion of the Israelites in the wilderness proves how easily we rebel against God. What would have caused the Israelites in the wilderness to remain faithful to God?

Charles Blondin asked for volunteers to get in the wheelbarrow so that he could push them across the Niagra Falls on a tightrope. Would you have gotten in the wheelbarrow? Are you naturally a trusting or skeptical person?

Thank you for joining me for this episode of On The Way. Next week we’re going to go through Hebrews 3. Here is the discussion questions for this episode:

 

Angels delivered the old covenant. Jesus delivered the new covenant. What does that tell us about them?

Hebrews 2:1 says, "we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." What often distracts you from the voice of God?

For a little while, we have been made a little lower than the angels, but God tells the angels to watch over us while we live on Earth. Can you think of a time in your life when you felt an angel protected or guided you?

Even though Jesus was fully God even when He was a human, He chose to limit His powers rather than use them to avoid pain. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy, and how can Christ's empathy teach us to love others who are hurting?