Hebrews 4

As you continue your study of Hebrews with Chapter 4, consider these reflections:

verses 1-5

• What does it mean to you to enter God's rest (to have the hope of God's promises fulfilled)?
• What blessings do you experience when you are aware of His presence in your life?
• What does it mean to you to have the hope of His promises of the transformation of all creation? (c.f. Romans 8:22-25; Rev 21:1-5)

verses 6 - 13

• What are some things that distract you from the Way, that cause you during your day to forget your hope in Jesus and to lose your focus on Him, that could cause you to lose interest in Him, even if momentarily?
• What are areas of your life that the Holy Spirit is judging, exposing, pressing you to change?  
• What steps can you take to be more open, more transparent?

verses 14-16

• What are some things have you been forgiven of?  Reflect on things in you that God has worked on.
• What is it like for you to know the High Priest Jesus who feels all your pain and struggle and yet loves and forgives you of everything?  Reflect on times when that has been especially real for you.
• What are some ways that your past struggles and suffering may have helped you be empathetic with others? ...to help those who've experienced perhaps similar struggles? 

Hebrews 3

As you continue your study of Hebrews with Chapter 3, consider these reflections:

verses 1-6:

• Who are your heroes, the spiritual guides and religious teachers who have been important to you (like Moses to ancient Israel)?
• Do you still feel a devotion to them, still hang onto their teachings?  Are there ways that you need to be more deliberate about letting go in order to truly fix your thoughts and study and devotion on Jesus?
• What are some ways you can let Jesus have more influence in your life?

verses 7 - 19

• The lesson of Israel in the Sinai is that even though we start well, we can lose faith by falling back into old ways.  Are there things that you do regularly, even daily, to invite Jesus into your day, into your life experience?   What would you like to add to your worship life and discipline?
• What are ways you can encourage others in their walk with jesus?  Are there ways that you can regularly participate in fellowships or small groups to share encouragement and maybe thereby also strengthen your own faith?

Hebrews 2

As you study Hebrews Chapter 2, consider these reflections:
verses 1-4:

• What is it that God requires us to "pay careful attention" to?  Where do you go / what do you do to gain a clear understanding of His salvation and what he expects of us in response to it?  Are there certain parts of the Bible that you find most informative or inspirational?  Are there spiritual practices through which God brings you greater understanding/awareness?

verses 5-9

• What does it mean in your life that God has made everything subject to Jesus (that Jesus has all power in heaven and earth)?

verse 10

• Jesus was made perfect (brought to completion) through his degradation and suffering.  How is that reflected in your life?  Are there things that you've gone through that have been difficult or even traumatic but that God has used to bring you closer to Him and to make you more mature spiritually?

verses 11-13

• What does it mean about you that Jesus calls you His brother (sister)?

verses 14-18

• What is it like to share a painful experience with someone who has been through something similar?
• Jesus has experienced the temptations, the pain and suffering, the grief and loss, that makes up our human experience.  He experienced death itself on our behalf.  He has already felt within Himself what we are going through.  How do we put ourselves in a place where He can minister to us?  What can you do to feel His support and empathy and loving acceptance as you go through difficult experiences in your life?