Hebrews 13:7-25

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Final Instructions and the Conclusion of the Letter

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. There are spiritual dos and don’ts for the believers in the Christian church:
    a. Do remember the faithful fathers.
    b. Don’t fall for false teaching.
    c. Do go outside the camp.
    d. Do offer the sacrifice of praise.
    e. Don’t forget to do good.
    f. Do obey your leaders.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Remember, there are two aspects to the work of the Lord.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the great theme of the epistle to the Hebrews?

  2. As responsible and mature believers we have __________ duties in the Christian community and we have _________ duties in the Christian church.

  3. See Hebrews 13:7. Who are the people we should remember?

  4. Read Hebrews 13:8-11. What are the particular false teachings in this passage of scripture?

  5. What was the purpose of all the sacrifices and rituals of the Old Testament?

  6. What does it mean to offer the sacrifice of praise? See Hebrews 13:15.

  7. Read Hebrews 13:16. How can we please God?

ANSWERS

  1. The Priesthood of Christ.

  2. social, spiritual

  3. We should remember the faithful fathers of the past, the heroes of the faith, and faithful men and women we’ve known. Remember those who were models of faithfulness and endurance.

  4. The rituals of Judaism, the references to clean and unclean food, and the rituals of sacrifices.

  5. To look forward to and to typify Christ.

  6. It means that we need to structure our lives to spend more time to praise God. Praise is not always spontaneous, and sacrifice involves time, effort, and cost.

  7. We can please God by sacrificing in order to do good. There are spontaneous good works, but doing good works also needs to be planned.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. “Let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” Hebrews 13:13-14. The camp for the early Hebrews was the religion of Judaism that rejected Jesus as Messiah. To be a follower of Jesus, they had to leave the establishment of Judaism. Discuss what is means for you to go outside the camp.

  2. “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17. Is it difficult for you to submit to authority within the church structure? Remember, it is a serious matter to disobey the elders in the local church. Do you submit without grumbling? Don’t give your elders grief, and remember, they are accountable to God.

CHALLENGE

  1. Remember the two aspects to the work of the Lord: the work of the Lord that we do for Him and the work of the Lord that He does for us. His work in us is the on-going work of sanctification that we should be pleasing in God’s sight. Are you letting Him do this work in your life? Are you becoming more like God’s Son? See Romans 8:29.

KEY VERSES

  • “ Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ” Hebrews 13:13-14

  • “ …let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God… ” Hebrews 13:15

  • “ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. ” Hebrews 13:17



Hebrews, New Testament, TalksDeb HarmsHebrews 13:7-25