Theme: The way forward requires maturity
Passage: Hebrews 5:11–6:8
Main Idea: The way forward requires that we press on to maturity.
1. Problem: Spiritual laziness stunts growth (5:11–14).
Indicators of spiritual laziness:
a. Inability to teach others the Christian basics
b. Ignorance of these basics of the Christian faith
c. Infantile implementation of these basics to life
2. Solution: Press on to maturity (6:1–3).
How?
a. Learn the basics.
b. Leave them there as the foundation upon which to have your faith built and strengthened.
3. Consequence: Refusal to move on to maturity opens one up to apostasy (6:4–8).
a. Those who fall away from Christ cannot be renewed to repentance.
i. They are crucifying the Son of God to themselves.
ii. They are publicly disgracing Him.
b. Their lives demonstrate that they are disqualified on the last day.
Main Idea: The way forward requires that we press on to maturity.
Application Questions:
• In your own spiritual evaluation of your life, which indicator of spiritual laziness most characterizes you? How can you go about addressing this in your own life?
• Are the basics of the Christian faith discussed in this passage simply intellectual or do they contain a moral/ethical component to them (see 5:13–14)? What does this indicate about Christian maturity?
• From this passage, what did you learn about spiritual apostasy? How is this motivating to you? If you don’t find it motivating you to press on to spiritual maturity, what does this indicate about your spiritual condition?
• If we don’t press on to maturity but open ourselves up to apostasy, what does this indicate about our understanding and treatment of Jesus Christ?
June 6th, 2021
HEBREWS. :: The way forward requires maturity
June 6, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burggraff
October 3, 2021
October 3, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Hebrews 13:18–25
Theme: Final Remarks for the Way Forward Passage: Hebrews 13:18–25 Three final calls to action as the book of Hebrews closes: 1. Pray for leaders to possess the conviction to powerfully display the Gospel (vv. 18–19). 2. Trust the work God is doing for you through Jesus (20–21). 3. Continue to persevere in the gospel (22). Main Idea: God’s has mapped out the way forward on life’s journey in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Application Questions: • What do vv. 18–19 teach us about the content of our prayers as well as how to pray? • How does the content of v. 20 serve as the basis for the request of equipping believers to do God’s will in v. 21? What does this indicate about God’s will in our lives? • What does it mean that God “works in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ” in v. 21? How should this impact the way that you live? • What has Hebrews taught you about perseverance in the gospel?
September 26, 2021
September 26, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Hebrews 13:7–17
September 26, 2021 - The Way Forward Following Your Leaders Passage: Hebrews 13:7–17 Title: The Way Forward Following Your Leaders Main Idea: God provides us with guides for our spiritual journey. Thus, we must: 1. Imitate our spiritual mentors (7–8). a. Remember their teaching. b. Observe their life choices. 2. Trust Christ’s Sacrifice (9–16). a. Don’t follow faddish teaching (9). b. Follow Christ’s path (10–14). c. Offer God sacrifices that praise him (15–16): i. Speech that confesses his name ii. Service that benefits others 3. Submit to your church leaders (17). a. They watch over your souls. b. They will give account. c. The more joyous their task, the more benefit to you Application Questions: • Name the spiritual mentors that have impacted your life. What was it about them that made such an impact on you? • How are you vulnerable to false teaching today? • What does Christ’s path suggest about the way our lives should look (vv. 12–14)? How does this differ from your current reality? • What does submitting to your current church leaders mean and not mean? How can we make their work joyous and not a burden?
September 19, 2021
September 19, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Hebrews 13:1–6
Theme: The Way Forward in Service Passage: Hebrews 13:1–6 How thankful service to God (12:28–29) acts toward the people in our lives: 1. Spiritual Siblings: Lovingly care for your spiritual brothers and sisters (1) 2. Strangers: Hospitably care for those you don’t know (2) 3. Suffering: Think about those suffering for Christ and act accordingly (3) 4. Spouse: Vigilantly remain sexually pure (4) 5. Self: Conduct your life free from the care of money (5–6) Main Idea: Service focuses on the situation and needs of others by deemphasizing the desires of self. Application Questions: • Are you connected with this body of believers so that you can lovingly care for your brother and sisters here? How can you connect more deeply to obey the command in v. 1? • Why might believers struggle showing hospitality to those they don’t know, even in the context of the church? What can be done to address a lack of hospitality in your life? • What can you do to empathize with and help those who are suffering for the cause of Christ? • Where are you weakest in the battle to remain sexually pure? What steps do you need to take to remain sexually pure in our current context? • What practical ways can you implement in your life to free yourself from the love of money?