Hebrews Bible Study Week 2: Tuesday

Lord it’s Hard to be Humble!


Focused Passage: Hebrews 2:9

Daily Readings: Isa. 53; Phil. 2

There is an old saying, “Life has a way of humbling you.” Obviously, humility is necessary because we get into a place of comfort with our position in life. The measure of humility is usually proportionate to our position. If pride is in the way…then humility seems more difficult. Sometimes it comes in defeat…other times it comes in small moments. Either way humility begins with us realizing what position we are in is not where we want to be.

There is an old story about Ulysses S. Grant…On his way to a reception held in his honor, Ulysses S. Grant got caught in a shower and offered to share his umbrella with a stranger walking in the same direction. The man said he was going to Grant's reception out of curiosity; he had never seen the general. "I have always thought that Grant was a much over-rated man," he said. "That's my view also," Grant replied.

But Christ had no need of humility. He was in a position of glory that was rightfully His. Yet His humility was proportionate to our position…not His. (D. Vance)

1. Why Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels?” (Heb. 2:9)

2. What does it mean that Christ was willing to do this? (It actually says it was by God’s grace that He tasted death 2:9)? What does this demonstrate about Him?

3. What areas in your life need humility? How can you have the same humble thinking of Christ (Phil. 2)?

Hebrews Bible Study Week 2: Monday

Almost Nothing!


Focused Passage: Hebrews 2:5-8

Daily Readings: Gen. 1:26-27; Psalm 8; Isa. 40:21-26

Last summer my family and I spent time at my parents’ cabin in Colorado. Late one evening, I got my son out of bed and carried him outside. It was a dark, moonless, cloudless night with little “light pollution” (street lights, etc.). He couldn’t understand why I was taking him outside. I pointed to the sky and then he knew why. After about 15 seconds of stunned silence he said, “It doesn’t look real. It looks like I could reach out and touch them.” You see, he’s grown up with the haze and light polluted sky of our area. He had never seen the billions of stars that you can see with the naked eye when the sky is truly clear. I pointed out the Milky Way and several constellations. Still amazed, my son declared that compared to all those stars, the Earth seems small. Yes, I agreed, and we humans are smaller still. (A. Wiggins)



1. Have you ever been somewhere or had an experience that caused you to feel as small as a “grasshopper?” Why?



2. No doubt we are small, yet Hebrews 2:5-7 says that we were God’s creation, crowned with glory and honor, and originally having authority. How does this give you purpose and direction as a follower of Christ?



3. Hebrews 2:8b says that at present not everything is subject to “man.” Why not? What happened to cause this?

Hebrews Bible Study - Friday

Friday - Drifting


It’s interesting that if you look up the word “drifting” in your computer’s search engine, you get a description that says the following, “Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed.” Come on…are you serious? The driver actually intentionally over steers…and maintains control. Intentionally out of control while being in control. Doesn’t sound right to me!

Spiritual drifting happens when we, by our own choices (i.e. intentionally), move away from God’s intended direction…and think that we are in control. Then, over time, people find themselves farther and farther away from the truth of the gospel. They look back and wonder what happened. It’s drifting without fear! For unbelievers, they miss out on much needed salvation…for believers, they drift away to barrenness and brokenness. All the while…thinking that we are under control, we find people lacking the fear of God to live according to His Word.

Daily Reading: Acts 17:10-12; I John 1:1-2:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14

1. Hebrews 2:1 says that we should pay careful attention to what we hear from God so as to not drift away. For the church in Thessalonica, what was the result of the people paying close attention to the preaching of Paul?



2. Are there any areas in your life that may be susceptible to drifting away?



3. What can you actively do to make sure you’re not drifting away? (Acts 17:10-12 for one idea)

Hebrews Bible Study - Thursday



Thursday – Who’s in Charge?


I love watching those shows that demonstrate the proper way to train your dog. My small, 11 lbs dog, Daisy, can be pretty ferocious at times (honestly…I’m exaggerating a little). I always get a kick out of the expert trainers on TV saying, “You have to show your dog who’s in charge.” Exactly, Daisy needs to know that I, at 200 lbs more than her, am in charge. Yet it seems I really have no authority. I find it hysterical that my wife, however, can walk up to her and say two words and Daisy will do exactly what she asks. “Daisy, sit down!” She sits down. “Daisy, calm down!” She calms down. “Daisy, go bother my husband!” And Daisy bothers me. It’s like she really has no idea the power I have…yet she will listen to my wife.

Isn’t this exactly how we are with Christ sometimes? We know the authority that He has…instead we act as if He won’t use it or has given it all to us. Christ has the authority to wipe us off the map, yet in grace and mercy, He uses that authority to lead us and guide us into a life worth living.

Daily Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; Matthew 8:23-27 & 9:1-7; Mark 1:21-28; John 5: 24-27

1. From the above passages, what are some things Christ has authority over?



2. Where does He get such authority? How does having this authority make Him superior to other ‘gods’?



3. Notice Hebrews 1:4-14 focuses on Christ being better than the angels…1:14 says that these angels serve us who are inheriting salvation. But how do they serve us?



4. Does Christ have authority in your life? How is Christ’s authority revealed in your daily life?

Hebrews Bible Study - Wednesday

Wednesday – Leaving Good for Better!


When I first began to have feelings for my wife (obviously she wasn’t my wife yet), I was in a relationship with my college roommate’s sister. I had thought she was “the one” for me. But the more time I spent with Allyson, the more I felt confused by the pulling of my heart strings. The answer came in a little saying that I use often… “Sometimes you have to leave good for better!” For me it was leaving a good relationship for what was clearly better for me.

As Christians, we are constantly bombarded with these same moments of indecisiveness. We find ourselves caught up in good things (sometimes only from our own perspectives)…but we know they’re not best. Sometimes it’s because we don’t know how much better “best” is. At other times we know what is better but choose to settle for less anyway. Yet why would any of us settle for good…when best is available? Yet we do this all the time with Christ. We know He is much more superior, greater, and better, but we settle for just simply good. Maybe it’s time to leave good for better!

Daily Reading: John 3:31-35; Colossians 1-2; Revelation 5

1. In each of these passages, who is describing Jesus’ superiority?



2. What does Paul mean when he says that the fullness of the Deity lives in Christ (Col. 2:9)? Notice it also says that the fullness of Christ is in us (1:27)…what does this mean for us?



3. What areas of your life would you say that you need to leave good for better (Christ)? What are the things holding you back? Why can’t you trust Christ in these areas (especially if He is all that these passages describe)?



Hebrews Bible Study - Tuesday

Tuesday – It’s all in the name

 I remember the stories behind naming our sons. My wife and I had many discussions, lists, books, and ideas that led to our favorites. When a son was born…the name had already been chosen. The Hebrew culture was and is much different. For them names were sometimes given after the baby was born and usually based upon their character at birth. The name was more than just identity…it was purpose and a description of character.

The name given to Jesus, a basic, common name of the day...truly describes His plan and purpose. Literally it means, “The Lord is salvation.” Jesus, it isn’t just another name, it’s a description of the heart of God toward us. It’s all in the name!

Daily Reading: Isaiah 9:6-7; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:11-16

1. In Hebrews 1:4, the writer describes Christ’s name as superior to that of the angels. What name is the writer referring to?

2. Can you list a few names/descriptions of Christ throughout Scripture (different than the ones mentioned):

3. In what way does Phil. 2:9-11 describe Jesus’ name as being superior to the angel’s names?

4. What is the response of your heart when the name of the Son is spoken? Are you in awe of His name?

Hebrews Bible Study - Monday

Monday – “Can you hear Me now?”

Let’s be honest…We all can name the company that made the slogan, “Can you hear me now?” famous...come on…you know it…Yes! That’s right! Verizon! Verizon has used this slogan to sell their service to millions of people around the world. Whether you have Verizon or not, you have probably used this phrase to describe your cell service as well.

Hebrews begins with a statement that sets the tone for the rest of the letter…that God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ (1:2). As we study through Hebrews, this same question is going to come back to us over and over again… “Will we hear Him now?”

Daily Reading: Colossians 3:16-17; Matthew 13:18-23; James 1-2

1. In Christ’s parable of the soils, what is the significance of each soil and how are they a picture into our lives of listening?



2. James tells us to be quick to listen (1:19)…doers not just hearers (1:22)…How are you doing as a listener and doer? What areas of your life do you believe you could listen better?



3. How do you prepare yourself to “let the Word of Christ dwell in richly” (Col. 3:16) every day? What are other ways that you can prepare yourself to hear and do God’s Word?



4. Have I really heard the Word of God in the person and the teaching and the work of the Son?