Hebrews 12

Sunday, August 28th, 2022

This week, Scott shared with us the writer of Hebrews’ half-time talk with the struggling Jewish Christians. He pointed out four “coaching tips” to help us run the race of the Christian life faithfully and triumphantly.

  1. Read Hebrews 12:1-13. (take turns around the group reading this “longish” passage) 

  2. Anyone have a funny or interesting locker-room talk from their experience in sports?  

  3. Why were the Jewish Christians, in particular, facing so much stress in the early church?  (Do we get any hints from our study in Acts so far?)

  4. Share any “stress points” you have been feeling recently when it comes to living out the Christian life?  

  5. Hebrews 12 illustrates the Christian life using a running metaphor.  Why?

    • Scott contrasted the endurance required in the Christian life with surrounding culture’s need to get everything fast. Share an example or two of that phenomenon.

  6. First coaching tip:  Trust the Trainer

    • Spend some time using the passage to describe a “theology of suffering.”

    • How might that theology differ from our culture’s view of suffering?

    • Reflect on the author’s use of “discipline” (paideia) in the passage.

    • Reflect on the following quote from John Newton: Everything is necessary He sends and nothing can be necessary He withholds.

    • Share some times God has used suffering in your life. How did you feel at that time? How do you see it now? Lessons learned?

  7. Second coaching tip:  Let go of sinful weights.

    • How can the struggles of our race actually help us accomplish this?

  8. Third coaching tip:  Don’t run alone.

    • How has the community of the church helped you navigate tough times?

  9. Fourth coaching tip:  Keep your eyes on Jesus.

    • Read verses 2-3 again and note the different ways the author describes Jesus.  (I have listed the ones Scott mentioned below)

      1-the compassionate man

    • looking to Jesus

    • yet, He triumphed – and with his strength and his help, so can we

      2-the victorious pioneer

    • the founder . . . of our faith

    • he is the trailblazer of our faith

    • he set the example for us but also promises us the resources to follow that example

      3-the only perfecter

    • the perfecter of our faith

    • he finishes what he started

    • he ran the greatest race, start to finish, that was ever run

    • and he will bring ours to a triumphant conclusion

      4-the devoted servant

    • for the joy set before him

    • whether the delight Jesus took in obeying the Father

    • or the joy of bringing us to glory

    • he took the form of a servant and did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped

      5-the effective priest

    • seated at the right hand of the throne of God

    • 1:3 – after Christ made purification for our sins – “he sat down” – his work was finished – it was done

    • when our work on earth is impeded by our sins and entanglements, frustrated and wondering if we will ever make it

    • we remember – Jesus is sitting down – its over – the race is won

      6-the enthroned Lord

    • seated at the right hand of the throne of God 

    • for the readers of Hebrews, at any moment they could be arrested and brought before the court of Caesar – subject to his cruel intentions and whims

    • but they could take heart their destiny was not in Caesar’s hands but in the divine hands of Jesus – their enthroned Lord

      7-the standing man

    • Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

  10. Spend some time praying for each other (family and friends) who are currently struggling in their race right now.

Scott Dixon