Prayer Requests:
Derek: Focus for midterms, transitions in fellowship
Kenny W.: Direction and guidance for post-graduation plans
Tracy: Direction and guidance for post-graduation plans (Same boat!)
Sabrina: Went on a retreat. (Let us know how it went, Sab!)
Monique & Danielle: Pray for the girls as they celebrate their birthday. (Hope you guys had a great birthday!)
Joey: Preparation for testimony and baptism. (It went great! Congratulations, Joey!!!)
Jennifer: Pray for the healing of friend who is experiencing a lot of stress and suffering from bleeding ulcers.
Bible Study Review (Notes courtesy of Enery)
Hebrews 3 - 4:13
3:1-6 - Jesus is greater than Moses.
- Moses was one of God's most faithful servants. (e.g.: Exodus from Egypt, Ten Commandments, plagues ...)
- Logic of the argument: if Moses is so revered, how much more should Jesus be revered?
3:7-19 - Warning against falling away.
- Author is quoting Psalm 95:7-13
- Context: Numbers 14:22-23. Just when the Israelites were right across the way from the Promise Land, instead of going right in, the Israelites send in 12 spies to scope out the land. 2 of them return, encouraging the people to move ahead. 10 of the spies return warning the people of giants and a tough fight ahead. The people decide to NOT go ahead. Their disobedience and unbelief angers God, thus beginning their 40 years of wandering in the desert.
- Main idea: Israel's previous acts of unbelief is a warning to the readers. Israel was held even more accountable because they saw first hand the work of God in the Exodus. In the same way, the Jewish Christians receiving this letter was held more accountable because they saw the work of Jesus.
- Application: Instead, encourage one another to obedience and towards the glory of God.
4:1-13 - Exhortation to enter God's rest
- The Israelites refused to enter into God's rest and through Jesus, the promise of rest still stands for those who unite the good news with faith (v. 2).
- Main exhortation: Therefore, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Ps. 95:7)
- What kind of rest is this?
- Sabbath: for the purpose of rest, reflection, worship
- Physical rest
- Spiritual rest: assurance of salvation in Jesus alone.
- Application: Strive to enter that rest. Rest is the Lord is something that we must strive for. This involves perseverance, cooperating with God and not being idle. Seek rest in the word of God, seek rest in prayer, and seek rest in the accountability of others.
- The word of God is the standard by which we will all be judged.
Thanks for continuing to study with us! Next week, we'll finish up chapters 4 and 5.
And lastly, just to help you remember STRIVING to enter into rest ... here is a visual image of striving. :)
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