Nov. 7 | Discovery

Study Questions for Groups

By Michael C. Mack

1. Over the last week, how did you help someone in your life choose wisely between earthly and heavenly things, between temporary and eternal things, between earthly treasures and treasures in heaven?

2. What challenges did you face last week?

Ask two people to read aloud Hebrews 3:7-19 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage in their own words.

3. What primary message or moral do you perceive in this passage?

4. Let’s dig deeper:

• Even though Psalm 95 was composed many centuries before Hebrews, the writer of Hebrews uses the present tense when quoting this Old Testament passage. What does this indicate to you about . . .

                  – why the Hebrews writer quoted this passage?

                  – the practicality of Scripture today?

                  – the role of the Holy Spirit?

• How would the story from the Israelites’ wandering in the desert help the New Testament church not turn away from God?

• What warnings do you find in this passage?

• What instructions for Christ followers do you see?

• What encouragement do you find?

• Note references in this passage to the past, present, and future. What do those time elements imply for how you think of your life?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage? (Note the reference to all three persons of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)

6. What do you learn about humans?

7. What do you learn about obeying God from this passage?

8. We are all in continuous need (“as long as it is called ‘Today’”) of encouragement to keep us from being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. A vital part of being in a Christian community like this one is to encourage one another in this way “daily,” not just when we gather. How will you seek to be an encourager of others this week?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What encouragement do you need this upcoming week?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on Hebrews 5:11–6:12 as we continue studying faith in the book of Hebrews. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.