HEBREWS 4:11-13

IN OR OUT

November 15, 2015

Todd Chapman

Hebrews 4:11-13 ESV: Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Problem:   Some who have embraced Christ will drift away, and a portion of those who drift will be unaware that they have drifted, that they will miss God’s eternal rest.

The Solution:   We must all be diligent about entering God’s rest.  To be diligent we must be devoted to using the primary tool given us by God to assess the genuineness of our faith. God’s tool is His Word.

STRIVE = Being devoted to using the tool God has given us to assess the genuineness of our faith.   

God’s Word…

  • … is a powerful tool.  
  • …is the standard God uses to assess the genuineness of our faith.  
  • …is the standard we should use to assess the genuineness of our faith.  

God’s Word is useful: 

  • Basic moral principles
  • History of God’s relationship with humanity
  • Paperweight
  • Symbol of Spirituality
  • Source of Comfort
  • Foundation for Ongoing Spiritual Transformation
  • The God given tool for helping us assess the genuineness of our faith.   

God’s Word (Hebrews) tells us who Jesus is:

  •  God Almighty
  • A human being
  • One who tasted death so we would not have to
  • Founder of our salvation
  • Made our perfect High Priest through suffering
  • Destroyer of the power of the devil
  • Deliverer of those who were afraid of death
  • Maker of propitiation for us
  • Our help in all circumstances

God’s Word (Hebrews) tells us about those who embrace Jesus: 

  • Confident and boasting in Jesus
  • Striving to enter God’s rest
  • Devoted to using God’s Word  

OUR RESPONSE: 

I’m in: 

  • Praise God
  • Keep striving
  • Help others use God’s Word   

I’m out. 

  • Keep searching  
  • Hang with folks who are IN
  • Read God’s Word
  • Know the invitation is still open   

I’m not sure. 

  • Keep searching
  • Hang with folks who are IN
  • Read God’s Word
  • Don’t settle until you are confident you are IN

Life Group Questions

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

1. How would you summarize 4:1-10?

2. What are we to “strive” for?

3. What specifically is “the same sort of disobedience”?

4. What does it mean that the word of God is living and active?

5. What is the author trying to communicate by saying the Word is “sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow…”?

6. How does the word of God discern “thoughts and intentions”?

7. No one is hidden from God’s sight, and will have to give an account.  What is the author intending to convey by telling us this?

8. How would you paraphrase 4:11-13?

HOW DOES IT APPLY?

1. How did you come to treasure Jesus?

2. How was the Bible involved in your coming to love Jesus?

3. How would you describe your relationship with the Bible since you came to faith?

4. What challenges do you face when reading the Bible?

5. What would help you read the Bible more confidently?