Getting Enough Rest

Getting Enough Rest

Hebrews 4.1-13

Synopsis: Rest. It’s something that many of us simply do not do well. We busy ourselves with many “important” things, because after all we believe ourselves to be important people. But sometimes trusting too much in ourselves can lead us down the wrong road. In Hebrews 4, the author talks about the need for us to keep our eyes on the only one who can offer us the rest that we so desperate crave. While that rest eludes us now, we are to be working for the Kingdom of God to be a reality in our world. Simply, we are to be about God’s Kingdom business.

Opening Question: What would a day of perfect rest look like for you? What would you do? What wouldn’t you do?

Study:

What do you think the author means here by the term “rest?”
How is the author comparing the “rest” the people we hoping to encounter in the Promised Land after the exodus and the Promised Land of eternity?
In verses 1-10, what two other examples of “rest” does the author describe?
How are these “3 rests” different from one another?
The writer of Hebrews speaks about “entering the rest” five different times in verses 1-13.
What prevents someone from entering the “rest?”
What kinds of things can trip us up and lead us to fall into “unbelief?”
Verse 10 suggests that anyone who enters the future rest will take a rest from all their works?
What kind of works does the writer have in mind here?
Its so tempting for us to trust the way we feel or the way we see things instead of trusting in God, isn’t it?
How can we keep God’s promise of “eternal rest” before us so that we won’t lose heart?
Seeing as how the New Testament was not bound neat and tidily in book for when Hebrews was written, what do you think the author means when he mentions “God’s word” in verse 12?
The Old Testament?
The other writings that would become the New Testament?
According to verses 11-13, what doe God’s word do?
How does this serve as a preventative measure that protects us from falling into Unbelief?
What kinds of things get in the way of us spending time regularly, prayerfully, and thoughtfully engaging the Scriptures and with Jesus?
While the Scriptures are the source of our life of faith and necessarily for spiritual growth, what other things are needed and helpful for use to grow in grace?
What can we do this week to allow the word of God to cleanse us and heal us as described in verse 11-13

FOR NEXT WEEK: Hebrews 4.14-5.10