Date: June 9, 2024
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 10:26-39

Facilitator Questions:
Themes:  Judgment, Fear of God, Persevering in faith
Start thinking:  Ask a question to get your group thinking.

• What do verses 26-31 teach about God’s judgment?
• Read verse 31 again and discuss why it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• What are the important reminders and exhortations in verses 32-39?
• Remember, the author of Hebrews wrote this letter to Christians. How did these verses apply to the early Hebrew believers, and how do they apply to us?

Start sharing:  Choose a question to create openness.

• The Old and New Testaments use the exact phrases “fear God” 10 times and “fear of the LORD” 30 times, and also make reference to this holy fear hundreds of other times. What does fearing God or fearing the LORD mean to you?
• How does your belief about God’s judgment compare with what this passage teaches? What do you need to think about?
• How does your faith compare with that of the early Hebrew Christians, according to verses 32-34? Do you possess Christ so firmly that you would joyfully accept the plundering of your property, endure reproach and affliction, and stand with those who are imprisoned for their faith, as they did? If not, what can you do about it?
• In what ways do you take God too lightly? What do you need to take more seriously?

Start praying:  Be bold and pray with power.

• Thank God for His Word and for the Holy Spirit who reveals the truth of it to us.
• Pray to have proper fear of the LORD and to walk in constant obedience to Him.
• Pray to be purified from anything that would distract you, weaken your faith or cause you to sin. Ask for God’s help to endure His discipline and to grow you through it.
• Pray that the Church in the United States will be brought to repentance from sinful, worldly ways and will humbly seek God’s forgiveness.

Start doing:  Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• Talk to a mature, trustworthy Christian about how to grow in faith. Get personal, and ask them to tell you if they see something in you that might displease God.
• As was suggested awhile ago, prayerfully look (again?) through your home and remove anything that causes you to stumble.