I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A few weeks ago I started posting these notes on the blog too so as to keep the blog a bit more active. So, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on November 15. The lesson is on Hebrews 10:11-18. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!
Just One Thing
A Lesson in Contrasts
Hebrews 10:11-18
Introduction
The tyranny of the urgent
Swimming in a sea of “things to do”
Going through the motions just living life
The straw that broke the camel’s back
The negative impact of “just one more thing”
What if "just one thing" could have a positive impact?
Background for our passage
Daily sacrifices versus one sacrifice
Hebrews 10:11-18
In God’s hands, just one thing is enough
1. Contrasting Sacrifices
Hebrews 10:11-14
Questions
a. Why do the priests offer sacrifices daily?
b. What do these ongoing sacrifices accomplish for folks?
c. How is Christ’s sacrifice different?
d. How is it that one sacrifice accomplishes what many sacrifices couldn’t do?
The priests’ daily sacrifices is incomplete
a. Like a pile of dirty clothes, cleaning is temporary and must be continued as the pile of clothes grows
b. Human sin is like that, it is overwhelming
c. The priests do not have what it takes to gain complete forgiveness
Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice is complete (John 19:30)
a. This sacrifice is not partial or temporary
b. This sacrifice is singular and sanctifying (Rom. 8:1-4)
c. God finishes what he starts (Phil. 1:6)
In God’s hands, just one thing is enough
2. Contrasting Covenants
Hebrews 10:15-18
The first covenant
a. Laws written on stone
b. Many laws and sacrifices required
c. Unable to forgive multiple sins “once for all time”
The second covenant
a. Endorsed by the Spirit
b. Written on hearts, a “living” word that brings life (2 Cor. 3:4-6; Hebrews 4:12)
c. Requires only one sacrifice to forgive multiple sins “once for all time”
d. One sacrifice of Christ removes the need for multiple sacrifices
In God’s hands, just one thing is enough
3. Application
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." C. T. Studd
If God has given his best for us, and if that “one thing” is sufficient to provide all we need for life and holiness; then how should we live?
This week
a. Determine to give God your best, not a half hearted effort, in whatever you do
b. Commit yourself to God to live in the victory and Spirit of his Son and his offering
c. Live a sacrificed life doing just one thing—Seek to please God at all times
d. Find just one thing you can do for God, and do it to the best of your ability
e. Take time this week to look for just one opportunity to share your faith
f. Find just one person who needs your help or encouragement and give it
Remember, in God’s hands, just one thing is enough
4. Discussion Questions
What point is the writer making when he stresses the repeated offerings of the Jewish priesthood? What do we do over and over again in an effort to “gain” God’s approval?
What point is being made by noting that after Christ's sacrifice he sat down?
"He sat down at the right hand of God.“ What does this infer about the status of Christ?
In what sense have we been "made perfect"?
In what sense are we "being made holy"? How are you doing in living a holy life? Where do you need God’s Spirit and Christ’s sacrifice to help?
In what sense is the law "in" our hearts and "on" our minds? In what ways do we ignore it? How can we learn to pay more attention?
What sins need forgiving in your life?
Who in your world needs to hear about God’s “just one thing” in Christ and the salvation and sanctification it can bring?
What “just one thing” will you do this week to show God’s grace?
Thanks for reading!
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