Sabbath School Lesson for December 25-31, 2021
See a short video about this quarter’s lessons on the book of Hebrews: https://youtu.be/2-Q5lWCc6-Y
Overview of Lesson 1
We learned this week more about the Hebrews by looking at…
- the glorious beginning of their newfound faith in Christ (Sunday)
- the struggles and persecution that followed (Monday)
- the discouragement and depression it led to (Tuesday)
- how they pressed together to survive (Wednesday)
- how we in the last days can benefit from the message to the Hebrews (Thursday)
Introduction
The book of Hebrews stands apart from other Pauline epistles. It is believed to be a sermon Paul preached, rather than a letter he wrote. The words of exhortation contained in its thirteen chapters mostly speak of encouragement for the struggling early church.
Although there is some question about the authorship and even the audience of Hebrews, there is much in the book that sounds like Paul in its style and themes. Ellen G. White affirms Paul as the author of Hebrews, and there are many Bible scholars who agree with her. The audience may have been a mixture of Jewish and Gentile Christians. Whoever they were, they were God’s people, and were in need of comfort and strengthening in the face of persecution as a result of their faith.
These early Christians had an experience which had three phases.
- It began with evangelism. They were captivated by the testimony and miracles that accompanied their newfound faith. Their love for Christ was strong and moving.
- But then, persecution began and their experience shifted from joy to pain and suffering. They were often left without financial means or physical support of any kind.
- The third phase consisted of spiritual discouragement that held them in a state of depression. Their service and worship of God faltered as their spirits waned after the continuous attacks of members of their church communities.
Sunday: A Glorious Beginning
As we often hold dear our beginning experience in the faith of Christ, the early Christian church had much to look back on and be thankful for as well. Think of how exciting it would have been to hear about Jesus from those who were closest to Him on earth–His own disciples, or maybe people who had been healed by Jesus or saw Him feed a multitude.
There were many miracles that accompanied these exciting testimonies. The Spirit had been poured out at Pentecost; but Peter, Philip, and Paul also performed miracles that were witnessed by the growing new companies of believers.
The Spirit of God was busy convicting and forgiving people, and they were, in turn, bold in their Spirit-led prayers and witnessing. The confidence and faith of these new Christians grew steadily as soon they learned of and believed in the work of Jesus, their longed-for Messiah.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Hebrews 2:3, 4
- What role did the Spirit have in the evangelism of the early church?
Acts 2:40-42
- What made this a time for the church to rejoice and be glad?
Monday: The Struggle
It was likely that the Hebrew Christians Paul was addressing had not only experienced opposition from their close neighbors and friends, but mob violence may have touched their lives as well. This kind of traumatic event would have left them terrified, as well as destitute and needy. After being attacked verbally and physically, many were unjustly imprisoned.
Paul and other preachers of the time consoled them for being persecuted for Christ’s sake by reminding them that it was really Jesus Christ they were mistreating. By bearing the reproach of Christ they were uplifting and glorifying God. Others would see their plight and be drawn to the living gospel they had suffered for. God was on trial, and His will would triumph in the end, despite the struggles they might endure on the way.
As so many have suffered for their faith since the time of Paul, we find ourselves drawn to the experience of the Hebrews. Surely there must also be some word of encouragement in the book of Hebrews for our shaky times today.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Hebrews 10:32-34
- What reward is there for our suffering for Christ’s sake?
Hebrews 13:3
- How and why should Christians help each other during times of crisis?
Tuesday: Malaise
The prophet Elijah found himself in the valley of depression after his amazing victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The Hebrews also experienced some very low times in their spiritual life, following their initial victory over the hardships endured from their unjust persecution.
Even though they had successfully endured many trials and maintained their faith in the beginning, Paul saw that there were signs of unbelief, hardness of heart, and weakness of character creeping into God’s beloved church. The church had suffered both financially and emotionally, but after the thrill of victory had passed, their spirituality began to suffer and saw a decline.
Just as God had comforted Elijah after he fled from Jezebel, intervention was needed to help the new believers return to their commitment of faith. God chose preachers like Paul to encourage them to once again take up the cause of Christ and represent Him fully to the world.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Hebrews 2:18, 3:12, 13, 4:15
- What were some of the concerns about God’s people that the author of Hebrews mentioned in these verses?
- How are these problems still experienced in the church today, and what can be done to correct them?
Wednesday: Press Together
Going back to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:5-18, we find some of the ways Elijah was brought out of his depression. God first gave the prophet opportunity to rest and be nourished with food, which then allowed him to hear God’s voice more clearly. These carefully-planned steps were necessary for him to be able to recover from his condition of mental exhaustion and defeat.
Generously caring for the physical needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ was also needed for them to return to the spirituality they once had. Scattered throughout Hebrews, the author encourages his listeners to heed the gospel of love they had heard (Hebrews 2:1), encourage each other to grow spiritually (Hebrews 3:12-13), and continue to pray earnestly for each other.
Love turns out to be a two-sided street. Paul reminded them that we get love by giving it. By pressing together they could withstand the effects of their hardships and eventually get to the point when they could minister once again to those outside their circle of faith.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Hebrews 10:19-23
- How do we enter the Holiest and address our High Priest there?
Hebrews 10:24, 25
- What are some of the ways we can press together and still minister to each other, even when times are difficult, such as during the current pandemic?
Thursday: These Last Days
How interesting to note at the very beginning of Hebrews, the author asserts that they were living in the last days (Hebrews 1:1, 2). Once again Hebrews 9:26-28 verifies that they believed they were “at the end of the ages”. How they must have longed for Jesus to return with His glorious band of shining angels, as they had so recently seen Him go back to heaven.
Despite difficulties with persecution and discouragement in any age, it’s important for Christians to always feel the closeness of that great Day and know that it is fast approaching. God’s exact timing for the grand event is unknown, but its closeness should impact the way we live and interact with people, both in the church and in our communities.
Besides holding on to our faith in God and hope for the Second Coming, our lives must show faithfulness by our obedience to His commandments and our loving acts of kindness to everyone. We do this most efficiently by maintaining close bonds with our Christian brothers and sisters, uniting our ministries as we serve God together.
Bible Verses to Explore:
Hebrews 10:23-25, 36, 37
- Why is it important to know that Christ’s return is near?
- What should we be doing with that knowledge? How does it affect our faith and actions?
Hebrews 13:4-6
- How does our conduct show covetousness, and what does it mean to be covetous?
Friday: Conclusion
The overall message to the Hebrews and the spiritual desert their persecution had created for them sound similar to the experience of the Laodicean church found in Revelation 3:14-22. The Laodicean church is thought to symbolize and represent the last-day church, the one right before the Second Advent. The Hebrews believed they were living in the last days, even though two thousand years would pass before that era would begin, as the time prophecies foretold in Daniel indicate.
Both the Hebrews and the Laodiceans were lukewarm in their commitment to God. Their fervor had been cooled down by the attacks of their persecutors. These churches were spiritually destitute, but unaware of their tepid, lukewarm condition. We can gain much from studying the book of Hebrews.
In many ways, our situation mirrors those early Hebrew Christians. We, like them, need to press together and support each other in time of need. But, even more, we need to expand our efforts to minister and evangelize the world. Together, we can be restored, renewed, and more truly represent God to a dying world.
Next Week: The Message of Hebrews
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