Jesus Christ Is Enough // Hearing God Speak (Heb. 1:1-4)

Introduction

Christianity has a long history of being misunderstood, even by Christians! It's all too easy to make it about Jesus PLUS something (good works, moral living, religious activities, emotional experience…). But the book of Hebrews claims that when we add anything to Jesus, we're actually subtracting. It holds up Jesus Christ – fully God, fully human – as the promised Deliverer. The One who alone saves us from our sinfulness and restores our relationships with God, others, and creation. Its message, the message of Christianity, is really quite simple: Jesus Christ is enough!

Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

1. How would you describe your job to a 5-year-old?

2. If you had to listen to one song on repeat for a year what would it be?

Getting Started

1. Open up with some prayer – some possible prayer topics:

• God would lead your time of discussion.

• That this study would help our understanding of who God is and who we are in light of that.

• Pray for your GG, that God would bring unity and community in your group.

• That God would reveal to us where we are trying to add something to Jesus.

2. Read Hebrews 1:1-4

Discussion Questions

1. The series is called “Jesus Christ Is Enough” and oftentimes as Christians we want to “add” something to Jesus to earn our righteousness. What are some works you are trying to add to your walk with Christ? What do we do when we see these works try and insert themselves in our life?

2. It is sometimes easy to think that people in the OT had it easier because God would speak through a prophet and then to the people. Does God speak today? How does He speak with His people? What does it mean that God is speaking through His Son?

3. When looking at our world it does not take long to see a need for a solution. When Hebrews talks about Jesus redeeming and purifying both the world and His people, what does that mean? Why does that give us any hope? If Jesus is going to purify this world what does that mean for those who are not in Christ? Why and does that spur us to any action?

4. There are so many views on who Jesus is and what He was like. Where can we find the truth of who Jesus is? Why should we strive to be like Him? The author of Hebrews gives several descriptions of who and what Jesus is like in this opening passage. What are those? Do we give Christ the proper honor in our lives with our words and actions? What happens when we forget to do that?

5. There can be a common temptation to compartmentalize our lives by putting the “religious items” (church, Bible reading, prayer, etc.) into one category that we give to Jesus and other items (work, money, hobbies, family, etc.) into a separate category for ourselves. How does Jesus being Lord over all of our life challenge this idea? What areas in your life do you try and control? How can we take a step toward viewing Jesus as Lord over our whole life?

Closing Prayer

Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time, and we understand it can be awkward to pray out loud, but as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throne of God and make requests and just experience Him.

Some suggestions:

• Ask if there are any prayer requests.

• Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.

• Pray that God would put a burden on each person for Berean.

• Pray for a new understanding of who Jesus is.

Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.

Meditation: Take time this week each day and just think about the things Hebrews says about Christ. Think about what they mean and what they mean to you. It is good to take each day and remind yourself of the goodness of who Christ is and what that means for your life.

3 Book Challenge: Are you going to participate? If so, who is the person you are going to be walking with? Take time this week, along with your prayer, to identify the person you want to walk through the book with and plan to ask and take the first step.

Next Week’s Passage: Hebrews 1:5-14