hebrews bible study

When we encounter the holiness and glory of God, the last thing we'd expect is an encouragement to draw near with confidence to Him. We would expect His holiness to make us step back, aware of the impurities of our own hearts. We might think His glory would exclude us completely from His presence, causing us to cower rather than to step toward our God.

But that mighty and holy God has reached down to tilt our tucked chins back up to Him. Jesus Christ has stepped in as mediator, making a way for even our sinful selves to be washed so pure by His blood that we are invited to come before the Lord's throne, drawing near to all His splendor because we have been made holy in His sight.

We are invited to draw near with confidence to the One who has already drawn near to us.

Helpful Links for Lesson 6-Draw Near with Confidence:

• EP 5: Lesson Four - Draw Near with Confidence
• Workbook is Available on Amazon - Hebrews: Drawing Near to Jesus

In Episode 4 of this season's podcast, we will consider the idea that guilt is a gift, and that it is what we choose to do with our guilt that determines the trajectory of our lives with Christ. We will discuss what it means that God has provided the salvation that He promised. Our walks with Jesus will never be without setbacks. We will always be in need of a Savior. A walk toward Jesus isn't one that never fails. It's one that keeps turning back to Jesus every time we do.

And the beautiful thing about our Savior is that every time we turn back to Him, we find that He was right there waiting.

Helpful Links for the Gift a Guilt:

• EP 4: Lesson Three - The Gift of Guilt
• Workbook is Available on Amazon - Hebrews: Drawing Near to Jesus

This season on the podcast, we'll be opening up the book of Hebrews together and find within its pages an invitation to draw near to Jesus. This week serves as both an introduction to Hebrews as well as an introduction to my approach to Bible study. I'm teaching this study at Bayou City Fellowship on Mondays and Tuesdays, and every Thursday (more frequently than the past seasons!), the audio version of the teaching will be posted as a podcast. If you'd like to follow along with the homework, the workbook is available on Amazon: Hebrews: Drawing Near to Jesus. But even if you just listen, I pray our time in the book of Hebrews will help us to grasp the incredible magnificence and holiness of God, and to recognize the significance of His invitation to draw near to Him through Christ.

Each week, I'll also post a listening guide if you'd like to follow along with the notes for the lesson. The introduction, Draw Near to Jesus, can be found below.

Listening Guide - Draw Near to Jesus: Introduction

Today we wrap up our study in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 13 will show us how Jesus lives in and through us. We will discover that he is the source of our contentment.

Learn more and see this with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-13-bible-study/

In Today's Podcast we are looking at Hebrews 12 and will run in the word 'scourge'. But does God scourge His children? Does He beat us to the point of ripping our skin off of our body? We will soon see that scourge has a very different meaning.

Learn more and see this with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-12-bible-study/

In Hebrews 11 we see that even men under the law or approved by faith, and nothing else. Will also see that they have nothing compared to us. Not Abraham, Moses, Noah. We have something much greater.

Learn more at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-11/

In Hebrews 10 we are going to discover that the law is only a shadow of the real things found in Christ. We will see that Jesus perfects us. And we will also see a shocking statement that teaches us God is not calling us to feel guilty when we stumble. Those feelings are driven by not believing what he has done for us. Enjoy.


Learn more and see this with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-10-bible-study/

In Hebrews 9 we are going to discover that the old testament law was nothing more than a copy of the heavenly things. We will see that the heavenly things are founded on better hopes and better promises. We discover that the law and everything associated with it were made by humans and human hands, and the new covenant is made by the Spirit of God. We discover that through the law human priests had to make sacrifices for sins year after year, over and over and over again. But when Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice, he only had to do it one time, and he sat down at the right hand of the father after that. Why? Because this sacrifice, unlike the blood of animals, worked! Jesus doesn't need to die again because the sands of the believer have been dealt with for all time. We don't activate it by begging and pleading. We don't activate it by saying I'm sorry. And contrary to lifeless religious teaching, we don't activate forgiveness by repenting from outward sin. Your forgiveness will never be taken away....no matter what. And it's not because we perform well, but rather because Jesus performed perfect.

Learn more or watch this lesson in video format with slides, https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-9/

In Hebrews chapter 8 we discover that God has a new covenant with us. We also discovered that it's nothing like the old one was when the people did not continue to do everything written in the book of the law. This covenant is completely different founded on better promises and better hopes. We discover that under the new covenant God has made a promise to remember your sins no more. Never. Sins are completely dealt with and no punishment remains. 

Learn more or watch this lesson in video format with slides, https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-8/

In Hebrews chapter 7 we're going to see how some verses have been inappropriately used to imply a tiling mandate. We're also going to be learning about two covenants, one which is weak and useless, and another one that is perfect and able to save us forever.

Learn more or watch this lesson in video format with slides,  https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/hebrews-7/

In Hebrews 6 we are going to see God making a promise to us. An OATH that is unshakable and rock solid. Unlike the old covenant, which was a promise made between God and man, we're going to discover that this new covenant is not about humans and their performance.
 
Under the new covenant, God could swear by no one greater so he swore by himself. Meaning God promised God that when you are faithless he will remain faithful. God promised God that he would remember your sins no more. And by to unchangeable things, God can't lie, and God can't lie, this oath is one that can guarantee your salvation to the day of redemption.

Watch in video format with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/hebrews-6/

In our study today of Hebrews chapter 5 we're going to discover the true meaning of 'milk' and 'food' as it refers to this letter. Many have taught that this is about 'sin' and 'law', but today we will see this is about doctrine. There are some people teaching God's word, but as it turns out they are suggesting that we get right with God for some kind of human effort, and they need to go back to the basics of the gospel (milk). When our theology for dealing with sin starts talking about any outward effort, we have completely distorted the gospel of grace. 

We're learning that nothing we do on the outside can save us. In the case of the Jews, it was animal sacrifices, washing, laying on of hands, etc. Today we see the same thing only with different techniques. Maybe they say the way God's forgiveness is activated is by asking God to forgive you over and over again, sin by sin, day by day.  Summer suggesting if you don't give a tithe then you will be punished instead of forgiven. If there's any type of human effort tied into our forgiveness, then that teacher needs to go back to milk. 

Our outward performance is simply a picture of what has already happened inside. We should absolutely have good works and avoid sin. But those things don't get us more forgiveness or activate the forgiveness we've already been promised for the cross. 

Watch in video format with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/chapter-5/

In chapter 4 we are going to discover that Jesus sympathizes with the believer's weaknesses. We will discover that God wants us to draw near to him with confidence because he is promising us grace and mercy when we need it. And again we will continue to clarify that the first 10 chapters of Hebrews is addressing one specific kind of sin. The sin of unbelief.  

Watch in video format with slides at https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/chapter-4/

We are continuing our study in the book of Hebrews. Today, in chapter 3 we're going to see a comparison between Jesus and Moses. Moses brought in the old covenant. Jesus brought in the new covenant. Who is greater? And from there we will unpack this message talk in Hebrews chapter 3. 

If you prefer to watch this in video with slides please visit https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/chapter-3/

In Hebrews chapter 2 we're going to be hearing about how the Old Testament law was unalterable. Every sin God it's just penalty. And what we're going to learn is that if an old covenant that was ordained by angels was so severe, how much more severe will be if you reject the new covenant. If you reject Jesus. God is literally giving us the best reasons possible to completely start looking at the old covenant for forgiveness and grab onto the new only. We are being called to trust Jesus, not human performance,

If you prefer to watch this video with verse by verse slides please visit https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/chapter-2/

Hebrews is probably one of the most widely misunderstood and certainly mistaught books in all of scripture.

So often people think this letter is being written to Christians. And as a result, we walk away thinking God is threatening to hurl disaster away if we don't watch our step. You're going to discover that is not at all what is going on in this letter.

In fact, you're going to discover that the letter to the Hebrews should actually encourage you. It should literally cause Christians to feel safer and more secure. I promise, stick with us, and you will never look at the letter to the Hebrews the same again. 

This is by far my favorite letter I love to teach from. Get ready to discover Jesus in a new and amazing way. 

Feel free if you prefer to watch this and video with slides to help you follow the presentation. Click https://jesuswithoutreligion.com/bible-study-online/hebrews/chapter-1/