Hebrews 1: A Better Rest // Dr. Jeff Warren
Channel: Park Cities Baptist Church
Date: 25/06/2023

SERMON RESPONSE GUIDE
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 
HEBREWS 4:1-13 ESV
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

KEY POINTS
Rest comes from remembering what God has done for us.
We do not worship rest. Rather, we rest to rejoice in God.
Christ seeks to disarm us of that which seeks to harm us in order that we might rest.
Entering into God’s rest – past, present, and future – depends on faith.
MEMORY VERSE
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.”
-Hebrews 4:2 ESV

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:

1: What is the value of remembering what God has done for us?

What do you do (or, what could you begin doing) to remember what God has done for you?
2: God rested to enjoy and celebrate what God created.

What is something you are working to gain but never seem to enjoy?
3: The intention of Sabbath rest (rest for us in the present) is for God to give his people a day to enjoy God and God’s blessings.

Based on that definition of Sabbath rest (and keeping in mind rest is an art, not a science), what is one way you might enjoy resting in the present?
4: What is the difference between reading God’s word for us and inviting the Word of God to read us?

How would having this perspective affect the way you approach God?
5: What is the primary truth God revealed to you today?

How will you respond?
Who do you know who you can encourage with the truth this week?
 
PRAY
Lord, we confess we have not obeyed you because we have not believed you. How could we believe you and obey you if we ceased looking for you and listening to you? Teach us to recognize your invitation to rest from laboring is not an invitation to rest from listening. Lord, we long to enter your rest, but we need you to lead us.