Lesson 4: Don’t Be Lazy! (Hebrews 5:11—6:20)
Lesson 4
Don’t Be Lazy!
(Hebrews 5:11—6:20)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Hebrews 5:11—6:20. This lesson references chapter 5 in Be Confident. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Heb. 6:12 NIV).
This verse summarizes the main message of this difficult (and often misunderstood) section of the epistle. Israel wanted to go back to Egypt, and, as a result, a whole generation failed to inherit what God had promised. They were safely delivered out of Egypt, but they never enjoyed the promised rest in Canaan.
—Be Confident, page 73
1. What are some ways Christians become lazy today? What causes that laziness?
More to Consider: Think about the spiritual progress your church has made since you began attending. What are the marks of spiritual progression? What are the marks of a faith-lazy church?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Hebrews 5:11—6:20 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here. What strikes you about this verse?
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
One of the first symptoms of spiritual regression, or backsliding, is a dullness toward the Bible. Sunday school class is dull, the preaching is dull, anything spiritual is dull. The problem is usually not with the Sunday school teacher or the pastor, but with the believer himself.
—Be Confident, page 74
3. What are some examples of spiritual regression you’ve witnessed in the church? When is the problem not with the believer, but the leadership?
From the Commentary
The ability to share spiritual truth with others is a mark of maturity. Not all Christians have the gift of teaching, but all can share what they learn from the Word. One of the hardest lessons children must learn is the lesson of sharing. The recipients of this letter had been saved long enough to be able to share God’s truth with others. But, instead of helping others to grow, these Hebrew Christians were in need of learning again the simple teachings of the Christian life. They were experiencing a second childhood!
—Be Confident, page 74
4. Why do you think the recipients of this letter were having difficulty with the simple teachings listed in 6:1–2? What are the internal reasons why believers regress? What are some external pressures that might cause regression? How should we approach these challenges?
From Today’s World
There is a tendency in our modern culture to “dumb down” artistic endeavors in order to reach a larger audience (and therefore, potentially receive a greater revenue). You can see this in Hollywood movies, in popular literature, and even in music. While there is certainly an audience for all kinds of art, that which challenges participants to stretch and grow is sadly hard to find, because most people don’t want to stretch and grow.
5. The author of Hebrews is frustrated that his readers haven’t moved from the basics of faith. Where do we turn in our culture to find things that help us grow wiser, stronger, and more mature? What does it take to grow beyond the basics?
The author encourages his readers to grow by training themselves over time to distinguish good from evil (5:14). In practical terms, how does an individual or a Christian community train themselves to do this?
From the Commentary
The “milk” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ did on earth—His birth, life, teaching, death, burial, and resurrection. The “meat” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ is now doing in heaven. We begin the Christian life on the basis of His finished work on earth. We grow in the Christian life on the basis of His unfinished work in heaven.
—Be Confident, page 75
6. What is the “unfinished work in heaven” that the author of Hebrews wants his readers to discover? What is Jesus Christ doing now? How do believers learn about and participate in this?
From the Commentary
If we are going to make progress, we have to leave the childhood things behind and go forward in spiritual growth. Hebrews 6:1 literally reads, “Therefore, having left [once and for all] the elementary lessons [the ABCs] of the teaching of Christ.” When I was in kindergarten, the teacher taught us our ABCs. (We didn’t have television to teach us in those days.) You learn your ABCs so that you might read words, sentences, books—in fact, anything in literature. But you do not keep learning the basics.
—Be Confident, page 76
7. What are the basics of faith? How are these important to understanding the more complex issues of faith? What happens if believers throw out the basics in their attempts to understand faith?
From the Commentary
The writer’s purpose was not to frighten the readers but to assure them. If he had wanted to frighten them, he would have named whatever sin (or sins) would have caused them to disgrace Jesus Christ; but he did not do so.
—Be Confident, page 80
8. Circle the content in Hebrews 5:11—6:20 that might be “frightening” to believers. How would naming specific sins have been even more frightening? In what ways does this passage reassure readers?
More to Consider: What are the “things that accompany salvation” referenced in Hebrews 6:9?
From the Commentary
We Christians today have more of God’s promises than did Abraham! What is keeping us from making spiritual progress? We do not apply ourselves by faith. To return to the illustration of the farm, the farmer does not reap a harvest by sitting on the porch looking at the seed. He must get busy and plow, plant, weed, cultivate, and perhaps water the soil.
—Be Confident, page 82
9. Describe some of the promises we have that Abraham didn’t. What are some ways a community of Christians can plow, plant, weed, cultivate, and water the “soil” so that members grow and live fruitful lives?
From the Commentary
Our hope in Christ is like an anchor for the soul. The anchor was a popular symbol in the early church. At least sixty-six pictures of anchors have been found in the catacombs. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, “One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope.” Christians have but one anchor—Jesus Christ our hope (Col. 1:5; 1 Tim. 1:1).
—Be Confident, page 83
10. What are some of the anchors other than Jesus that people tie themselves to? How does the author of Hebrews describe the certainty of God’s promise—the anchor—in Hebrews 6:13–20?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Hebrews 5:11—6:20. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. When have you experienced spiritual regression, the sense that Christian faith, worship, prayer, etc., are dull? What led up to that season? How did you escape from it (if you did escape)? If you’re in such a season now, what would it take to move out of it?
12. In what ways are you still studying your ABCs of faith? What are some of the more advanced parts of the Christian life you’ve begun to explore? What is the impetus for growing in faith?
13. What are some of the things you do to cultivate your faith? What, if anything, do you do to cultivate the faith of others?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try). Remember also that the Holy Spirit is eager to help you grow.
Do you need to solidify your confidence in the ABCs of faith? Move beyond the basics? Be more proactive in training yourself to distinguish good from evil? Be specific. Go back through Hebrews 5:11—6:20 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Make an appointment to meet with your pastor or small-group leader so you can discuss how you’ve been progressing in your faith. Come to the meeting with an open mind, and be sure to spend more time listening than talking as you seek for ways to grow in faith.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve previously noted. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Hebrews 7. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapter 6, “Mysterious Melchizedek,” in Be Confident.