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Oct 29, 2023

Hebrews: Rest. Stop.

Passage: Hebrews 4:1-11

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Hebrews: Fulfilled in Christ

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: hope, fear, peace, rest, tired, exhaustion

Most of us (all?) are running on empty in some way or another...physically from wrangling children; relationally from some tough family issues; financially from a job change....or maybe it's spiritually, because you keep falling into the same sin-pit over and over again. In the storm of our exhaustion Jesus offers rest. The winds may still blow, but Jesus grabs our hearts, pulling it closer to his as he tells us that "it is finished." We can take a breath. Let it out. And rest in Him.

Central Text: Hebrews 4:1-11

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.

 

Sermon discussion questions

  • What are things in your life right now that are exhausting? (it could be physical, relational, emotional, spiritual etc)
  • How do you try to get the rest you need in life? (or is it even possible?)
  • Fill in the blank -- “If I could just ______, I could finally relax”
  • Describe a scenario that would be really restful to you.
  • What do you think it means that God “rested” (Genesis)? (the difference between taking a break and being finished)
  • Even though (through Joshua) God’s People literally entered the Promised Land, they still didn’t get the rest they were hoping for. Why not?
  • God invited them (and us) to enter HIS REST. What might be the difference between “HIS” Rest and “our” rest (the rest we try to get for ourselves)?
    • World-Rest - I need ____ in order to make me happy.
    • Religious-Rest - I need to ____ in order to make God happy.
    • Gospel-Rest - Jesus did everything to satisfy God and us.
  • Talk about the contrast in “striving” to enter “rest” - aren’t those opposites?
  • What would this “striving” look like?