The Youth Ministry Blog.com

HEBREWS CHAPTER TWO

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

I am a huge fan of small successes. Thus, have your group pick one of the goals that they have set for this semester and talk about ways that goal can be accomplished before next Sunday! Get them excited about this! Make an agreement among the group that EVERYONE will fulfill one of the goals and be ready to talk about it next Sunday. Just an idea: Those who slack off have to bring candy for the group…just saying.

(Leaders: This may require that you contact your group members by phone or Facebook this week. This week would be a good time to open that line of communication.)

HEBREWS TWO: JESUS AND SALVATION

Begin by having your students read Hebrews 2:1-18. Look at verses 1-4: Ask them to define what the concern is here based on what was discovered last week. Answer: The concern is for believers drifting away. Not for nonbelievers rejecting salvation! This is huge. Look at the words used: “lest we drift away,” and “if we neglect.” Reread verse 3a, what does it mean to neglect such a great salvation? Have them define the word Salvation as they answer. Answer: Salvation is the deliverance of a person from sin and its consequences through an active relationship with Jesus Christ who died on the cross as an atonement for our sins. Thus, to “drift away” or “neglect” salvation happens as we neglect to pursue a relationship with Christ: i.e. neglect prayer, neglect God’s Word, neglect to worship Him. Explain that more spiritual problems arise out of neglect than any thing else. Ask them if they want to confess what they have been neglecting…?

AUTHOR OF SALVATION: Practical Application of Scripture

Tell your students that they are about to become Bible scholars and are going to be doing a close reading of the text. You do this by going verse by verse. Have you students develop a working definition of “Salvation” using only verses from Chapter 2:5-18, in order! You should arrive at something such as the following: (After they make theirs, read mine and have them follow along to see what I did.)

Salvation: Jesus was made lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor. He suffered death so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. He was made perfect through suffering and thus sanctifies (have them define sanctify) all. He became flesh and blood that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. He was made like man, his brothers, in every respect, so that he might make propitiation (an atoning sacrifice) for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

IN CLOSING: Remind them of the challenge they have for this week and have them pray over it and other requests or concerns that may come up. Make sure that you have more than one student pray over the requests.