Blog Detail

(Pg.#1) …Title for Session #2 of our study of Hebrews 12: ‘Weeds in our life gardens’

We left off last week with the Apostle Paul’s counsel from Hebrews 12:11 We don’t enjoy discipline when we get it. It is painful. But later, after we have learned our lesson from it, we will enjoy the peace that comes from doing what is right.

— Anyone who has tried their hand at gardening knows that if you leave your garden to ‘it’s own devices’, and don’t take time to tend it, we will get a better crop of weeds than vegetables.

— Seeing that your garden gets enough water and that the weeds are kept under control is work, necessary work for getting the most production out of your garden.

It is the same in our life-gardens…  (ERV Bible used here)

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall”… SIN is any weed we let grow in our life.

— Of course this is speaking of ‘spiritual weeds’, those things which are contrary to us living out a healthy and Christlike witness to those around us.

So today in Hebrews 12 we look at some of these needed corrections and removals…

(Vs.15)  Be careful that no one fails to get God’s grace. Be careful that no one loses their faith and becomes like a bitter weed growing among you. Someone like that can ruin your whole group.  

— “Failing to get God’s grace” comes from the original Greek wording meaning “to fall short of.”
The Apostle Paul highlights two points here: 1/ God’s grace; and 2/ the sin of bitterness.

Q1. About GRACE: How can people within our fellowship “fall short of” God’s grace?

(Check-off the ones that you think apply.)

O – We may hold their former sin against them. – We injure them with unforgiveness.
(Discuss how that might happen and what it looks like in our fellowship…)

O – That individual may not understand God’s grace that each of us lives under.
(Discuss religious pride and how it can cause offence…)

O – We fail to say grace at the table.

Other suggestions? ____________________________________________________________

Q2. How can someone lose their faith and become like a bitter weed growing among us?

O – Jealousy creeping into the fellowship. (Discuss how this can happen…)

O – Disappointment. (Discuss what kind of faith disappointments we may face in our lives…)

Other suggestions? ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(Look at faith disappointments we find in people and in life struggles.)

*****

(Session #2 – Pg.#2) Vs.15 Warns of people who lose their faith and may harm the church.
— Paul continues to warn of ‘spiritual problems’ in the church in Hebrews 12:16-17… 
(16) Be careful that no one commits sexual sin. And be careful that no one is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have inherited everything from his father. But he sold all that for a single meal.  (17)  You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father’s blessing. He wanted that blessing so much that he cried. But his father refused to give him the blessing, because Esau could find no way to change what he had done.  

We find listed here, two more spiritual weeds that need correction in our fellowship:

First / About sexual sin…
— If only adults present, we can discuss what exactly ‘sexual sins’ are.

Suggestions? ________________________________________________________________

Q3. How do ‘sins of the flesh’ hurt our relationship to God and even harm other Christians?

___________________________________________________________________________
— (What about forgiveness… Is this possible?)

Secondly / Paul teaches about the failure of Esau…

You find this in Genesis 25:29-34 (ERV) One day Esau came back from hunting. He was tired and weak from hunger. Jacob was boiling a pot of beans. (30) So Esau said to Jacob, “I am weak with hunger. Let me have some of that red soup.” (That is why people call him “Red” – “Edom”) (31) But Jacob said, “You must sell me your rights as the firstborn son.” (32) Esau said, “I am almost dead with hunger, so what good are these rights to me now?” (33) But Jacob said, “First, promise me that you will give them to me.” So Esau made an oath to him and sold his rights as the firstborn son to Jacob. (34) Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil soup. Esau ate the food, had something to drink, and then left. So Esau showed that he did not care about his rights as the firstborn son.

Q4. Why was God offended to see Esau giving away His birthright for some soup?

O – God thought Esau should have gotten a better price than just bean soup.
O – It showed Esau preferred the gratification of the flesh to the blessings of God and his inheritance, because he didn’t appreciate it’s value.

Q5. In Hebrews 12:16 it says be careful that no one is like Esau and never thinks about God…  — How can we forget about God when living out our own lives, and give-up God’s promises (our Born-again birthright) for immediate worldly pleasures?
(Discuss how sometimes we might do this, without thinking…) LIKE:
O – Selfishly withholding things that could supply the needs of others.
O – Going after the riches of this world rather than seeking God’s will in our lives.
O – Conforming to the world’s rules when they go against God’s rules. 
O – Not finding time to spend with God and His Word.
O – Not making time to fellowship with other Christians.

(Discuss: Can ALL fleshly desires damage our faith? … What are God’s blessings?)

*****

(Session #2 – Pg.#3) / A look at various Scripture translations…

From Hebrews 12:16, about dismissing our future benefits for momentary pleasure…

(ERV)  Be careful that no one commits sexual sin. And be careful that no one is like Esau and never thinks about God. As the oldest son, Esau would have inherited everything from his father. But he sold all that for a single meal.

(ESV)  that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

(GNB)  Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau, who for a single meal sold his rights as the older son.

(KJV)  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. – (KJV+)  “profane person” – heathenish, wicked: – (person).

(Spanish NBLA)  Que no haya ninguna persona inmoral ni profana como Esaú, que vendió su primogenitura por una comida.

— Discuss?

How do you think a Creator God would look at our temporary earthly passions?

______________________________________ 

From Hebrews 12:17, In life somethings can’t be undone…

(ERV)  You remember that after Esau did this, he wanted to get his father’s blessing. He wanted that blessing so much that he cried. But his father refused to give him the blessing, because Esau could find no way to change what he had done.

(ESV)  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

(GNB)  Afterward, you know, he wanted to receive his father’s blessing; but he was turned back, because he could not find any way to change what he had done, even though in tears he looked for it.

(KJV)  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

(KJV+)  he found no “place of repentance”,  by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision).

(Spanish NBLA)  Porque saben que aun después, cuando quiso heredar la bendición, fue rechazado, pues no halló ocasión para el arrepentimiento, aunque la buscó con lágrimas.

— Discuss?

Our gracious blessing that while there is yet time, our Heavenly Father will not reject a repentant heart? – Sadly, even when fully forgiven some consequences can’t be undone.

We’ll close with a time of prayer, and fellowship… Next week, Lord willing:

How we, “come to a place where thousands of angels have gathered to celebrate.” (Vs.22)