QUESTION: What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?
ANSWER: One who is truly human and also truly God.
ANSWER: One who is truly human and also truly God.
WARM-UP
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
WATCH/LISTEN
- What do you sense are the most significant factors that take the wind out of our sails in the realm of faith?
- What things put the most pressure on you to “quit the faith?”
- What things put the most pressure on the church to “quit?”
WORD
BIG IDEA
- Jesus was both truly human and also truly God.
- By being genuinely human, Jesus can relate, understand, and identify with us. This attribute allows him to serve as our replacement on the cross.
- Jesus, being truly God, can also complete the purpose of his work to serve as a substitute for us, rule over our world with goodness, and defeat death by rising from the grave.
READ
Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
The burden of sin often brings shame into our lives and with it a crushing defeat in our spirit that can tend to burn out our faith. In these moments, how do you feel that you relate to God? Do you see God as more of a loving father in these moments or as a judge?
NEW SELF
Jesus is our advocate. A human who can sympathize with our weaknesses and acts as our mediator to the Father. He steps in as our priest and uses his own person as a substitute for our own.
How does this change the answers or considerations from the “Old Self” answers above? What makes these answers different?
WORLD
Pay attention to the pressures that the world, sin, ourselves, and work put on us to abandon the faith. How does Jesus being able to sympathize with us change these pressures? Reflect, dwell on, and thank Jesus for his work to address these.
PRAYER
Son of God and Son of Man, for generations you were prophesied. Only One who is both divine and human could live in perfect obedience and be a fitting sacrifice on our behalf. There is no other way to God but by you. Amen.
The burden of sin often brings shame into our lives and with it a crushing defeat in our spirit that can tend to burn out our faith. In these moments, how do you feel that you relate to God? Do you see God as more of a loving father in these moments or as a judge?
NEW SELF
Jesus is our advocate. A human who can sympathize with our weaknesses and acts as our mediator to the Father. He steps in as our priest and uses his own person as a substitute for our own.
How does this change the answers or considerations from the “Old Self” answers above? What makes these answers different?
WORLD
Pay attention to the pressures that the world, sin, ourselves, and work put on us to abandon the faith. How does Jesus being able to sympathize with us change these pressures? Reflect, dwell on, and thank Jesus for his work to address these.
PRAYER
Son of God and Son of Man, for generations you were prophesied. Only One who is both divine and human could live in perfect obedience and be a fitting sacrifice on our behalf. There is no other way to God but by you. Amen.