"In These Days"

READ: the letter to the Hebrews (see outline below)

REFLECT:
When you examine a painting you usually stand back and first take in the whole picture, before you examine the details up close. This approach is crucial to a proper understanding of any book of the Bible, but is especially so for the book of Hebrews. Therefore, over the next week, read through the entire book, making sure that you don’t get caught up in the details, but prayerfully seek to understand the big picture.

The big picture involves understanding things like: Do we know the author? To whom is this letter written? What circumstances prompted the author to write this letter? What is the letter’s overall theme? What main argument or points is the author trying to make? What are some key words or phrases that are repeated throughout the letter? Each day, try to answer these questions and then take the seventh day of your overview to consolidate your research.

If you have book, “How to Read the Bible Book by Book” by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, read the chapter on the book of Hebrews before you read the letter. If you own a study bible, read the introductory notes for important background information that will help you make sense of the letter. Use the following outline for daily readings

Day 1 The Superior Messenger 1:1-2:18
Day 2 The Superior Leader 3:1-4:13
Day 3 The Superior Priest 4:14-7:28
Day 4 The Superior Covenant 8:1-9:28
Day 5 The Superior Sacrifice 10:1-31
Day 6 The Superior Life 10:32-13:25
Day 7 Do your best to sum up the overall message of Hebrews in a paragraph or two. What impact did reading the book of Hebrews in its entirety this week have on you? What questions were raised? What do you hope to learn from a more careful, chapter by chapter reading over the next couple of weeks?

PRAY & OBEY
Father, I pray that as people read the book of Hebrews this week you will open up their hearts and minds to the message it contains for all people, for all Christians, and especially for each individual person. The Bible is your word, it is the sword of the Spirit and it is designed to convict, encourage, instruct and inspire. I pray that your Spirit, knowing the needs of each person, truly addresses those needs through this very relevant message. Above all, I pray that we all come to a place in our faith where we see and appreciate the centrality of Jesus Christ to our faith and to our lives. I pray we come away from this study with a deeper desire than every to be faithful to him who is always faithful to us and through whom we have access to your throne of grace. Thank you in advance, Father, for all the ways you are going to answer this prayer and inspire Jesus' modern day disciples to greater obedience to your will. Amen.