Jesus
Christ: “The Author and Finisher of our Faith”
Even though the Jerusalem conference had decided before 50 AD
that Gentile converts did not have to obey certain requirements of the Law of
Moses to become Christians, in 60 AD there were still Jewish members
who were “zealous of the law” (Acts 21:20). This letter is Paul’s effort to convince Jewish members that
significant aspects of the Law of Moses had been fulfilled in Christ, and that
the higher law of the gospel had replaced the old law (see Pauline
Epistles; Hebrews, on page 746 in the Bible Dictionary).
A visitor traveling through rural Utah many years ago brought his car to a halt near a large orchard surrounded by a beautiful white fence. He stared in disbelief at the scene beyond the fence. A farmer in overalls and a straw hat stood under an apple tree with a 200-pound sow in his arms. He carried the animal from branch to branch, allowing her to feast on the fruit within reach. The sweat rolled off of him but the pig seemed insatiable and so the meal continued for nearly a quarter of an hour. Finally the stranger could restrain himself no longer. Driven by curiosity he climbed the fence and approached the man. “What in the world are you doing?” he asked the gasping and perspiring worker.
“I’m feeding this pig,” the man replied, moving within reach
of a new branch.
“Isn’t that an awfully time-consuming way to feed a pig?”
“Aw, shucks.” the fellow responded. “What’s time to a pig?”
The fact is that there are better ways to feed pigs that by
carrying them around in your arms looking for low-hanging apples.
The Book of Hebrews is also Paul’s testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is better way than the Law of Moses. For those laboring under the burden of the specifications of this law, and determined to require Gentile Christians to obey it, Paul offers the purity and fullness of the Gospel of Christ as a better way.
1. JESUS CHRIST: THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF HEAVENLY FATHER IS OUR
SAVIOR
In the first two chapters, Paul gives a description of Jesus Christ (write on board):
In the first two chapters, Paul gives a description of Jesus Christ (write on board):
Read and List on Board the Descriptions: Hebrews 1:2, 3, 5, 6,
8-10
Explain: To most Jews
angels were exalted beings who deserved special reverence because they were involved in giving the Law at
Sinai–which law was for the Jews the supreme revelation. In Hebrews 2:2-4 the context
shows that there was question as
to whether or not the angels were higher than the Messiah.
*READ and explain: Paul teaches that the Son of God is “made so
much better than the angels” Hebrews 1:4
EXPLAIN: And then Paul explains something more in comparing Jesus to the angels. Read Hebrews 2:9
Now, we are going to read verses 17-18, which further explains Jesus being lower than the angels. As we read, notice in what way was Jesus made a little lower than the angels?
SO, in what way was Jesus
made lower than the angels?
And all of this, was for one great purpose: Read 4: 15-16
SO THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED.
Video: The One Ture God and Jesus Christ Whom He sent by Elder Holland
What impressed you about the Savior as you listened to Elder Holland’s testimony?
Paul encouraged the saints to live righteously, so that they could enter into God’s rest.
*Read Hebrews 3:7-19; Read 3 Nephi 27:19 (YOU READ and then ask… ; What
does it mean to enter into God’s rest?
What can we do to keep our hearts from hardening, so that we
might enter into his rest?
What things are you doing to keep you/ and your family living
righteously?
What did you learn from Conference that helps you enter into
his rest?(Look at QUOTE SHEET)
For 5 minutes, what have our latter-day prophets taught us
that will help us enter into his rest?
2. THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD IS A PART OF THE FULLNESS OF THE GOSPEL
*Read Hebrews 5:1-4; Why must a priesthood holder be called of God?
*READ 5:5-6; What priesthood authority did Jesus Christ
hold?
EXPLAIN: When Jesus came and fulfilled
the law of Moses, he also restored the Melchizedek Priesthood
prior to that—the Aaronic Priesthood also called the Levitical, lesser or
preparatory priesthood, which accompanied the Law of Moses.*READ Hebrews 7:11
*READ QUOTE #1
Why was it necessary to have the Melchizedek Priesthood restored?
Why was it necessary to have the Melchizedek Priesthood restored?
Why was the greater priesthood called the Melchizedek
Priesthood? Read D&C 107:2-4
How has the Melchizedek and the Aaronic priesthood blessed
your life?
~Personal Story
~Personal Story
3. THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE NEW COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND HIS
CHILDREN
EXPLAIN: Paul reminded the members that worship under the law of Moses
had pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ:
*Read Hebrews 8:5
Explain: According to this verse, the Lord tells Moses that the
ceremonies in the tabernacle symbolize heavenly things:
*What can we learn from this chart? (LOOK AT CHART)
Explain: Paul explains that the Law of Moses was the old
covenant between God and His people.
*Read Hebrews 8:6-8; Watch for the New Covenant
*Read Hebrews 8:6-8; Watch for the New Covenant
What are these scriptures teaching us about the new covenant?
*Read 10: 1-4
Why was the old covenant unable to make its participants
perfect?
Why does the new covenant give us greater hope for
perfection? *Read Heb. 10:10 (through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ we care sanctified)
4. THOSE WHO EXERCISE FAITH IN JESUS WILL INHERIT A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Paul exhorts the people to follow the new and living way by putting their faith in Jesus Christ. *Hebrews 10:19-22
Why is faith in Jesus Christ essential to our salvation?
How has faith helped you deal with adversity?
*Video: Mountains to Climb by Elder Eyring
President Monson quote
Personal Experience
Handout:
Jesus
Christ: “The Author and Finisher of our Faith”
1. “Neither
the law of Moses nor the priesthood of Aaron which administered it was capable
of bringing God’s children unto perfection. The Aaronic Priesthood is a lesser
authority, and it administers the preparatory gospel only. The Melchizedek
Priesthood, on the other hand, is the higher priesthood, commissioned to
minister the gospel ordinances in their fulness and capable of purifying our
lives so that we can again enter into the presence of the Lord” (The Life and
Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles [Church Educational System manual,
1979], 385–86; see also D&C 107:18–20).
2. “Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rain may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandment… My beloved brothers and sisters fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith” (Thomas S. Monson, Be of Good Cheer, General Conference April 2009).
1."Exaltation is
our goal; discipleship is our journey."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf
2. "People wonder if there is going to be anything new, anything exciting in the way of a new announcement or a new tradition. The interesting thing is that everything we teach is old."
~Russell M. Nelson
3. "He takes us as we are--and makes us more than we ever imagined."
~Neill F. Marriott
4. "Your responsibility now is to be worthy of the person you want to marry. If you want to marry a wholesome, attractive, honest, happy, hardworking, spiritual person, be that kind of person. If you are that person and you are not married, be patient. Wait upon the Lord. I testify that the Lord knows your desires and loves you for your faithful devotion to Him. He has a plan for you, whether it be in this life or the next. Listen to His Spirit."
~Robert D. Hales
5. "There is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light."
~Vern P. Stanfill
6. "Your faith will grow not by chance, but by choice."
~Neil L. Anderson
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf
2. "People wonder if there is going to be anything new, anything exciting in the way of a new announcement or a new tradition. The interesting thing is that everything we teach is old."
~Russell M. Nelson
3. "He takes us as we are--and makes us more than we ever imagined."
~Neill F. Marriott
4. "Your responsibility now is to be worthy of the person you want to marry. If you want to marry a wholesome, attractive, honest, happy, hardworking, spiritual person, be that kind of person. If you are that person and you are not married, be patient. Wait upon the Lord. I testify that the Lord knows your desires and loves you for your faithful devotion to Him. He has a plan for you, whether it be in this life or the next. Listen to His Spirit."
~Robert D. Hales
5. "There is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light."
~Vern P. Stanfill
6. "Your faith will grow not by chance, but by choice."
~Neil L. Anderson
7. "Our adversary wants us to fail. He spreads lies as part of his effort to destroy our belief. He slyly suggests that the doubter, the skeptic, the cynic is sophisticated and intelligent, while those who have faith in God and His miracles are naive, blind, or brainwashed. Satan will advocate that it is cool to doubt spiritual gifts and the teachings of prophets. I wish I could help everyone to understand this one simple fact: we believe in God because of things we know with our heart and mind, not because of things we do not know. Our spiritual experiences are sometimes too sacred to explain in worldly terms, but that doesn't mean they are not real."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf
8. "My message to you tonight is straightforward. It is this: Keep the commandments. God's commandments are not given to frustrate or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just what we need and when we need it, in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this treacherous mortal journey. We remember the words of the familiar hymn: 'Keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace.'"
~President Thomas S. Monson
9. "May I say to all of you, and particularly to you young people, that the world moves further and further away from the principles and guidelines given to us by loving Heavenly Father, we will stand out from the crowd because we are different..."
~President Thomas S. Monson
10. "The culminating act of all Creation was the creation of woman!"
~Russell M. Nelson
11. "We can, if we live worthy of it, have the blessings of the Spirit to be with us."
~Henry B. Eyring
12. "It's important to recognize that God's ultimate purpose is our progress. His desire is that we continue from grace to grace, until we receive a fullness’ of all that He can give. That requires more than being nice or feeling spiritual. It requires faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism of water and of Spirit, and enduring in faith to the end."
~D. Todd Christofferson
13. "God never loses sight of our eternal potential, even when we do."
~Carole M. Stephens
14. "Your Heavenly Father loves you--each of you. That love never changes."
~President Thomas S. Monson
15. "Focus not on what I can't do but rather what I can do."
~Gary E. Stevenson
16. "Remember that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time for one will dispel the other." ~Thomas S. Monson
17. "As the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited divine potential.
~M. Russell Ballard
18. "If our lives are centered on Jesus Christ, He can successfully mold us into who we need to be."
~Richard J. Maynes
19. "As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our conviction."
~Thomas S. Monson
20. "Do not give up! Never give up!"
~Elder Martino
21. "Our Heavenly Father knows our divine potential. He rejoices every time we take a step forward."
~Larry R. Lawrence
22. "We need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith."
~Russell M. Nelson
23. "To all the mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle--and all will--I say, "Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are.'"
~Jeffrey R. Holland
24. "Once we begin to see the divinity in ourselves, we can see it in others."
~Rosemary M. Wixom
25. "One man or woman who is willing to testify when the world is going in the opposite direction, can make a difference."
~Gregory A. Schwitzer
26. "No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child."
~Jeffrey R. Holland
27. "If you do your best, it will all work out."
~Neill F. Marriott
28. "What lack I yet?"
~Larry R. Lawrence
29. "Straighten up and fly right."
~Robert D. Hales
30. "None of us marry perfection, we marry potential."
~Robert D. Hales
31. We need to engage in intentional parenting...I've been where you are--I'll help you get through it.
~Bradley D. Foster
32. "When you do your part, He will magnify you."
~Henry B. Eyring
33. "Step forward and take your place."
~Russell M. Nelson
34. "True disciples are not looking to make excuses for the doctrine. True disciples represent the Lord when it's not convenient."
~Gregory A. Schwietzer
35. "Don't be critical of the barrier, it's offering you protection."
~Elder Keetch
36. "Ponderize one verse of scripture each week."
~Devin G. Durrant
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ORDINANCES
IN THE TEMPLE
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WHAT IT
SYMBOLIZES
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The priests placed blood from the sacrificed animals on the
altar to symbolize the cleansing and purification of the people (Hebrews 9:6–7, 19–23).
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