Nov 11 - 17

Hebrews 7-13

Topics

Hebrews 7 - Melchizedek Priesthood - Symbolism of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 8 - Symbolism of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9 - Holy of holies, testament (footnotes substitutes 'covenant'), Symbolism of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 10 - Symbolism of Jesus Christ continued, second coming.

Hebrews 11 - Faith

Hebrews 12 -

Hebrews 13 - Chastenings

Famous/Popular verses

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidenceof things not seen.

Hebrews

Thoughts

Hebrews 7:24-28 Jesus never made sacrifices at the alter but made a sacrifice of himself, his life in every way.

Hebrews 7:27 After watching the video and understanding that the symbolism of the lamb is us being layed upon the alter for our own sins (a form of repentance), it makes sense that the saviour will not have needed to do this. He had no sin to offer up a sacrifice for. Therefore he was the lamb. I am struggling to put into words the concept here.

Hebrews 8: 1-3 In chapter 7 I get the impression that Christ is compared to an order even above the Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews 7:21-22). While the people were practicing the law of Moses the priests often made offerings on behalf of the people. If therefore Christ is the most high priest, then he should have something to offer. Which indeed we know to be his own life which then puts 7:23 into perspective. There was only one great priest, who did suffer to continue by reason of death.

Hebrews 8:7-13 Explaining that the new covenant is better than the old with greater mercies granted.

Hebrews 9:13-14 If the blood of random animals had some power over the people to cleanse them, how much more has the blood of the saviour.

Hebrews 9:22 Shedding of blood. What happens when something sheds its blood? It dies, or becomes weaker. What blood are we metaphorically killing when we apply the atonement? If our sins be personified, we are killing our sins and laying them on the alter.

Hebrews 9:26 "hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". Or in my words, Christ accepts the slaughter and offering of our sins.

Hebrews 10:10 we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Imagine, instead of burnt offerings weekly as described in the videos, the saviour on the alter each week. He is on the alter instead of us. We should be on that alter, the Lamb represents us, and the Lamb represents the Saviour. You have maybe heard before, how the trays under the linen look like a body. We ofter suggest it is the saviours, comparable to how he was left in the tomb. But he was a substitute for us. So in reality, would it be more profound to suggest it is our body on the alter?

Hebrews 10:37-39 Who's on the lords side? When he comes you need to be ready to join him. Hold back at all and he will no have you.

Hebrews 12:6 After I have convinced you to have more faith I will remind you that whom the Lord liveth he chasteneth.

Hebrews 12:11 Trials are pants. However after the trial it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:17 Remember Esau. A little lapse, and despite seeking repentance carefully through tears, it was too late.

Hebrews 13:5 Just good advice. Be grateful for what you have. You will always have enough, God will not leave you.

Hebrews 13:11-12 More symbolism. Initial suffering within the walls, then taken outside to be finished off.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This year, I have found that there is no substitute for reading the scriptures. You can listen, you will get something from it, but reading takes scripture study to a whole new level.

When I 1st listened to the verses on Monday morning I have to confess I didn't get chapters 7-10. I understood that chapter 7 had something to do with the Melchizedek priesthood and the following verses had something to do with symbolism of the saviour. There were multiple references to a testament, that I didn't understand and then there were references to faith which I felt I could relate to a lot better. I was sure when I returned to the content, I would end up focusing on Chapter 11 & faith because chapters 7-10 seemed so abstract.

As it turns out my study took a U-turn once I learned that the JST replaces the word testament with the word covenant & once I watched the two videos.

What experiences did you have?

List the topics we have found in the chapters this week.

I'd like to spend some time on chapters 7-10 is you would let me. Mainly because I feel there are some greater rewards to be gained from these chapters. Faith is not a new concept, we have had many lessons on faith over the years. Not so much about our covenants.

To understand this weeks chapters I feel it necessary to go back one week to understand who the epistle of Hebrews was written for. What faith did the hebrews practice? This is what the manual says

We all have to give up something in order to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ—whether that be bad habits, incorrect beliefs, unwholesome associations, or something else. For Gentiles, conversion often meant abandoning false gods. For the Hebrews (Jews), however, conversion proved to be, if not more difficult, a little more complicated. After all, their cherished beliefs and traditions were rooted in the worship of the true God and the teachings of His prophets, extending back thousands of years. Yet the Apostles taught that the law of Moses had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and that a higher law was now the standard for believers. Would accepting Christianity mean that the Hebrews must give up their earlier beliefs and history? The Epistle to the Hebrews sought to help settle such questions by teaching that the law of Moses, the prophets, and the ordinances are all important, but Jesus Christ is greater . In fact, all these things point to and testify of Christ as the Son of God and the promised Messiah the Jews had been waiting for. The message for the Hebrews, and for all of us, is that sometimes we must give up traditions to make Jesus Christ the center of our worship and our lives—for it is through Christ “that we may obtain mercy”

For the Jews, it might have been like a new prophet coming along and saying the way we have been worshiping to date, has been preparing for a new form of worship, and that we are now to change the way we doing things. We may may have been doing something a certain way for as long as we can remember, or before. Our parents or even grand parents had done it this way. Now a new prophet comes along and tells us we need to do it differently now. How well will that go down?!!!!

Any modern day examples?

-2 hour church. Also known as? Home centred learning.
-Home Teaching / Ministering
-Youth Organisation / Mutual
- Witnessing at baptisms & 11 year olds being advanced to youth.
-Animal Sacrifices

Find out how many people watched the videos. Consider playing them.

'The Tabernacle' focuses on the hardware. 'Sacrifice & Sacrament' focuses on what goes on in the tabernacle.

The Tabernacle

Draw a map of the tabernacle. Label it up. Ask the class to ponder the the symbolism and compare with the symbolism in the covenants we make today. Consider writing down what you notice to share after.

-The courtyard celestial world. Coming to the saviour.
-Alter, sacrifices are made. The perfect animal symbolic of the ultimate sacrifice of the saviour. Faithful members made an offering that represented their sins.
-Fires of the alter of incense symbolic of the holy spirit.
-Laver of water. Priests washed before entering the holy place or terrestrial world.
-Holy place, the terrestrial world, living by the spirit.
-Candlestick/Menorah, provided light or illumination from the holy ghost.
-Bread & water/wine reminder of his sacrifice. Like real bread, it nourishes us.
-Incense, symbol of prayer. Location of this prayer, at the alter directly in front of the veil preparing to enter his presence. Today prayer are said before entering.
-Cherubim, angels of God.
-Lid of the Ark, mercy seat.
-Holy of Holies, celestial kingdom. In todays temples we pass from room to room, world to world.
-Main entrance faces east.

Many outsiders may look at what we do in the temple as strange, but upon closer inspection, it really is not too dissimilar to the ancient Israelites temple.

Sacrifice & Sacrament

Do you ever wonder how the law of sacrifice prepared the ancient people of Israel to look forward to Christ?

What would your answer be?

Why might this question be relevant given the context of who the hebrews were?

What is your personal offering when you partake of the sacrament?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If we have time

Hebrews 11 & Faith

Some questions from the manual.

If someone asked you to define faith, what would you say?

What do the examples of the people mentioned in this chapter teach you about faith?

-v4. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice
-v5. Enoch was translated
-v7. Noah prepared an ark
-v8. Abraham followed the direction of the lord
-v9. Abraham sojourned in the land of promise
-v11. Sariah conceived
-v17. Abraham offering Isaac.
-v20. Isaac blessed Jacob.
-v21. Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph.
-v22. Joseph prophesied.
-v23. Moses Parents hid him.
-v24. Moses chose not to be identified as an Egyptian.
-v27. Moses lead Israel out of Egypt.
-v28. Moses kept the passover.
-v28. The Israelites passed through the red sea.
-v30. The walls of Jericho fell.
-v31. Rahab perished not.
-v32-34. Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Japhthae, David, Samuel.

What is faith?

How do we develop faith?

In what ways are we blessed when we exercise faith?

What happens when we choose not to exercise faith?

What will you do to strengthen your faith?

Oct 28 - Nov 3

As the year concludes, you may wish to review how you have done as we have adopted come follow me. As an individual and as a family.

For me my study has been lees about my behaviour but more about what I can share that will help the class.

Though I can confidently say I have completed the Bible this year. I can't remember the last time I did that. Maybe seminary. If that is the minimum you too have achieved, I still think that is worth a pat on the back.

For me, I have discovered things in the new testament I did no know. I understand it's construction a lot better, who wrote the texts and who they were for. There have been long Saturday nights, staying up until 2 or 3am to ensure I have read and understood sufficiently & considered plenty of questions to ask and prepared answers if needed.

For those of you who have managed to do more than just read (or maybe listen), but also study and discuss in your household I applaud you and am confident your lives are richer for it.

Would anybody else like to share their thoughts on this years study? I may ask again in a few weeks.

Looking forward to next year can anyone tell me what we are studying? I'll give you a clue, it is not the Book of Mormon.

It is The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

The church is releasing some new videos. They are available on the gospel library app.

Anybody had a sneak peek yet?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week.

Lots of little chapters with lots of tid bits.

Lots of verses you may have heard regularly over the years but not necessarily associated with these books.

For example...

nubian
a;boinarb
o;inafb

1st. Lets discuss who Timothy & Titus were and why these next epistles are slightly different to the other epistles. Timothy & Titus had served with Paul on some of his missionary journeys. They were then called as leaders of Congregations, sounds like a...Bishop. This is all in the manual.

I have a couple of directions we can go in this week.

I've been liking the format I've been using of late, where we list topics on the board of things we found in the assigned chapters.

But I carve a few other direction we could go in?

1. Topics
2. Popular Verses
3. List good example and bad example behaviours listed in these chapters
4. Discuss what caught your eye this week and what you learned

Any preference?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Topics

What topics were covered in this weeks reading?

1 Tim 1 : Hope & Faith in Jesus Christ
1 Tim 2 : Pray for leaders, views towards women
1 Tim 3 : Bishops & Deacons,
1 Tim 4 : Apostasy
1 Tim 5 : Policy regarding widows
1 Tim 6 : Money
2 Tim 1 : Fear & Shame
2 Tim 2 :
2 Tim 3 : Apostasy & Scriptures
2 Tim 4 : Apostasy & Teaching
Titus 1 : Bishops qualities & Duties
Titus 2 : Behavioural do's and don'ts
Titus 3 : Behavioural do's and don'ts
Phil 1 :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Popular Verses

1 Tim 4:12 : Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. See section 3.

1 Tim 6:10 : For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

2 Tim 1:7 : For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Tim 1:8 : Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Tim 3:1-5 : This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Tim 3:7 : Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Tim 3 16-17 : All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Tim 4:7 : I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Good Example & Bad Example

Good Example
Grace, Mercy 1 Tim 1:2
Charity 1 Tim 1:5
Faith, Charity, Holiness, Sobriety 1 Tim 2:15
Blameless, Husband of 1 Wife, Vigilant, Sober, Hospitable 1 Tim 3:2
Patient 1 Tim 3:3
Good report 1 Tim 3:7
Honourable, Dignified 1 Tim 3:8
Labour & Suffer 1 Tim 4:10
Meditate (study) & apply 1 Tim 4:15
Righteousness, Faith, Charity, Peace 2 Tim 2:22
Gentle to all, Patient 2 Tim 2:24
Blameless, lover of hospitality, Sober, Just, Holy, Temperate (Self Control) Titus 1:7-8


Bad Example
Blasphemy, persecutor, voilent 1 Tim 1:13
Given to wine, bullying, greedy of lucre (money), brawler, covetous 1 Tim 3:3
Deceitful 1 Tim 3:9
Lies & Hypocrisy 1 Tim 4:2
Vain babbling 2 Tim 2:16
Flee youthful lusts 2 Tim 2:22
Foolish & unlearned questions 2 Tim 2:23
Lover of self, Covetous, Boasing, Pride, Blasphemous, Disobedience to parents, Unthankful, Liars, Fans Accusers, No Self Control, Traitors, heady (Rash), high-minded (puffed up, conceited),  2 Tim 3:2-4
Self Willed (Obstinate, Arrogant), Angry, Given to Wine Titus 1:7-8



As per the title of this weeks lesson how can we be an example...
in word?
in conversation?
in charity?
in spirit?
in faith?
in purity?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. What I Enjoyed

A couple of mine were the following

Tim 1:11-17 Paul admits he used to persecute the saints. He calls himself a chief sinner for it. But even such sins have been forgiven. Should we then follow the saviours example and forgive those that offend us? How bad do we have to be before we cannot be redeemed?

I've tried to work out if Paul was physically a prisoner when he was writing this as he calls himself a prisoner a lot (2 Tim 1:8, Phil 1:1,9). If not, it seems like an unusual thing to say. After listening to a podcast on this is was suggested he was using the term kind of like the word criminal. He has been imprisoned for the cause of teaching the gospel. He has been a prisoner. The gospel of Jesus Christ was introducing new ideas that many people were struggling to understand and as a result of their misunderstanding some people in authority believed they were menaces and locked up those teaching these new doctrines. Same happened to Joseph smith and many of the missionaries in the Book of Mormon.

Christ mission was not to save sinners but repentant sinners.

Regardless of your political views you may have noticed the verse suggesting we give thanks for leadership. Maybe we could pray for our MP’s to gain some clarity and unity! 1 Tim 2:1-3

1 Tim 3:4-5 Such an obvious principle. The family is the fundamental unit of society. If more men looked after their family and managed this, then he will likely be more qualified to serve in the church. After all, our end goal is to manage a rather large family.

1 Tim 5:8 Explaining the need to provide for your family.

1 Tim 5:20 Not sure how I feel about this one. In most instances resolutions between man and the saviour and kept behind the bishops door in the name of confidentiality.

1 Tim 5:25 Our actions will define who we are, not what we will say we will do.

1 Tim 6:7 I noted the intentional use of the word Certain.

1 Tim 6:17 What are 'uncertain riches'? Basically anything physical. Yes, money, but some people rely on stuff to make them happy. If this is the case, and this stuff cannot come with you, then you will be unhappy when you pass through. You can only rely on one thing. not just for happiness but salvation too.

2 Tim 2:10-12 There are many verses like this in this weeks reading. Basically giving a promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. These verses also remind me of the beatitudes. The meek shall inherit the earth.

There were many verses relating to focusing on the Saviour rather than on thing of no to little value, whether that be gossiping, back biting, or just asking questions that there is no answer for or challenging beliefs with science 1 Tim 6:20

2 Tim 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses. Have we been warned of late of anything creeping into our homes?

2 Tim 3:15 Paul shows us the value of the scriptures and we can see what type of people come from reading the scriptures from a young age. Another comparison with Joseph Smith who was reading the bible avidly at 14 and younger.

2 Tim 4:1-5 Comparing what I'm reading with the world, 'heap to themselves teachers' or put in place people supposedly learned to tell us what is right and what is wrong. For example identify as whatever you want to be.

2 Tim 4:16-18 : At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. When Paul started his ministry he felt alone in terms of mortal aid. However the lord was with him & he was delivered.