On 9-2-12, Hebrews 10:19-31 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Faith Calls for Perseverance.

Faith Calls for Perseverance

Hebrews 10:19-31

International Sunday School Lesson

September 2, 2012

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

This passage of scripture is a perfect example that clearly demonstrates that the Bible is the word of God.

For me personally I feel that as I write this lesson that this particular passage has “followed me around” for months.  It warned me when I needed warning and it encouraged me when I needed that too.  I found that I used it to demonstrate an End Times example and I used it as a reminder of our role as a church towards each other.  Now here today I find it the scripture for our lesson.

Have you ever noticed those days of worship when the songs selected, the prayers offered up and the sermon all were in sync and no one had gotten together to make it happen?  Don’t ignore those moments for the Holy Spirit is telling everyone in attendance something and it isn’t the same thing for all.  Again just as God can do with His word as we see today!

For me this time around it motivates me to ask the question if any of you had a hard week?  Maybe you have had a hard month and for some I know it is even longer.  Quite often the times are so difficult that we become overwhelmed and withdraw.  Some stop attending church and still others though they are there, they have withdrawn.

It is the seemingly growing tough times that always make me think of when things will grow the worst and that is as we near the End.  And there are two places that leap to my mind that deal with the End of Times where these types of cares of the world are a sign of this time.  The first of course were Christ’s own words found in Matthew, Mark and Luke when the disciples asked Him when the end would happen.  Jesus goes to great length in His answer and near the conclusion in Luke 21 He warns at verse 34, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

Cares, worries, anxieties of life they are certainly out there.  Just a few examples could be:  the skyrocketing cost of living, diminishing returns on investments, violent changes in our climate, pervasive sicknesses, declining moral fiber in our society right down to within many of our families. 

According to 2^nd Corinthians 12, very much was revealed to the Apostle Paul and he was only allowed to share some of it.  But he knew that this withdrawing and pessimism would occur when things got rough.  He said in today’s Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We need each other to spur one another on.  You may look at your neighbor or your neighbor might look at you and think that all is right in the world when in fact it is chaos.

Though Paul was talking of Idol Feasts versus the Lord Supper what he said in 1 Corinthians 10 still pertains.

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

As you participate in sharing in the blood and body of Christ don’t assume that you know all the cares of those that make up the body of which you are a part and for those who are worn down don’t keep it to yourself.  Seek and give encouragement to those around you so that these burdens do not hinder you from giving God the glory.

For Discussion:

1.     Discuss those that leave the church because of what they have experienced but think that they are still worshiping God.

2.     Because our first verse begins with therefore, you must look at what preceded verse 19.

3.     Discuss how those who take confidence from verses 19-23 can then be equipped to do the encouraging as written in verses 24 and 25.

4.     Discuss the warning within verses 26-31 tactfully.

5.     The verses just mentioned cannot be considered without verses 32-39 that conclude the chapter.

6.     Who do you know who has stopped attending church?

7.     Who do you suspect may still be attending church but have withdrawn?

8.     Discuss ways that your church could get those within your midst who are feeling overwhelmed but for one reason or another haven’t brought it to anyone there’s attention.

9.     I suggest that one way is to get them into the closer knit environment of your Sunday School.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

9-9-12:    Faith Gives Assurance aka Faith is Assurance Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

9-16-12:  Faith Empowers Endurance aka Faith is Endurance Hebrews 12:1-11

9-23-12:  Faith Inspires Gratitude Hebrews 12:18-29

9-30-12:  Faith Instills Love aka Faith Requires Mutual Love Hebrews 13:1-3, 6; 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved