5: Jesus, the Giver of Rest – Teaching Plan

Key Thought: Hebrews describes a rest that belongs to God and also is a Sabbath rest. True Sabbath rest offers us a foretaste of the future God has promised.
January 29, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 20:8-11.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
What two things does the Sabbath rest commemorate, and how are they related?
Personal Application: How should keeping the Sabbath help us understand our complete dependence upon God, not only for existence but also for salvation? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What’s the difference between entering into Sabbath rest and a legalistic keeping of the Sabbath? Is one based on rules and the other with no rules or guidelines? Is it the reasons for keeping the Sabbath and the frame of mind?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 3:12-19.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
Why was Israel unable to enter into the promised rest?
Personal Application: In what ways can you help build the faith of fellow believers? How can you make sure that you never say or do anything that could weaken another’s faith? Share your thoughts
Case Study: One of your friends states, “Since the rest that the Israelites didn’t enter into was faith in Christ, doesn’t that supercede keeping the weekly Sabbath, since Jesus is our rest?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 4:1,3,5,10..

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
How does God characterize the rest He invites us to enter?
Personal Application: How can we enter into His rest even now? How can we rest in the assurance of salvation we have in Christ, and not in ourselves? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states: “If entering into God’s rest is not related to Sabbath-keeping, then how are we to rest? How are we to stop working to rest in Christ? Resting in Jesus without any reference to the Sabbath of the Ten Commandments seems like antinomialism.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 4:8-11.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
How is resting on the Sabbath an expression of salvation by grace?
Personal Application: What is the relationship between Sabbath observance and justification by faith? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!