Bible Journaling: Book of Hebrews

In this study on the book of Hebrews, we will uncover fundamental truths about who God is and who He calls us to be. Do you know what your calling is? Do you know what part is yours to play in God’s great plan of redemption and grace? If you do not know it yet, pray and ask Him to show you.  

For a broader view of this book of the Bible, we encourage you to watch this video:

Bible journaling tip: 

When you want to multiply plants, you can take a cutting from it and place that into water - it will soon create roots and start showing signs of new growth. This is called propagation. What would it look like to propagate Bible verses? Take a verse and let it “grow roots” by writing it in the middle of a blank page. Now, to fill the rest of the page, you can write about it or visually illustrate it. See how the Bible is alive and God-breathed and allow the Holy Spirit in you to break open the text.

LOOK UP(information): encounter God through the Scripture 

Author:

It is unclear who wrote this letter, but the author does make it clear that they knew the disciples first hand and had relationship with them. The teaching and words in this letter was therefore influenced by Jesus’ disciples. 

Audience:

The audience of this letter is also not explicitly stated. However, the author assumes that they know all the events that happened in the first 5 books of the Bible - meaning that the author assumes that they know the Jewish texts. This just means that the audience was probably Jewish Christian believers, which is where the name of the book comes from. 

History:

Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the “hall of fame” of faith heroes. See if you can find where the Bible tells us the story of each person mentioned, and write the Scripture reference next to their name in the margin. 

Genre:

This book is a letter as well, but it is very different from Paul’s writing style that we had gotten so used to by now. All throughout this letter, there are references to the Old Testament, which should be looked up and read. You can imagine reading with a Bible in each hand, one opened to the Hebrews and the other being used to look up every Old Testament scripture mentioned throughout this letter.

LOOK IN(revelation): contemplate / reflect on our own lives

Key verse:

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

Inspiration:

How does this verse challenge your perception of the Bible? If the Bible is a double-edged sword, what does that mean? Where else in the Bible did we hear about a double-edged sword? Are you living as if this verse is true? Is the Word alive and active in your day-to-day life?

LOOK OUT(transformation): respond with creative worship action  

Drawing prompt:

The book of Hebrews is one of the few places where we see a direct link between the Old and New Testament. Usually, Old Testament images are implied, but here Jesus is literally and explicitly compared to key moments in Israel’s history with God. See if you can identify the 4 examples used and then paint or draw each one of them. 

For example, Jesus is compared to the angels and the Torah so I could draw a picture of that and also add Jesus into the picture. How does the author compare them? Add more elements of what he wrote.

Bible Journey with HolyJot:

Here are some questions / prompts provided by the HolyJot community. 

• What increases the condemnation of those who neglect this “great salvation”? (Hebrews 2:3)
• What proof was given by God “at the first” to confirm the revelation ministered by Jesus Christ and by those who had heard Him? (Hebrews 2:4)

Follow this link to dive into this book with an online Bible Study group.

Writing prompt:

The very first sentence of this letter makes the goal clear:
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

Write a paragraph on how Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies using specific examples that you can find by doing a study. What is the significance of each of these words used: Son, heir, universe

Prayer:

God, I want to thank you for the book of Hebrews. Let the words written in this book not only sit in my head, but let them drop down to my heart and sprout and grow. Let my response to this text be worship unto you!