Here are some ideas for learning and teaching a few of the great principles in Hebrews 1-6. And while you’re here, I recommend you check out my free online course, “Seeking Jesus.”
Videos for Hebrews 1-6
“Jesus Understands Our Temptations” (1 minute video excerpt from Seeking Jesus).
Back in John 12, I shared the video “Jesus Wins.” If you didn’t use it there, Hebrews 2 is a great place for it.
Dr. Matthew Grey does an incredible job walking viewers through Hebrews 1-6. Part 1, Part 2 (or listen to the podcast).
As always the Bible Project videos are helpful for getting a big picture, in this case, of the Book of Hebrews.
Ideas for Learning More About Hebrews 1-6
***The Savior Did What We Could Not Do***
Anthony Sweat once shared this object lesson (which you could either describe or actually do…we’ll be doing this one with our kids in our gospel study time on Sunday!)
Have a child or student bend over. Place a cup, full of water, balancing on the students back right between their shoulder blades. Tell them they need to get the cup off of their back without spilling any of the water. The student will either sit there motionless, because they know even the slightest movement will spill the water, or they will foolishly try to take it off themselves and spill it everywhere. If they spill, place another cup back on their back, and tell them they need to figure out how to get it off without spilling the water. After they are stumped for a minute, ask them if they want help. When they say they do, have another student simply stand up and take the water off of their back for them.
The point: Sometimes we can’t do things on our own. While there are many things in life where we could ask for other mortals to help us, when it comes to conquering death we need divine assistance. Read Hebrews 2:14-15: “Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.”
Jesus Christ has done for us what we could do not do for ourselves. He even overcame death, and through him, each of us will as well.
***Jesus Christ Understands Me***
Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:14-16 are some of the most powerful verses that teach that Jesus Christ really understands us. If I were teaching younger learners, I might borrow another object lesson from Anthony Sweat.
Bring in enough small rocks to class so that each student/child can have their own rock. Tell learners they are to close their eyes and not look at their rock as you hand each student a rock. Tell the students they have one minute to feel the rock and get to know it. Have the students place the rocks back in a bag or sack as you collect them. Then dump out all the rocks at the front of the class and tell the students to come and find their rock. The students will easily be able to pick out which is their rock even though they never saw it.
This can remind us of how well Christ knows us. He not only sees us, he has felt what we have experienced.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Savior took upon Himself every pain, every sin, and all of the anguish and suffering ever experienced by you and me and by everyone who has ever lived or will ever live. Under the weight of that excruciating burden, He bled from every pore. All of this suffering was intensified as He was cruelly crucified on Calvary’s cross.”
Every pain, all the anguish we’ve suffered, Jesus Christ has felt and experienced–both in Gethsemane and on the cross. It might be good to then discuss with learners, “How has it helped you in your life to know that Jesus Christ has felt the pain and struggles you experience?”
He understands what we feel. There may be times when think, “Nobody understands what I’m going through.” But that’s not true. Jesus Christ knows what we are experiencing, and he will help us through the difficult times.
***Jesus Wins***
I shared this idea back in John 12, but if you didn’t use back then Hebrews 2:14-15 is a great spot for it. I go into some details in this “Jesus Wins” video (PowerPoint slides here). I think the analogy of a sporting event is really powerful and this principle has deeply blessed my life. I hope it does the same for you and those you teach.
***Additional Resources***
Who wrote Hebrews? Terrence L. Szink shares insights in his article, “Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews.”
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I hope these resources are helpful to you in your learning and teaching this week!
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