This week’s readings: Hebrews 1–6
Don’t forget to record your impressions and read the ideas outlined in the Come, Follow Me manuals on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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Scripture Insight
This scriptural insight comes from Verse by Verse: Volume 2 by Andrew C. Skinner and D. Kelly Ogden.
In Hebrews chapters 1 and 2, Paul cites eight successive quotations from the Old Testament to show that Jesus is greater than angels. To the Jews (Hebrews) angels were highly exalted beings because they were involved in giving the law at Sinai (see Deuteronomy 33:2;Psalm 68:17; Acts 7:53). Apparently, some Jewish leaders even assigned angels a higher station than the Messiah. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls reflect an expectation that Michael the Archangel would be the premier figure in the great Messianic kingdom at the end of the world. Paul uses the Old Testament, principally the Psalms, to show that Jesus the Messiah was and is Lord, God, and King. He is Son of the Father, with a royal birthright that makes him preeminent among all the children of God.
Study Ideas
These ideas and topics are compiled from Come, Follow Me and have been adapted for specific situations. Check out the manuals online for more ideas, or come up with your own as you study!
For couples:
As you study together this week, you might find that a discussion on the priesthood could be interesting. As you read the verses in the beginning of Hebrews 5 about priesthood authority, you might share the different experiences and perspectives you have on what it means to be called of God and why it is important for a priesthood holder to have authority.
For singles:
One of the topics in this week’s readings is about having a soft heart. Sometimes it can be easy for our hearts to harden as we get caught up in so many responsibilities and distractions. Perhaps you can think of ways that you can develop a soft heart. If you pick one to work on this week, you might consider designing a background image for your phone incorporating the action you chose to help remind you of your goal.
For families with young children:
Perhaps as you study the first part of Hebrews as a family this week, you can compile and post a list of all the titles, roles, attributes, and works of Christ to learn more about who He is. At the end of the week, you might even print off or use little 3X5 pictures of Christ and the list you made to play a matching game, where each family member could pick one picture that best illustrates the title, role, attribute, or action that you listed and then hang one of the pictures in their room as a reminder of what you studied together.
For families with teens:
This week, you might focus one of your family studies on the purpose of Christ’s Atonement. There are many verses in the first part of Hebrews that explain how the Savior comforts and supports those who are suffering, and particularly that He understands them because of the suffering He went through. Perhaps you could give each family member a notecard or something to write on and have them write down a challenge or heartache they have been facing. Then have them fill in the sentence with what they wrote:
The Savior understands that _____________________.
You could encourage them to keep this paper in a textbook, a locker, under their pillow, or somewhere else where they can see it often and remember that they are not alone in their experiences. This could be a particularly helpful study if you struggle to relate to or communicate with your teenagers about the challenges they are facing.
Stay in the loop on Come, Follow Me discussions and insights throughout the week by following the Brightly Beams Instagram account, or check out this week's related Come, Follow Me FHE lesson: Why Do We Need Priesthood Keys.