Hebrews
Discipleship Lessons
A 13-week online study of the Letter to the Hebrews

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Faith of Abraham (Genesis 11-25)


Marc Chagall, 'The Praying Jew' (1923), 46x35-3/16 in, The Art Institute, Chicago. Larger image.

The Letter to the Hebrews is an amazing book -- nothing like anything you see in the rest of the New Testament.

  • In some places it soars. The "Hall of Faith" of Hebrews 11, for example, recites the faith of the patriarchs in terms that always lift me up and inspires me.
  • In other places it's downright difficult. Several verses are frankly hard to understand clearly, but intriguing nonetheless.
  • Here and there you'll find stern warnings and exhortations. How should we take them?
  • Occasionally you almost need hip-boots to wade through the various tabernacle sacrificial rituals from the book of Leviticus and Jewish customs. But if you take the time to understand what is being said, you'll be staggered by the implications.
  • It's filled with high-grade nuggets of Christian truth that will stay with you all your life!

Hebrews is certainly a book for disciples. It stirs our faith and nips at our heels when we get lazy in our walk. It helps us see Jesus in a new way. And it enables us to understand the role of suffering to discipline and train us up as Jesus' disciples. Though Hebrews discusses at length Old Testament themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and Israel's high priest, it isn't about these things. Ultimately, the Letter to Hebrews is a lens that focuses all our attention of Jesus Christ -- who he is in both his humanity and divinity, and what he has done for us now and forever.

Hebrews is both a challenge and a joy. Are you up to the journey? I invite you to join us. There's no cost to join. Come along. Let's study together.

Hebrews: Discipleship Lessons, by Ralph F. Wilson
Now all the lessons are also available together in e-book and printed book formats.
  • Preface
  • Introduction to Hebrews
  1. Jesus, the Father's Own Son (Hebrews 1:1-2:4)
  2. Jesus, Who Tastes Death for Everyone (2:5-18)
  3. Jesus, the Giver of Rest (3:1-4:13)
  4. Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest (4:14-5:10)
  5. Warnings Against Apostasy (5:11-6:12)
  6. Jesus, Our High Priest Forever (6:13-7:28)
  7. Jesus, Mediator of a Better Covenant (8:1-9:12)
  8. Jesus, Our Willing Sacrifice (9:13-10:18)
  9. Let Us Draw Near: Confidence of Faith (10:19-39)
  10. Let Us Believe: Nature of Faith (11:1-6, 11)
  11. Let Us Trust: Perspective of Faith (11:7-12:2)
  12. Let Us Endure: Perseverance of Faith (12:3-29)
  13. Let Us Love: Workings of Faith and Epilogue (13:1-25)

Here's how we'll study together.

  • Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the week. Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help you understand it better.
  • On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and maybe Thursday, you'll receive a question from that week's lesson to think about and answer. This is designed as a "total immersion" approach to Bible study, since I believe God wants to use it to work real and permanent change in your life. (You can opt out of the daily questions if you like, however, and just receive the weekly lessons.) You'll be thinking about these passages constantly for over these weeks -- long enough for God to work his Word into your life and lifestyle.
  • With each lesson you'll receive a link to a 20- to 30-minute audio teaching that sums up the passage you've been studying that week. Some who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
  • Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.

Why don't you sign up today -- and then encourage some of your friends to sign up and study along with you.

Sign up now!

To sign up, start by clicking on your e-mail frequency preference:

You'll receive your first lesson the Friday after you sign up. There is no cost to participate in the study, though donations are encouraged so we can create more studies and reach more people.

We respect your privacy and never sell, rent, or loan our lists. Please don't subscribe your friends; let them decide for themselves.

Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. There's no penalty, but each of them is pretty intensive. If you try to do too many studies at the same time without adequate reflection, you'll miss out on God speaking to you.

Hebrews: Discipleship Lessons

Copyright © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.