God Disciplines His Sons—Hebrews 12:1–13 Open It 1. What is your favorite sporting event? Why? 2. How were you disciplined or corrected as a child? 3. *What do you think was good or bad about the way you were disciplined as a child? 4. When did you endure difficult or arduous circumstances only because you knew you would later be rewarded? Explore It 1. What should motivate followers of Christ to live for Him? (12:1) 2. What kind of athletic imagery did the writer of Hebrews use in this passage? (12:1) 3. What warning is given to those who would run the race of the Christian life? (12:1) 4. What should be the focus of those who would live for Christ? (12:2) 5. How is Jesus described in this passage? (12:2) 6. What is the benefit of remembering what Christ has done? (12:3) 7. *What measures does the Lord sometimes take toward those who are His “sons”? Why? (12:5–6) 8. *What do we learn about God from the fact that He disciplines us? (12:6–7) 9. *What sobering truth can be inferred by those who never experience the discipline of God? (12:8) 10. Why does God discipline His children? (12:9–10) 11. In what sense does discipline have two sides? (12:11) Get It 1. How well are you running the Christian race? 2. What wrong attitudes or actions tend to stop your spiritual growth? 3. What do you think it means to “fix our eyes” on Jesus? (12:2) 4. *What are some specific ways God disciplines us? 5. How can we tell when God is disciplining us? 6. *What state might your life be in if God neglected to discipline you when you went astray? 7. How has God’s discipline made positive changes in your life? 8. Why should we not lose heart when the Lord rebukes or corrects us? Apply It 1. How can you focus your thinking on Christ this week? 2. How could you call on your Christian friends this week to help you persevere as a Christian? 3. What do you want to remember the next time God disciplines you? 4. What step of obedience can you take beginning today to eliminate the need for God to discipline you?