C+C Edmonds CG Discussion Guide
Text: Hebrews 5:11–6:12
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Summary
Hebrews 5:11–6:12 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: spiritual maturity doesn't happen automatically; believers who remain on 'spiritual milk' after years in the faith face a serious problem. Maturity is described as growing in knowledge of God’s word, in faith in Christ, and in practice (obedient living), so that believers develop discernment to distinguish good from evil.
The passage lists “elementary” doctrines—repentance from dead works, faith toward God, teaching about washings, the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment—and urges moving beyond merely revisiting these foundations over and over. The call is not to abandon these basics, but to build on them and press on to deeper understanding and fuller obedience.
In the middle of this call to maturity stands a very serious warning. It describes people who have been exposed to great spiritual privilege: they have been enlightened by hearing the gospel, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit’s work, tasted the goodness of God’s word, and experienced the powers of the age to come, and yet have fallen away. For such people, it is impossible to be restored again to repentance, because in turning from Christ they align themselves with those who crucified him and treat his once-for-all sacrifice with contempt. This is best understood as describing people deeply involved in the life and benefits of the church without ever truly embracing Christ in saving faith, particularly in the original context those tempted to abandon Christ and return to Judaism’s sacrificial system.
An illustration follows: land that receives the same rain can either produce a useful crop or thorns and thistles. One receives blessing; the other is near to being cursed and burned. The same gospel “rain” falls, but the fruit reveals the true nature of the “land.” Yet the passage ends with encouragement: the recipients are addressed as “beloved,” and there is confidence of “better things, things that belong to salvation,” because their lives already show work, love for God’s name, and ongoing service to the saints. The exhortation is to keep showing the same earnestness to the end, not to be sluggish, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Key Takeaways
Discussion Questions
Practical Applications
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Summary
Hebrews 5:11–6:12 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: spiritual maturity doesn't happen automatically; believers who remain on 'spiritual milk' after years in the faith face a serious problem. Maturity is described as growing in knowledge of God’s word, in faith in Christ, and in practice (obedient living), so that believers develop discernment to distinguish good from evil.
The passage lists “elementary” doctrines—repentance from dead works, faith toward God, teaching about washings, the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment—and urges moving beyond merely revisiting these foundations over and over. The call is not to abandon these basics, but to build on them and press on to deeper understanding and fuller obedience.
In the middle of this call to maturity stands a very serious warning. It describes people who have been exposed to great spiritual privilege: they have been enlightened by hearing the gospel, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit’s work, tasted the goodness of God’s word, and experienced the powers of the age to come, and yet have fallen away. For such people, it is impossible to be restored again to repentance, because in turning from Christ they align themselves with those who crucified him and treat his once-for-all sacrifice with contempt. This is best understood as describing people deeply involved in the life and benefits of the church without ever truly embracing Christ in saving faith, particularly in the original context those tempted to abandon Christ and return to Judaism’s sacrificial system.
An illustration follows: land that receives the same rain can either produce a useful crop or thorns and thistles. One receives blessing; the other is near to being cursed and burned. The same gospel “rain” falls, but the fruit reveals the true nature of the “land.” Yet the passage ends with encouragement: the recipients are addressed as “beloved,” and there is confidence of “better things, things that belong to salvation,” because their lives already show work, love for God’s name, and ongoing service to the saints. The exhortation is to keep showing the same earnestness to the end, not to be sluggish, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Key Takeaways
- Spiritual maturity is necessary but not automatic - Maturity involves growing in knowledge, faith, and practice. We seek to be obedient to what we know while we grow in understanding of what we don't know.
- The basics matter, but we must build on them - Many believers may need to revisit and clarify the basics of Christianity, but the goal is to move forward from these foundations into deeper understanding and obedience.
- Serious warning, real assurance - It is possible to be deeply exposed to Christian truth and experience many blessings of the Spirit’s work in the church, yet never truly submit to Christ in saving faith and eventually fall away. At the same time, genuine believers can have real assurance through the visible fruit of love, service, endurance, and ongoing repentance and faith.
Discussion Questions
- Which of the three areas of maturity (knowledge, faith, practice) do you find easiest to develop? Which is most challenging?
- What do you think are the "elementary doctrines" or "milk" of the Christian faith today?
- What would "solid food" look like in your spiritual life right now?
- Review the interpretations of the warning in Hebrews 6:4-8. Which interpretation seems most plausible to you? Why?
- How do you respond to the tension between the impossibility of restoration mentioned in Hebrews 6 and the biblical promise that God never turns away those who come to Him?
- Is there a foundational Christian truth you need to revisit or understand more deeply? What would it look like for you to be "fully devoted" to what you already know?
- Do you know anyone who is taking part in a church but hasn't actually put their faith in Jesus for salvation? How can you have a conversation with this person?
Practical Applications
- Pursue maturity intentionally - Identify one concrete step to grow in each area of knowledge, faith, and practice this week. Share some examples as a group of what this might look like.
- Examine fruit and respond in repentance and faith - Take time before God to honestly assess the “fruit” in your life. Where you see grace, thank him and be encouraged. Where you see compromise or “sluggishness,” confess it, repent, and ask him for renewed strength to follow Jesus to the end