Hoping for Something Better: Refusing to Settle for Life as Usual

by Nancy Guthrie

Who wants to merely go through the motions of religion? We long for something authentic―something worth opening our hearts to, filling our minds with, and giving our lives for. We hope for something better than the “churchianity” of our parents and the vague spirituality of our neighbors, something better than guilt-induced, holier-than-thou morality, better than here-and-now, health-and-wealth promises. In her thought-provoking and authentic style, Nancy Guthrie shows that Jesus himself offers the something better we've been looking for, applying the truths of Hebrews to real-life issues such as guilt, shame, disappointment, hardship, unhealthy obsessions, personal ambition, and fear of death.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Theology, Book Club, Christianity

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

Nancy Guthrie teaches the Bible at her home church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as at conferences around the country and internationally, including through her Biblical Theology Workshops for Women. She is the author of numerous books and the host of the Help Me Teach the Bible podcast at The Gospel Coalition. She and her husband host Respite Retreats for couples who have faced the death of child and are co-hosts of the GriefShare video series.

Reviews

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent study on the book of Hebrews. It covers the book in depth, and also with a lot of heart, with particular emphasis on hope. I've done a couple studies on Hebrews before, but I had not realized that one of its major themes is hope, perhaps most famously identified in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

This hope referenced to goes all the way back to the promises God gave to Abraham, that He would bless him, and through him all people would be blessed. Hope is also mentioned immediately before, in Hebrews 6:11 "...to have the full assurance of hope until the end" and in 6:18: "... that we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us," and again in 7:19 "...a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God."

Joni Eareckson Tada writes the foreword, saying:

Hebrews provides the hieroglyphics of heaven. It speaks of a better country... a grand cloud of witnesses... a heavenly Jerusalem... and thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. I liked that kind of talk. It was hopeful. In its pages, I was even able to crack the code behind the whispers of omens of why God had allowed my affliction. In Hebrews I found a home for my aching heart.

The author, Nancy Guthrie, lost not only her infant daughter, Hope, but a couple years later an infant son, Gabriel, to a rare genetic disease. But this mother clung to the hope of the promise in Christ, of blessing in this life but more importantly of the one to come.

In chapter 2, of her daughter, she writes,

When Hope was a couple weeks old, we went to the Christmas program at our church. As we sat in the balcony, enjoying the beauty of the music and pageantry, it hit me: I would never get to enjoy music wit Hope. She would never sing the children's choir. We would never sample rich desserts together, explore interesting places, or observe amazing art of architecture. Tears began to drop down my face and onto Hope as I began the process of letting go of the dreams i had for sharing with her all the good things life in the world as to offer.

But I also began to consider what was ahead for Hope. No, she wouldn't enjoy e a fine orchestra here with me, but surely the music on the halls of heaven will be finer! As I thought through all the things I would not be able to share with her, I began to consider how much better heaven's version will be.

This brought me my own share of tears, but also hope, realizing I'm really not missing out on much with my own daughter, killed in accident at age 8. I will have all of eternity to spend with her in heaven, with our God, sampling things far finer than we yet know here on this earth.

I began to tell myself the truth about death and the reality of life in this world. And fear began to lose its grip on me.

In chapter 3, I underlined this:

What kind of faith is necessary to have real rest in this life? Faith that trusts God wholeheartedly with our lives, faith that leaves behind the desert existence of expecting this world to meet our needs, faith that moves forward with God into the life is he holding out for us.... Deeply trusting God with our lives is what gives rest to our souls.

In chapter 5, I underlined this:

If we just hear truth, but we never write it out or wrestle with it, if we never try to repeat it or explain to someone else, we never really own it.

In chapter 6, an excellent comparison of the old and new covenants is given:

According to the new covenant, everything God demands of us, he also provides for us - freely and forever, through the finished worked of Christ on the cross. Through the new covenant, the Spirit of God overcomes our rebellion and resistance so that we can have an internal change of heart toward God. God did not start over with the new covenant but instead brought the old covenant to perfection.

In chapter chapter 7:

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

When you chose to hold on to the hope of your salvation - Jesus himself - it is as if you drive a stake into the ground and hold on for dear life, so that when the winds of adversity or persecution come your way, you can hold steady without falling.... the soil we're digging into is the very word of God - wholly reliable and true. The stake of our hope is dug deep into the soil of God's promise to save completely

.

Perhaps the greatest truth I've learned in this year's devastating trial:

It is not necessarily great faith or great courage that will get you through this (although that is what others no doubt will see). It is holding on to what you know is true baout God and refusing to let go).... To count it all joy when the joy is so deeply hidden may be the greatest challenge of all.

Chapter 9 has probably one of the clearest, most concise list of reasons for why God allows suffering. First of all, suffering isn't punishment. God doesn't punish his followers! (He does discipline them, though like a father disciplines his children... Hebrews 12). "It will either distract our focus from Christ or intensify our focus on him."

How do we know our suffering is not punishment for our sin? Because someone has already been punished for our sin. Isaiah 53:5 "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him."

If suffering isn't punishment, was it it?
1) Some suffering is the natural consequences of our sinful choices and the sinful choices of others. Galations 6:7-8 A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction."
2) Some suffering is the natural result of living in a fallen, broken world.
3) Some suffering is the supernatural work of Satan (the book of Job).

[Sara-Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Nancy Guthrie writes a study that is steeped in the Word. This is not a book about being a better person, how to achieve some goal, etc. In fact, I would definitely say Nancy doesn’t write “Self Help” at all. I know that when I pick up a study by Nancy Guthrie, I’m going to get pointed back to Christ and his Scripture again and again. Which is why I’m such a huge fan of her work.

[Claudia Callis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great study of the book of Hebrews!

[Julie Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!! Wonderful Bible study.

[Amy T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a virtual Bible study I did. I definitely appreciated the opportunity this book gave me to go more in depth with reading through the book of Hebrews. Guthrie definitely designed the book in a way to help me engage with the Biblical text more effectively. I also enjoyed her stories that she supplemented the reading with, as her life has some fascinating, engaging, and inspiring stories that I appreciated hearing. However, this was not the best companion Bible study book I have read, for sure. I did feel the "aha" moments in connection with the Biblical text were lacking and her insights weren't always super enlightening or clear. Nonetheless, any book that helps me dig deeper into the Bible is worth my time and I greatly appreciated the conversations the study questions sparked with my Bible study group.

[Christina Truver Olache · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This book was for a bible study and it was good in the way it helped me engage with Hebrews. I don't have any complaints about the content, it was helpful and I feel closer to Jesus. The trouble I have with it was the formatting - it was hard to get through chapters because the pages are dense and the paragraphs are extremely long.

[Lena]

I can’t fairly give this a star rating since I only got through a couple chapters, but I didn’t love the style of this study. I normally love Nancy Guthrie’s works, but this Bible study felt like it had too many personal anecdotes and the analyses and explanations didn’t feel very deep (at least in the first couple chapters).

I’m currently in a Sunday School class going through the book of Hebrews, and I’m finding that to be more of the Bible study style I’m desiring at this time. It could be I’m just not reading this book at the right time in my life or am desiring more of an in-depth study, while this book feels more like a stream-of-conscious-style commentary. The format feels a bit clunky with lengthy chapters and not much pause for considering a VERY meaty book of the Bible.

Nonetheless, I appreciate Nancy Guthrie and her ministry so much, and I wish I liked this book more. I probably will give this book another try one day — maybe when I’m not already studying on my own and via a Sunday School class.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who wants to merely go through the motions of religion? We long for something authentic―something worth opening our hearts to, filling our minds with, and giving our lives for. We hope for something better than the “churchianity” of our parents and the vague spirituality of our neighbors, something better than guilt-induced, holier-than-thou morality, better than here-and-now, health-and-wealth promises. In her thought-provoking and authentic style, Nancy Guthrie shows that Jesus himself offers the something better we've been looking for, applying the truths of Hebrews to real-life issues such as guilt, shame, disappointment, hardship, unhealthy obsessions, personal ambition, and fear of death.

[Julie Biles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Guthrie wrote this book to be used as a companion for the study of the book of Hebrews. The ten chapters and questions at the end of the book provide an excellent tool for a group discussion. This is how our study group used it over ten weeks and we all agreed that her commentary, the chapters, are well researched and the notes at the end represents great theologians, both old and new. Nancy Guthrie causes us to recognize our yearning for meaning and hope and with the use of ancient truths causes the reader to look long and hard at Jesus.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Bible studies I have ever done! This deep dive on the book of Hebrews really helped me understand the connections between the Old and New Testaments. And it really reinforced why Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is so vital - God knew the world was in desperate need of a Savior!

Take a good hard look at Jesus - He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe. Hebrews 3:1 (The Message)

Then let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

[elisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 2 on fear was one of the best chapters to articulate my own fears that I've ever read.

Favorite quotes:
*It is only after we wrangle with our fear of death and put death in its proper place that we can really begin to live.
*As our confidence in eternal life grows, physical death loses the power to enslave us to fear.
*Jesus has freed you from being a slave to fear. You don't have to be scared to death of death.

[Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time using this book to study Hebrews, and I've absolutely loved it both times. The questions aren't very in-depth, so people wanting to do a more in-depth study might want to add some resources along the way, but this is a WONDERFUL and accessible study to look at the beauty and depth of the book of Hebrews.

[Monica Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was helpful, insightful, it had me ask questions about myself that I had never thought about. We went through this as we were reading and studying the book of Hebrews as a church family. It helped me see that I need to know and appreciate how good, perfect, holy, righteous, tender, and marvelous Jesus is.

[Karen Butman]

I enjoy and learn so much from whatever Nancy Guthrie writes. I have almost all of her books and Bible studies and I cannot wait to do each one. If she is reading this, I hope she will consider doing a Bible study on the Temple and how we see Jesus in it (based on the John's I am statements), how the feasts show Jesus and Romans would be pretty great too!

[Cindy Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Guthrie has written a Bible study book on Hebrews that has heart filled stories to make it easy to relate to, many of them personal. It is also a commentary that is well done with questions at the back of the book for each chapter. These are good questions that make you think some. I did this study in a group at church.

[LaceyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a Bible study group. Really liked Guthrie's writing style and insights. I also thought the discussion questions at the back of the book were very helpful and relevant. I did skip over some sections, just not getting around to reading before my Bible study group met. I am still going to mark it as "read" because of the discussion questions and group discussions that accompanied it.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A study In Hebrews

I completed this study I Hebrews several years ago in a small bible study. I just completed it again it again with a different small group. I have again found it very enlightening and encouraging amidst new and different struggles and challenges in my life.

[Tara-Lee Oostenbrug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed going through this Bible study! Would be great for a group study too. I liked that she directs you to go through the Bible chapter and answer some questions before you read her corresponding chapter.

[Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a very long time to study through Hebrews, but this has been exactly what I needed in the season I am in. Jesus is better, he is superior, and he is the perfect-or of our faith. We can endure as he endured, because he and many others have set the example before us.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always blessed by Bible studies from Nancy Guthrie, this one was excellent and I am going to try to read it again and answer all the questions to go in depth, this first time was just a surface reading but she has me wanting to go more in depth!

[Emily Dixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Theologically light-- writing style, fluffy... need more meat.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could give 4.5 stars. The ending to me didn't settle well. But other than that, it was a good study. A good study to do with someone else or in a group. It lends to discussion well.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Joanne Vanpopta]

It’s a great study. Gets you thinking about everything.

[Angela Bamford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good study of Hebrews- supplemented with Hughes, Wilson and Piper commentary.

[Amy Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Nancy Guthrie delivers a thoughtful exploration of the Word, this time her focus is on the book of Hebrews. I highly recommend ANY of Nancy's studies you can get your hands on. This one will resonate with anyone who has experienced disappointment. (Hello, Humanity, this book is for you, lol!) If you are struggling with understanding God's purpose in suffering, this book will bring the comfort and hope of God's word to your heartbroken soul. Excellent, excellent study.

I opted for the e-book this time, and I won't do that again. It's just too hard to flip from the questions to the chapters, IMHO. It would have been alright for personal study, but for a group study like I was doing, it was inconvenient. Lesson learned!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as part of a Bible study on Hebrews. The book of Hebrews itself was what I most enjoyed studying (particularly for its encouragement to not drift away, hold fast, and persevere), but this book was a good support to that and offered some helpful examples from the author's personal life.

I particularly liked the comparison of the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament being like daily medicine treating the symptoms of a chronic illness but Christ's sacrifice being the remedy for the root cause of our sin. (pg 101)

The text was relatable and easy to read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although it took me forever to get through it as I had life going on and had other books higher priority. I love that she pointed everyone to Jesus (or taught that that is what Hebrews is doing). That's what really spoke to me. I need to put my focus on Jesus. He is all that matters in everything! It was easy to read, but still very deep. I never had enough time to sit and really take it all in and ponder over it like I wanted. I obviously also had a hard time getting into it as it took me over a year to finally finish.

[Dorothy]

"Best commentary on Hebrews I've ever read." -Brian Salter

Guthrie poignantly reminds me that there is nothing better than Jesus and to seek him with all my life through all my problems, frustrations, and let-downs.

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hardly feel like I can rate this book, but I could not get into it. It seemed to prattle on about nothing at all without relating to it's readers. I very rarely post reviews like this, but I didn't make it past the 2nd chapter, and I really forced myself to read those chapters.