Use these questions to guide your group through the key themes of this week's message. Feel free to linger on questions that spark the richest conversation — you don't need to cover every one. 

OPENING Getting into the Passage - Take a minute to re-read Hebrews 7: 1-28

1. What stood out most to you from this week's message? Was there anything that surprised or challenged you
2. The message mentioned that Jesus's uniqueness — as both fully God and fully man — is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion. Do you agree? How would you explain that uniqueness to a non-Christian friend? 

PART ONE Understanding Melchizedek (vv. 1–10) 

1. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest — a combination God strictly forbade in Israel (consider kings Saul and Uzziah). Why do you think God kept those roles so separate? What does it mean that Jesus holds both offices perfectly? 
2. Abraham — the father of the faith — paid tithes to Melchizedek and received his blessing. What does that tell us about the kind of priest Jesus is, if Melchizedek's priesthood was even greater than Abraham's? 

PART TWO Why a Better Priesthood Was Needed (vv. 11–14)

1. The Levitical priesthood was established by God — it wasn't broken or wrong. So why wasn't it enough? What was it never designed to accomplish? 
2. The message quoted Romans 3:20 — that the Law shows us our sin but can't remove it. Have you ever experienced trying to earn God's favor through effort or religious performance? What did that feel like, and how does the gospel speak to that?  (“For through the law comes the knowledge of sin” Romans 3:20)
3. The Covenant's purpose was always to "point forward" to Jesus. How does knowing that change the way you read and understand the Old Testament? 

PART THREE Jesus, the Superior High Priest (vv. 20–21)

1. The author of Hebrews argues that if the Levitical priesthood had been sufficient, there would have been no need for a priest “after the order of  Melchizedek.”  What areas of your life do you sometimes treat as if Jesus’ priesthood isn’t quite enough — where you add your own performance or merit?
2. Verse 19 says the law “made nothing perfect.” How does this land on you? Does it feel like freedom, or does part of you still want to earn standing before God?
3. The “better hope” introduced in verse 19 is what draws us near to God. How would you describe to a friend what it means to draw near to God through Christ as opposed to through religious effort?
4. Jesus’ priesthood is guaranteed by God’s oath (v. 21). What difference does it make that God has sworn — not just promised — that Jesus is our priest forever? How does that anchor your faith when you feel spiritually unstable?
5. Verse 25 is one of the great verses in the Bible: Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for those who come to God through him. What does it mean to you personally that right now, Jesus is interceding for you? Does that change how you approach prayer?
6. Jesus doesn’t need to offer sacrifices daily as the Levitical priests did. His one sacrifice was sufficient forever. Where in your life do you need to stop re-litigating your guilt before God and rest in the finality of what Christ has done?