Hawaii 8 – A New Covenant, New Heart and New Sign

July 31, 2026 Study Guides

Sermon Study Guide

“A New Covenant, New Heart, and New Sign”

Main Passage: Hebrews 8:8-13

How to Use This Study Guide

This study guide is designed to enrich your spiritual journey through personal Bible study, deepen your reflection in small group discussions, enhance Sabbath School classes, and encourage meaningful family worship times. Each session is structured to help you explore Scripture thoughtfully, engage with key teachings, reflect on discussion questions, and apply God’s Word practically in your life.

Icons you will encounter in this guide:

📖 Scripture Focus: Highlights the Bible verses central to the session.
💭 Teaching Points: Explains the main ideas and insights from the sermon.
❓ Discussion Questions: Offers questions for reflection and group conversation.
✍️ Personal Application: Suggests practical steps to live out the message.

Session 1: Society’s Condition and God’s Law [Proverbs 28:26; Revelation 14:6-7]

📖

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” — Proverbs 28:26

“Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven with an eternal gospel… Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come.” — Revelation 14:6-7

💭 Teaching Summary

Modern society is deeply unhealthy, as seen in the emergency rooms filled with victims of violence, accidents, and addiction. The root cause is a loss of moral values and the dangerous idea that one should “follow your heart” without restraint. The Bible warns that trusting our own hearts leads to foolishness and ultimately disaster, as Hosea states, “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” Society’s moral confusion leads to chaos and brokenness.
God’s judgment is coming, and it will be based on a moral standard — the Ten Commandments. These are not simply rules but promises from God that establish a moral compass for society. The commandments protect us in many ways: from violence, idolatry, broken families, theft, and falsehood. They are foundational to a peaceful and thriving community.
The Ten Commandments can also be called Ten Promises, highlighting God’s intention to bless those who keep them. For example, the first commandment calls us to worship the one true God, promising undivided loyalty. The Sabbath commandment reminds us that God is Creator and Judge, and honoring Him brings spiritual and social stability. Ignoring these laws invites social decay and personal destruction.

❓ Discussion Questions

How does trusting your own heart without God’s guidance lead to problems in society?
What are some examples of how society “sows the wind” and “reaps the whirlwind” today?
Why is it important to understand the Ten Commandments as promises rather than just rules?
In what ways do the Ten Commandments protect individuals and communities?
How can we personally uphold these commandments in our daily lives?

✍️ Personal Application

Reflect on areas in your life where you might be “following your heart” instead of God’s guidance. Pray for God’s wisdom and help to trust Him more fully.
Commit to learning the Ten Commandments as God’s promises for a better life, not just a list of rules.
Consider how you can encourage others around you to appreciate the value of God’s moral law.

Session 2: The Old Covenant and Its Limitations [Exodus 19:3-6; Hebrews 8:7-9]

📖

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel… not like the covenant which I made with their fathers.” — Hebrews 8:8-9

💭 Teaching Summary

God made a covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving the Ten Commandments as the heart of this old covenant. The agreement promised that if Israel obeyed God’s law, they would be His treasured people, a holy nation. The covenant was a binding relationship with clear promises and responsibilities.
However, this covenant failed because the people focused on external obedience rather than an inward transformation of the heart. They agreed to obey God’s law but did not pursue a genuine change of character. Jesus later explained in the Sermon on the Mount that true obedience goes beyond outward actions and requires purity of heart and motives.
The failure of the old covenant shows us that human effort alone cannot bring about true holiness. It points to the need for a new covenant where God changes us from within, shaping our desires and enabling joyful obedience rather than grudging compliance.

❓ Discussion Questions

What was the main reason the old covenant with Israel failed?
How did Jesus deepen the understanding of the Ten Commandments in His teachings?
Why is internal transformation more important than external obedience?
What lessons can we learn from the old covenant about relying on our own efforts to follow God?
How can we seek God’s help for real heart change?

✍️ Personal Application

Examine your heart’s motivations for obedience to God. Ask God to help you desire Him and His will, not just follow rules.
Memorize Hebrews 8:10 and meditate on God writing His laws on your heart as a promise of His transforming power.
Share with a trusted friend or group how you are experiencing God’s work in your heart through the new covenant.

Session 3: The New Covenant Promises [Hebrews 8:10-12; Matthew 26:26-28]

📖

“I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts… I will be their God, and they shall be my people… I will remember their sins no more.” — Hebrews 8:10-12

“This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” — Matthew 26:28

💭 Teaching Summary

The new covenant God promises includes four key components: first, He writes His law on our hearts so that obedience is joyful and heartfelt rather than forced. This transformation is sanctification — God making us holy from within.
Second, the new covenant brings reconciliation — God becomes our personal God, and we become His people. This intimate relationship is a deep, personal connection rather than a distant legalism.
Third, the new covenant empowers us to witness. We naturally share our faith because we “know the Lord” personally and want others to experience His love. Our lives reveal the covenant relationship, like an engagement ring proudly displayed.
Finally, God promises justification — He will remember our sins no more. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, our sins are forgiven completely, and we stand righteous before God. This assurance brings peace and hope.
We enter this new covenant through baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which are spiritual acts affirming our commitment to Jesus and His saving work. The Lord’s Supper especially symbolizes Christ’s broken body and shed blood for our forgiveness and new life.

❓ Discussion Questions

What does it mean for God to write His law on our hearts?
How does the new covenant deepen our relationship with God compared to the old covenant?
Why is sharing our faith a natural result of being in the new covenant?
What comfort does the promise of God not remembering our sins give you?
How do baptism and the Lord’s Supper affirm our new covenant relationship?
In what ways can you prepare to participate more meaningfully in the Lord’s Supper?

✍️ Personal Application

Reflect on your baptism and Lord’s Supper experiences. How do they remind you of your covenant with God?
Make a plan to regularly participate in the Lord’s Supper as a public affirmation of your faith.
Ask God to write His law on your heart, transforming your thoughts, desires, and actions to reflect His will.

Session 4: The Sabbath as the Sign of the New Covenant [Exodus 20:8-11; Ezekiel 20:12]

📖

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth… and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” — Exodus 20:8-11

“Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” — Ezekiel 20:12

💭 Teaching Summary

The Sabbath is the capstone of God’s creation — a holy time set apart each week for rest and worship. It reminds us that God is Creator, and we are His creatures, accountable to Him. By observing the Sabbath, we acknowledge God’s authority and goodness.
The Sabbath is also a celebration of salvation, a memorial of God’s deliverance from slavery to sin. It is a weekly opportunity to pause, reflect, and rejoice in God’s saving grace, much like a wedding anniversary celebrates a marriage.
Finally, the Sabbath is a sign of God’s covenant relationship with His people. Keeping the Sabbath shows the world that we belong to God and live under His loving rule. It is a practical expression of the new covenant’s inward change and joyful obedience.
Jesus Himself kept the Sabbath and is called the Lord of the Sabbath. He healed and taught on this day, demonstrating its continued importance. The early church did not abandon the Sabbath but kept it as a sacred time for fellowship and worship.
The Sabbath is available to everyone, transcending culture, race, and social status. It is a gift of holy time for all humanity to experience rest, renewal, and God’s presence. When we honor the Sabbath, we tap into divine rhythms that sustain spiritual and physical health.

❓ Discussion Questions

What does the Sabbath teach us about God as Creator and Judge?
How does keeping the Sabbath help us recognize our need for salvation?
Why is the Sabbath called a sign of God’s covenant with His people?
In what ways did Jesus affirm the Sabbath’s importance?
How can you make the Sabbath a meaningful and joyful part of your week?
What challenges might you face in honoring the Sabbath, and how can you overcome them?

✍️ Personal Application

Plan your next Sabbath to include rest from work and distractions, focusing on worship, family, and reflection.
Use the Sabbath as a weekly opportunity to celebrate God’s creative power and saving grace in your life.
Share with family or friends why the Sabbath is special to you, inviting them to join you in its observance.

Session 5: Living the New Covenant Daily [Galatians 2:20; Psalm 34:8]

📖

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me… The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” — Psalm 34:8

💭 Teaching Summary

Entering the new covenant means inviting Jesus to live within us, changing us from the inside out. This union with Christ is the source of true holiness and joy, transforming our daily lives beyond mere rule-following into a vibrant relationship with God.
The new covenant calls for ongoing renewal and faith, trusting that God who began His good work in us will bring it to completion. It is a journey of grace, where God works with us and through us to reflect His love and character.
Practicing the new covenant includes rejoicing in God’s goodness, as Psalm 34:8 encourages us to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. Experiencing God’s blessings firsthand strengthens our faith and motivates us to live faithfully.
The Sabbath is a weekly reminder and a practical expression of this new life in Christ. It helps us slow down, reconnect with God, and recharge spiritually and physically for the week ahead.
Even when life feels busy and overwhelming, the new covenant assures us that Christ’s life within us empowers us to face challenges with confidence, hope, and peace.

❓ Discussion Questions

What does it mean to you that Christ lives in you?
How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of Jesus’ presence in your daily life?
Why is faith important in living out the new covenant?
How can the Sabbath help you experience God’s goodness more fully?
What encouragement does the promise to complete God’s work in us give you?

✍️ Personal Application

Begin each day with a prayer inviting Christ to live and work through you.
Set aside time on the Sabbath to reflect on God’s goodness and renew your commitment to Him.
Share your experiences of God’s transforming power with others to encourage their faith journey.

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unfailing love and for the precious new covenant You have established through Jesus Christ. Write Your laws upon our hearts and renew a right spirit within us. Help us to live in joyful obedience and to experience the peace and blessing that come from walking closely with You. May the Sabbath be a holy delight that draws us nearer to You each week. Empower us by Your Spirit to witness faithfully and to rest fully in Your grace. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.