07-17-2022
07-17-2022
Rev. Trevor Johnston (LOX & Online), Pastor Brandon Weaver (LW), Rev. José Marerro (WPB), Rev. Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Word of God Speak
Week 3: Hall of Fame of Faith
English PDF file for printing.
1. Read the theme verse for this series - Psalms 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Start your time today by asking God to teach you and give you wisdom through today’s Scripture and the questions here. Open your heart and mind to hear whatever God wants to say to you.
2. Read today’s passage out of Hebrews 11, which many call the “Hall of Fame of Faith.”
Scripture:
Hebrews 11:1-16 –
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
If you were to journal on this passage on your own, what is the one idea from this passage that you would focus on?
Observation:
3. The “Observation” step is where you simply jot down what you notice from the passage, especially with regard to the one idea that you are focusing on. Do that now – either in writing or in discussion with your group or family.
4. Hebrews 1:1-2 explains the criteria to get into the “Faith Hall of Fame.” How does the author describe faith? What does he mean by what he says here?
5. Glance through the chapter noticing what the author points out about each Old Testament person listed. What kind of things does he highlight about them?
6. Hebrews 11:13a indicates that many of these people “did not receive the things promised.” This might be surprising to you that they made it into the “Faith Hall of Fame” but didn’t get everything they asked God for. How is this different from how many people few faith today?
7. Pastor Trevor used the analogy of a traffic light to talk about prayer. Green is when we get a “yes” from God. Yellow is when God asks us to wait. And red is when God says “no” to our request. Why would a good God sometimes say “no” to the things we ask Him for?
8. Why do you think God often has us wait a long time for answers to our prayers, and sometimes we don’t get to see the fulfillment of His promises to us during our lifetime?
9. In Hebrews 11:13-16 the writer says that Christ-followers are to live like “foreigners and strangers on earth.” Read the following verses and then discuss the implications of living with a mindset that your primary citizenship is in heaven, rather than in your earthly home country.
1 Peter 1:17 - Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Philippians 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ….
10. Pastor Trevor sensed God reminding him that “This is not my home.” What difference does it make when a person lives with this understanding?
Application:
11. Pastor Trevor’s application for himself from this passage was, “Don't get too comfortable here.” If you’ve ever been tempted to get too comfortable here on earth, talk about that.
12. Christ-followers see this world as only a temporary location. What might you consider changing in your life, in light of that truth? How can a person work against the tendency to get more comfortable here on earth than we should?
13. Pastor Trevor also gave a word for those whose issue isn’t too much comfort, but pain. If you’re experiencing loss, grief, or other difficulty; it’s just as important to remember that this world is not your home, but for different reasons. How can this help when you’re going through a hard time?
14. Read Hebrews 12:1-3, which follows immediately after this “Faith Hall of Fame” - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Describe the example of faith that Jesus has given us to follow.
15. Speak a prayer responding to what God showed you in this sermon.
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