Living by Faith

Hebrews 11:1-18

Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you, but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:

What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?

READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)

Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on phone)

StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)

Topics:

#Hashtags

#Stangers

Topical Bible

Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:

As you consider the people in your study group, what’s one positive adjective you would use to describe each person?

By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ²For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

⁴By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. ⁵By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ⁷By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. ¹¹By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. ¹²Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, ¹⁸of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)

ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)

Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)

STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are some resources)

StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)

NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)

BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)

BlueLetter (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)

Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)

Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)

KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)

God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What are the connections between 10:35-39 and the theme of chapter 11?
In the definition and focus of faith in verses 1 and 6, what verbs describe faith? What is the object of these verbs? Is our faith directed toward the future, toward the present, or toward both? Toward God alone, or people as well? Why do you conclude this? Write your own expanded definition of faith as you try to capture the meaning of verse 1
How does verse 3 illustrate this understanding of faith?
Why is Abel’s sacrifice prefigure Christ’s ultimate sacrifice in a way Cain’s did not (recall chapters 9-10)?
What aspect of faith (v. 1) is demonstrated by Enoch (v. 5; Genesis 5:21-24)? By Noah (v. 7; Genesis 6:5-22; 7:11-12)?
How is faith demonstrated or explained in each of the three examples from Abraham’s life (vv. 8-12, 17-19)? What obstacles had to be overcome? What changed for him? For his family?

APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action)

Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)

The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)

Precept Austin Devotionals

Scripture Graphics

What are some verbs that describe your present level of faith? Why these?
Of the people mentioned in this section, with whom do you feel you have the most in common? Why? With whom do you have the least in common? Why? Which situation would have been the most difficult for you to face? Why? What does it mean to you that not all these people of faith met with “success”?
How has your life changed as a result of your faith in God? What has your faith cost you? How has your faith affected your neighbors?
Read again aloud verses 13-16. What does it mean to you to be an alien and a stranger of faith? In what ways do you feel like a stranger in this world?
Who are some contemporary heroes of faith who inspire you today?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.