Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living Out Faith Like Abraham
Bible ReadingHebrews 11:8-16 (ESV) 8 By 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.
9 By 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.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore 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.
13 These 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.
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But 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.
Genesis 12:1-9 (ESV) 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Revelation 21:22-27 (ESV) 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Observation Questions- According to Hebrews 11:8, what did Abraham do when God called him, and what was unique about his obedience?
- In Genesis 12:7-8, what did Abraham do each time he moved to a new place in the promised land?
- What does Hebrews 11:13 say about Abraham and others who lived by faith regarding the promises God made to them?
- In Revelation 21:27, what is said about who will enter the city God has prepared?
Interpretation Questions- Why do you think God called Abraham to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown, rather than giving him all the details up front? How does this challenge our own expectations of following God? [21:14]
- What is the significance of Abraham building altars in the land of Canaan, especially considering the culture and people around him? [29:26]
- Hebrews 11:13 says that Abraham and others “all died in faith, not having received the things promised.” What does this teach us about the nature of faith and God’s timing? [41:15]
- How does the vision of a heavenly city in Revelation 21 shape the way believers are called to live as “strangers and exiles” on earth? [47:04]
Application Questions- Abraham’s journey of faith began with a single step into the unknown. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God calling you to take a step of faith, even if you don’t have all the answers? What is holding you back? [16:44]
- The sermon talked about “building altars” in our daily lives—making space for God through worship, prayer, and obedience. What would it look like for you to build an “altar” this week? Is there a specific time or place you can set aside for God? [29:26]
- Abraham lived as a foreigner in a land that didn’t share his values. In what ways do you feel “out of place” as a Christian in your daily life? How do you respond when you feel like you don’t fit in? [30:39]
- The message emphasized that faith is a daily journey, not a one-time decision. Are there areas where you have grown comfortable or complacent in your walk with God? What practical step can you take to “start walking” again? [25:03]
- Abraham never saw the full realization of God’s promises in his lifetime, but he kept trusting. Is there a promise of God you are waiting on? How do you keep hope alive when you don’t see immediate results? [41:15]
- The vision of God’s city—a place of perfect peace and holiness—was Abraham’s motivation. How does the hope of heaven affect your choices, priorities, or struggles today? [47:04]
- The sermon invited everyone to “take the next step, build your altar today, and look forward to the city He has prepared.” What is one specific next step you feel God is inviting you to take after hearing this message? [49:34]
