Bible ReadingHebrews 11:1-40 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By 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. By 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. By 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. And 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. By 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. 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. 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. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 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. 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. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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. By 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, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
[48:17]Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
[53:35]Revelation 12:7-11 “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!’”
[56:10]Observation questions- In Hebrews 11, what kinds of people and situations are named as examples of faith, and what actions or outcomes are connected to that faith? [50:27]
- In Hebrews 12:1, what picture is given for the people of God, and what are believers told to lay aside as they run? [53:35]
- In Revelation 12:10-11, what two things are named as the way God’s people conquer the accuser? [57:52]
- What repeated claim ties this whole passage together: how do stories shape belief, and why are true stories especially powerful? [46:25]
Interpretation questions- Hebrews 11 lists people whose stories were already well known. Why does it matter that faith is remembered through stories instead of only through commands or ideas? [49:14]
- Hebrews 12 calls these earlier believers a “cloud of witnesses.” If a witness testifies, what does that suggest about how old Bible stories still speak into present struggles? [53:48]
- Revelation 12 says the accuser is overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony. Why do those two belong together? What goes wrong if a person talks about change but not the Lamb, or talks about the Lamb but never gives testimony to what he has done? [56:57]
- David’s victory over Goliath points beyond David to Jesus. How does seeing Jesus as the true Champion change the way a person reads that story and faces personal battles? [01:03:44]
Application questions- The stories a heart receives help shape what feels true. What stories, voices, or messages have been shaping belief lately, and which of them need to be pushed back by the truth of Scripture? [46:25]
- The accuser still works by repeating lies. What accusation has felt especially loud recently—about shame, change, freedom, worth, or the future—and what truth from God’s Word needs to answer it? [59:08]
- Testimony does not need to be polished to be powerful. If someone asked for a simple version of the story of grace, how would this be answered: Who was that person before Jesus, what happened when Jesus came near, and what is different now? [01:05:29]
- A relationship with Jesus is personal, but not private. What makes it hard to speak openly about what Jesus has done, and what would one small step of public faithfulness look like this week? [01:06:02]
- The next generation needs Bible stories and living witnesses. Who are the children, students, younger believers, or younger family members who most need to hear these stories, and what could sharing with them actually look like? [01:05:29]
- There are 66 books, but one story centered on Jesus’ death and resurrection. Which part of that story needs to be remembered most right now: his coming, his perfect life, his cross, his resurrection, or his victory over death? Why? [01:09:11]
- Kingdom freedom is not self-rule but dependence on Jesus. Where has “independence” been mistaken for strength, and what would depending on Jesus more honestly and practically look like this week? [01:11:10]
