Hebrews: What True Faith Entails

Hebrews 11:8-12

June 5, 2022

Sunday’s Scripture

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 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.

Sermon Applications

Cross Referenced Verse

Isaiah 6:8 | Acts 7:2-8

Pastor’s Closing Questions

• How is God convicting you at this very moment?
• How do we live in the promise of our salvation through the blood of Christ?

Pointed Questions from the Sermon

Pastor Vince told the story of Nadia, a little Pakistani girl that came to Christ. He used her as an example of trusting that God would be faithful to her despite the road of suffering that God had called her on. While God may not have called us to that extent of suffering, we still experience suffering in different ways. Why do you think God allows us to suffer?

• Read James 1:2-4. In trials we may experience suffering. How do you think these trials help us strengthen our faith?
• What should our attitude be when we are in the midst of these trials? Why do you think it is hard to be joyful while we experience suffering?

Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 17-23. Solomon gives us his findings on the reality of making a name for ourselves through massive building projects. Pastor Vince said in his sermon that people try to get others to remember them by naming things after themselves. Why do you think that it is pointless to get the world to try to remember you?

• Why do you think it is more important to desire the eternal kingdom?
• Why do you think desiring the eternal kingdom is more beneficial than desiring our name to be remembered here in the world, and are there any passages of scripture that come to mind that support this?

Read 1 Peter 2:11-12. As we wait for God to fulfill His promises we are to live as if we reside in a foreign land. This causes us to live differently than the world. What are some specific ways we can stay true to what God has called us to be?  

• How did the believers in the New Testament do this, and how can we follow their example?

Pastor Vince said that Abraham and Sarah tried to achieve God’s promise by their own means rather than through the power of God. Why do you think we often falsely believe it’s easier to achieve God’s promises through our own power, rather than His?

• Read Psalm 121. This passage reminds us that God will help us amidst the mountainous challenges of life. In what ways does our knowledge of God, and His sovereignty, bring us comfort when facing these challenges?
• When we lift our eyes above our circumstances, and fix our eyes on Christ, we are reminded that this life is temporary and there is an eternal promise waiting for us. Why do you think that it is easy for us to get distracted by our circumstances and lose our focus on the eternal?