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Teaching Outline Week 30
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
Faith that is Alive and at Work
Hebrews 11:7-12
Outline
Last week through the examples of faith in the lives of Abel and Enoch we looked at what it meant to please God. Abel and Enoch reflected God in their faith. It is said that Enoch “walked with God” and we said that meant that he lived life that was “all in” for God; nether men where hypocrites. In every aspect of life, their actions reflected the same principles and standards. All of life was the Gospel…no walls, no borders.
This week we look at the examples of Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. This week’s text holds examples of how a life of saving faith trusts God and perseveres to the end. This week we reference verse 39 in chapter 10 to understand our authors intended meaning of this week’s examples. “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Let’s see what it means to know, trust, and love God by faith.
Main actions of our faithful examples:
Noah trusts God and builds an ark for the salvation of his household.
Abraham trusts God and leaves his homeland and family for an unknown land of promise.
Abraham trusts God and lives in tents without building a city with foundations.
Sarah trusts God and conceives when she is barren and past the age of childbearing.
Pattern of the life of faith:
Noah, Abraham, and Sarah all:
- Heard the Word of God (More than a philosophy, a CALLING)
- Humbled in the presence of God (Inner reckoning)
- Move toward the promise (Outward action as a result of inner reckoning)
- Rejoice in a foretaste of the promise (Always looking forward to the next great blessing of God)
LIFE APPLICATION:
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the very Word of God (Objective Understanding)
Strong inner faith causes radical outward action
Saving faith always changes the way you live
Faith tastes the blessings of God’s promises today and knows there is much more to come!
Studying the Life of Faith (Hebrews 11)
The goal of the book of Hebrews is that believers would draw near to God. (4:16; 7:19, 25; 10:22; 11:6) Drawing near to God has everything to do with faith. As the author of Hebrews points out, faith can never be viewed as only a point in the past. Yes, faith has a starting point. You must be born again! There must be regeneration. However, saving faith never drifts through life resting on the starting point. (2:1-4)
It’s no wonder after ten chapters of Christ exalting worship, encouragements, and warnings we come to rest on chapter 11. Chapter 11, the hall of faith chapter, cataloguing rock solid saving faith in the lives of Old Testament saints. They are presented as examples. But our author never intended for us to simply say, “wow, look at them!”
Their faith reflected God exactly the way our faith must reflect God if it is genuine. This Wednesday night we examine the lives of Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. There is a pattern to the faith relationship with their God that must be present in us today as well. I hope you’ll join us as we examine the fascinating study of the life of faith.
The Joy in Responsibility Week29 (Audio and Video)
Faithful in Business and All of Life
Bad guys are almost OK in my book as long as they live like bad guys. I never had a problem watching my favorite super heroes battle it out with their arch enemies. I knew just what to expect from the villain. The Joker would calmly explain to Batman and Robin just how his evil plan would unfold. The plan almost always called for the death of the dynamic duo, and the overthrow of law abiding, moral, social structure. In short, those bad guys wanted to rule the world and they let everyone know it. I don’t consider them hypocrites, they are simply evil.
Dealing with the Pharisees and Scribes, Jesus used the term hypocrites over a dozen times as recorded in the Gospels. A modern day definition of a hypocrite is as follows:
a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
In order to be accused of hypocrisy one must live a double life. Jesus gave a devastating example in Mark 12:38-40. The Scribe in Jesus’ example is the perfect saint in all his religious circles, but when it comes to business he crushes the helpless. Somehow the Scribe in the story found a way to create a wall or border that, when crossed, allowed him to be governed by very different principles.
A life of faith receiving a commendation from God appears never to have such walls or borders. Genesis 5:24 states that Enoch “walked with God”. The author of Hebrews records how Enoch pleased God by his life of faith and received a wonderful reward. The main idea here is Enoch didn’t have walls or borders that allowed him to live a double life. Enoch walked continually with God.
God was tickled pink with Enoch; Jesus was as displeased with the Pharisees and Scribes as he could be. Enoch’s life was all for God; the Scribe’s life was segmented partly for God and partly for the real world. If the American business owner finds they climb over a religious wall to attend church on Sunday and back across the wall to go to work on Monday, they can never live like Enoch and create the potential of living like the Scribe.
Teaching Outline Week 29
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
The Faith of Abel and Enoch
Hebrews 11:4-6
Outline
Through example, we will explore the meaning of verse 6; “without faith it is impossible to please God.” We will answer the question, “What is it to please God?” We begin to see the role of faith in the life of every believer. We are saved by faith… we are justified, sanctified, and glorified by and through faith. If God is pleased, it is our faith at work. No wonder faith is a gift from God.
Example One: Abel’s sacrifice
Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and commended by God through faith:
- God and Abel communed by faith
- His life of faith still speaks
What verse 4 says about Abel:
- Life that testifies of faith
- Righteous before God
Verse 4 points to Abel’s faith not the physical sacrifice offered. It is common to think that Abel’s sacrifice pleased God only because it was a blood sacrifice. Remember though, God required a blood sacrifice years later of the Levitical priesthood under the Law. The focus of our author is faith!
Example Two: Enoch’s translation
God allowed Enoch passage from the earthly to the heavenly realm by faith:
- God and Enoch communed by faith
- His life of faith still speaks
What verse 5 says about Enoch:
- Life that was rewarded
- Life that pleased God
Genesis states Enoch “walked with God”. Our author now makes clear that walking with God is a life of faith. Enoch through faith believed God, loved God, and wanted to be with God. This is a heart attitude that pleases God.
Definition of Faith (Vs 6) –
- Believe that God exists
- Believe that God rewards those who draw near (by faith)
LIFE APPLICATION:
Only in faith can our obedience please God.
Our faith reflects who God is.
The better I know God, the deeper my faith becomes.
What is it to please God? Draw near to God. Know your God… like Enoch walk with your God. Your faith will reflect God’s excellence. Your faith will proclaim God’s greatness. God’s rewards will be yours, and this pleases God!
The Joy in Responsibility Week 28 (Audio and Video)
Teaching Outline Week 28
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
One Life to Live
Hebrews 11:1-3
Outline
It is now obvious that the author of Hebrews desires that we all live a life that loves without being discouraged about the cost.
Americans watch the world from a comfortable seat in an amusement park. Comfort and Love are opposites in the mind of our author. Hebrews 10:34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Faith (vs 1)
What is faith?
– Assurance of things hoped for
– Conviction of things not seen
People of Faith (vs 2)
What does faith look like?
– Faith has action
– Faith receives commendation
Life of Faith (vs 3)
Do I have faith?
– Molds my world view
– Evidence points to God
Life Application
Faith only comes from a personal encounter with God
– Scriptures
– Prayer
– Service
Faith is the objective grounds upon which subjective confidence may be based. Such faith springs from a personal encounter with God. This kind of faith enables one to venture into the future “supported only by the word of God.” Such faith “has the capacity to unveil the future so that the solid reality of events as yet unseen can be grasped by the believer.”[1]
[1] David L. Allen, Hebrews, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2010), 543.
The Joy in Responsibility Week 27 (Audio and Video)
Teaching Outline Week 27
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
A Practical Look at Faith
Hebrews 10:32-39
Outline
It can be said that faith is the result of believing confidently in future events. Simply stated, it is only possible to faithfully endure suffering today if we believe things will be better in the future. Our text is all about practical aspects of faith.
Our author opens with a recount of days of Christian persecution: (Vs 32-33)
Two ways of suffering is given:
Direct persecution
Choosing to be persecuted with the persecuted
How can a Christian choose to alien with others that are suffering?
The answer is given in verse 34…
Knowing (having faith) that better possessions are in the future
Better and abiding possessions
What is the result of this suffering?
JOY! (Vs 34)
How is joy the result of loss?
Only when faith sees the grandest of gains!
We lose stuff, we gain a person and a salvation:
Victorious King (2:15)
Rest in the Kingdom (4:9)
No more enemies (10:13)
Perfect conscience (9:14)
Sin forgotten (8:12)
Draw near to God (7:19, 25)
LIFE APPLICATION:
Faith destroys two key things in our life that cause us to be burdened;
FEAR and GREED
No fear – I no longer consider security, safety, ease and comfort as greatest value in this life.
No greed – I no longer hoard things because I have a great treasure in Christ.
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