Hebrews 11:29-40 | Sermon Resources | 3 March 2024
Sermon Summary
We’ve been hearing the past 2 weeks what faith is and what it is not. Verse 1 says that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It is not wishy washy sentimentalism, but confidence in the promises of God. Verse 6 says that faith believes God exists and that he rewards those who seek him. We also talked about faith not being merely intellectual, not just being knowledge of the promises of God, but action based on that knowledge. Faith acts. Faith moves us forward. Faith gives us courage to do something remarkable. But today’s passage of Scripture gives us a sharp contrast to make sure we understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a health and wealth gospel. We learn that sometimes God’s promises break through in our present circumstances here on this earth, but other times we see that God’s promises will only be fulfilled in the new heaven and new earth. I think it is critical for us to understand that if we don’t see God’s promises break through here and now, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have faith. Faith will sometimes result in seeing God give you a remarkable deliverance, but other times your faith is meant to give you remarkable endurance through suffering. Both are by faith. In all of the examples here in Hebrews, the saints are moved into action by faith. And the last verse of our passage reveals one reason why it is that the promises of God are not always immediately fulfilled. That’s going to be our outline this Sunday morning. 1) Faith is sometimes the instrument of God’s remarkable deliverances. 2) Faith other times results in God’s provision of remarkable endurance through suffering. 3) Faith in Christ unites us with others in our hope of being “made perfect,” a bride of remarkable beauty.
Discussion Questions
- Have you ever faced an impossible situation, and in the process, grown in your faith?
- Have you ever by faith experienced a remarkable deliverance?
- What is remarkable about the mention of Rahab as an illustration of faith?
- How does this passage challenge the idea that God’s promises must always break through in our present circumstances here on this earth?
- Have you ever witnessed remarkable endurance; faith so committed to God that it acted in the face of suffering?
- How does it strike you that some of the faithful didn’t receive what was promised since God isn’t going to make them perfect “apart from us” (v. 40)?
- How might this passage impact the way that you respond to suffering Christians?
- How does it make you feel that you will be made perfect, holy, and without blemish?
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