BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 18

Discipline of a Loving Father

Hebrews 12:1-17

January 31, 2016

 

We live in a culture so much different from the one in which I grew up. Today there is no accountability for the behavior of those in society. We have even heard a new term recently. It is “Affluenza.” This is a condition brought on by having so much of the material things of this world that a person no longer knows the difference from right or wrong. The moral chaos in which we find ourselves comes from the lack of discipline in the family structure. There was a recent article by J.T. O’Donnell titled “3 Reasons Millennials Are Getting Fired.” She states that,

1. Employers don’t want to be parents. Millennials expect to be continually coached in the areas of their deficiencies.
2. The anti-work attitude isn’t appreciated (or tolerated). Millennials want to work only the minimum number of hours expected of them and want all kinds of flexibility in the hours they work so they can pursue other interests. They are also disrespectful of those who do not give in to their demands.
3. They also have the expectation of the workplace being one of fun. They are asking for all kinds of perks such as gym memberships, onsite healthy meals, house parties among others they can get. Even with all of these it is difficult to keep them happy. This attitude is upsetting their employers because it brings with it a sense of entitlement.

 

We no longer live in the Age of Aquarius but one of entitlement. All one has to do is listen to the politicians of today who want to provide everything from education to healthcare with no cost to those receiving those services. Where is the idea that one needs to work for what he or she gets? We have become a world of takers and not makers. All of this has occurred because the parents have not held the children accountable for their actions. Everyone and everything is blamed if a child fails, except the fact that the failure often comes because there was no discipline given out. When I was growing up accountability came at the end of an arm holding a paddle.

 

This kind of attitude has spilled over into the church. Once upon a time a congregation disciplined those who sinned in such a way as to bring disgrace on the body. Matthew 18:15-18 provides the guidelines for dealing with a sinner. Membership in a church is no longer regarded as something important in one’s life. There are four aspects that should be considered if one is to be considered a member of a church. They are

• Regular and consistent attendance
• Participation in a small group
• Serving according to your gifts
• Supporting the body financially.

With over two thirds of our members inactive I would say that we are not taking membership seriously. We shall see that God disciplines those He loves. Why are we to do less?

 

Hebrews 12:1

The beginning of this verse has two possible interpretations. One way of looking at it is the way that has been put forth for years. The great cloud of witnesses are considered to be those who are now in heaven who are watching over all the activities of man and encouraging them as they live out their lives on earth. The second would indicate that the witness is based on the lives of the men about whom chapter 11 was written. They have set the example by which all men are to live. As they conquered sin every follower of Christ is also to lay aside any thing that keeps him trapped or entangled in sin. Man is to take the path that God has laid out before him.

 

1. What are the two possibilities that this verse holds out for us? (Both the example of those who have gone on before us, and the encouragement we have received from them.)
2. Why do we need encouragement from God’s word?
3. What are the things that keep you from living the life that God intended?
4. What does it mean by running the race with endurance?

 

Hebrews 12:2-3

Man’s focus is to be on Jesus Christ who completed all that is required for man’s faith. The writer provides a description of what Jesus experienced for mankind. In John 13 Jesus told his disciples that He was going to return to His Father. Before that He was to face unspeakable physical agony. Greater than that was the humiliation that was His because of man’s sin. The writer shared that Jesus despised the reason that put Him on the cross. Now He has His reward and is seated at the right hand of His Farther. Christ suffered that man would not grow weary or lose heart.

 

1. Why is our entire life to be focused on Jesus? (He is the author and finisher of our faith.)
2. What did He have to endure to finish the task?
3. What does it mean to say that Jesus despised the shame? (He hated the very reason that He had to go to the cross. It was the sin of mankind.)
4. What was the reward He received for the completion of the task?
5. What does it mean for us that He completed the task?
6. How should we feel because of the great cost to Christ?

 

Hebrews 12:4-6

Those who were considering falling away were admonished to think about those who had sacrificed so much for them. The writer stated that their level of suffering had not come close to those who had gone before them. Many of their predecessors had resisted sin even to the point of death. Although as learned individuals they should have remembered the instruction of Solomon in Proverbs 3:11-12 concerning discipline they somehow had forgotten what he had written in their time of distress. It was important for them to understand in the face of trials that God loves those He disciplines.

 

1. How were the people alive in the days of the writer falling short in their faith? (In time of persecution they were turning their backs on Christianity.)
2. How were the people falling short of what the heroes of faith described in chapter 11 had been willing to endure?
3. When you think about your own faith to what lengths do you go in resisting sin?
4. What are we to remember when God disciplines us because of our sin? (God disciplines those He loves.)
5. In your understanding what does it mean to be disciplined by God?

 

Hebrews 12:7-8

It was clear in the mind of the writer that followers of Christ were expected to endure the loving discipline of God. His discipline was proof that each of them was a son of the Father. If the person lacked discipline then it was obvious that they were not true children of God, but illegitimate. Here again it should have been clear that because they were being disciplined they were children of God.

1. Why are we not to rebel against God’s discipline? (We should expect it because of our sinful nature.)
2. What happens to a person where there is no discipline in his life?
3. Why would God let a person live an undisciplined life?
4. How can we accept the fact that the discipline we are receiving is not a bad thing?

 

Hebrews 12:9-11

The discipline one receives from his earthly father is a picture of that which God gives. Even though discipline is hardly ever pleasant, the one receiving it respects the one performing it. If one respects the earthly father when he disciplines his son how much more should he respect God who is doing it for his eternal benefit? Man only disciplines his son for a short period of time. Once he has reached maturity he is no longer under his father’s instruction. It is not the same with God. Man never reaches the point of complete holiness so he is forever in need of God’s correction and exhortation. Man will only find joy and righteousness as he submits to God.

 

1. How is the discipline one receives from an earthly father a picture of what God does for His children?
2. At what point does a child no longer need the kind of discipline meted out by his earthly father?
3. Why does God’s discipline continue throughout a person’s lifetime?
4. What qualities result from accepting the discipline of God?
5. What does it say about a person if he receives no discipline from either his human father or God?

 

Hebrews 12:12-13

Those who had been disciplined and grown in their faith, according to the writer, had a responsibility to aid those who are still having difficulty resisting sin. They were to:

• Strengthen the hands of those who were weak
• Strengthen the knees that were feeble
• Make straight paths for the people

These were to be done so the limb of the lame, rather than being put out of joint, would be healed.

 

1. What has prepared you to help those with spiritual needs?
2. Who are those who need what is described above?
3. In what ways can those who are strong in their faith help those who are weaker?
4. How do the things done for others help them in life? (Prepare them to run the race of life as strong individuals.)

 

Hebrews 12:14

The writer gave one last command to those who had come into a relationship with the Father. They were to pursue peace with their fellow man. That peace would have included those who were persecuting them. Not only was man to live at peace with others but he must also work toward holiness. Without holiness no one can truly see God at work in his life.

 

1. With whom is a man to pursue peace?
2. What does it mean when the writer commands the people to pursue peace?
3. What does sanctification mean? (It means that we are to become holy in our walk before the Lord.)
4. Why is it difficult if not impossible to see God if we do not pursue holiness in our life?

 

Hebrews 12:15-16

Three things were very important to the writer. His desire for the all people was that they:

• Not to come up short of the grace of God
• Not become bitter so as to bring division among believers.
• Not to become a person like Esau who was willing to give up what was rightfully his for one meal. His attitude led to not only losing his inheritance but had the blessing due him taken away. Underlying all of this was his unfitness for a relationship with God. The writer went on to say there was no place for repentance even though he begged his father with tears to bless him. He missed out on the joy that God could have brought into his life.

 

1. How does one come up short of God’s grace? (By turning his back on God when difficult times come.)
2. What does bitterness do to the relationship with God and between men?
3. How did Esau differ from the people mentioned in chapter 11?
4. What brought about his loss of the birthright and subsequently his blessing? (He was considered unworthy of receiving either one.)

 

• Do not look at church membership as an entitlement but be willing to be a full participant, which means, attending worship on a regular basis, being part of a small group, serving in some capacity and supporting the ministries of the church financially.
• Pray that God will give you the strength to resist sin.
• Understand the cost the Christ paid in order for you to have eternal life.
• Realize that the discipline from God is not punishment for sin but to point you onto the right path.
• Stay faithful so you will not fall out of the relationship with the Father that leads to joy and righteous in your life.

 

Although society seems to be turning its back on Christianity in reality believers have never been in a majority in this world. It may be difficult to live a strong Christian life but we know that God is doing everything to provide us with the tools to stay true to Him. One of those tools is discipline. Whenever we get out of line He sometimes uses strong ways to bring us back in line. All we have to do is look at Job and the nation of Israel to see the measures He has used. We have been given a book of instructions called God’s word to see the standards by which we are to live.

I do not believe that any of us sitting in the class to day want to miss out on the joy comes from fellowship with Him.

 

Lesson 17

Hebrews 11:8-40

Faith That Lasts

January 17, 2016

 

Why did time past so slowly when I was a kid. It seemed that things like summer vacation, Christmas and birthdays would never come. I never understood why what was called the shortest day of the year; the first day of winter, always lasted longer than any of the other 364. Today the days and months and years go by really fast. I have a theory that is not scientific but works for me. When I was young there was always anticipation of things that were to come therefore the time never seemed to arrive. As I have grown older who anticipates birthdays. I just accept them as they come. The same is true of summers or holidays. Just knowing that I have time off does not have the same meaning as knowing that I will have almost three months to do as I wish. Of course I know that out in the future there is going to be eternity. I have the assurance of this unlimited time to spend with Christ and all of the saints who have gone on before me. The wait is worth it. It is faith that keeps that hope ever before me.

 

Churches all too often do not have the patience to work out changes that will lead to growth in the health of the body. Many young church leaders come into a church just bursting with ideas of how to change the church for the better only to find opposition from older members who like the status quo. If any leadership thinks that they have the right ideas to help a church faith will play a major part in whether the leaders can bring those changes to fruition. One author once wrote that it takes approximately seven years for the church to become new in the way it thinks and acts. This does not happen because the normal tenure of a pastor today is only eighteen to twenty-four months. According to statistics the most productive time for a Teaching Elder is between ten to fourteen years. We can see by these two facts why churches are floundering today. There is both a lack of faith of the people in the abilities of the leader and the leader that the church can or is willing to become what God intended for it to be.

 

The people we will study this week had no such reservations. Their trust was in a God who was sovereign and therefore could accomplish all that He promised. It may not be according to their time schedule but to the carrying out His purpose in their lives.

 

Last week we looked at Abel, Enoch and Noah. This Sunday we will begin with the patriarchs.

 

Hebrews 11:8-10

In a way the fate of both the Hebrew nation and mankind in general are dependent on the faith of Abraham. His walk with God began with his willingness to leave his place of birth in Ur of Chaldees, present day Saudi Arabia, and travel with his family to present day Syria. From there God called him to travel into Canaan. Abraham obeyed the commands of God even though he did not know where it would carry him. God promised him that the land in which he lived would be given to him and his descendants forever. Although he was to inherit the land he, Isaac and Jacob were all aliens in that very land. The writer seem to indicate that they knew that their future lay not on what they could possess physically but the spiritual relationship with God that was not of this world.

 

1. In what ways did Abraham show his faith in God?
2. Why did God not give the inheritance promised to Abraham immediately? (God had to prepare the nation to be ready and able to conquer the land.)
3. How did Abraham know that he was not going to receive the land during his lifetime? (See Genesis 15:13-16)
4. How would you feel if God promised you something but told you it would not be received in your lifetime but it would be given to your family?
5. What other people were involved in the promise?
6. In what way can we identify with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? (We are aliens in this world as they were in the land of Canaan.)

 

Hebrews 11:11-12

As Genesis 18 points out it had to be difficult for both Sarah and Abraham to believe that they could have a child when Sarah was well beyond the age in which women can have children. She would be ninety and Abraham would be one hundred when the promised child would be born. To reinforce His promise God even gave them the name by which the child would be called. God promised Abraham that through Isaac, his descendants would be more than could be counted. In Genesis 17:16 Moses wrote that Abraham descendants would include kings.

 

1. Why would both Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith both be tested at the announcement that Sarah would have a baby boy?
2. What was one assurance that the promise would come true? (She was given the name by which he would be called.)
3. What in your life are some of the things that are hard to believe will come true?
4. How much more difficult would it be for you, the promise like one given to Abraham and Sarah or that God has given you the means to obtain eternal life?
5. How are we included in the promise made to Abraham? (Through his seed, Jesus we are all descendants of the promise.)

 

Hebrews 11:13

Each of the people mentioned by the writer died. Although their faith remained strong to the end they never saw the promise of a homeland or the blessings that would come to the whole earth through them fulfilled. Somehow they knew that the final promise could not be fulfilled here on earth for them. The writer said they were really seeking a heavenly country from which they would not return. If they had only been looking for an actual place on earth they could have returned to it at any point. For instance Abraham could have easily returned to Ur. Even when he was seeking a bride for Isaac he commanded his servant not to take Isaac to Haran where his relatives lived. Because of their faith the Bible said, “God is not ashamed to be called their God.” (Hebrews 11:16) As Jesus said in John 14 a place has been prepared for every believer in the Old Testament to the present day.

 

1. What happened to each of the patriarchs and their families?
2. What kept them going ahead even though the promise given to them never came to fruition in their life times? (Faith in God)
3. When was the promise to be completed? (When all time comes to an end and each of us live in a new world in Christ.)
4. What does it take for God not to be ashamed of us?
5. What will happen to each of us who remain faithful to the very end of our lives?

 

Hebrews 11:17-19

The writer then returned to one of the turning points in Abraham’s life. He was called on to sacrifice the child of promise, Isaac. Abraham believed that even though he actually carried out the sacrifice that God would return Isaac to him. This event was a fore shadow of what God would do in Christ almost two thousand years later. This totaled commitment of his love for God brought forth a declaration of praise for Abraham. (See Genesis 22:1-10 for background material.)

 

1. How did Abraham prove his total love for God?
2. By your life how does He know that you love Him completely?
3. What kind of faith did it also take for Isaac to allow himself to be sacrificed? (His trust in his father’s words.)
4. What is the reward for a life sold out to God?

 

Hebrews 11:20-21

Both Isaac and Jacob passed on the faith in God’s promises as each of them blessed their children in turn. Joseph, the son of Jacob believed that what his father had said to them was true. When he was dying he commanded his brothers to take his bones back to Canaan when they returned from their time in Egypt.

 

1. How do we know that Isaac and Jacob believed the promises of God?
2. What are we to do to pass on to others what God has promised us? (Witness to the gospel.)
3. How long would the Israelites have to wait to fulfill the request of Joseph? (Over 300 years, the rest of the time in Egypt plus the 40 years in the desert.)
4. Why are we so impatient when we make a request to God?
5. Why does God sometimes make us wait before answering our prayers?

 

Hebrews 11:23-28

The writer emphasized both the faith of his parents and that of Moses himself. He wrote by faith:

• His parents hid him sensing that it was what God wanted them to do.
• Moses identified with his fellow Israelites who were in bondage rather than the Egyptians.
• He feared God more than the Pharaoh and took his people out of Egypt in masse.
• He kept the Passover. It was a sign of God’s protection for His people.

 

1. What did each of the events in Moses’ life indicate about him?
2. Why were the actions of his parents so important?
3. Where did he learn the faith that would sustain him later as he faced difficult situations?
4. What or who has been the source of your faith?

 

Hebrews 11:29

The people of God became the focus of what the writer wanted to impart to his listeners. He wrote of the faith it took to follow Moses through the Red Sea. Part of their motivation was fear of the Egyptians, but it had the positive benefit of moving them forward. Even though Moses led them through the water they had to trust him enough to follow.

 

1. What part did faith play in passing through the Red Sea? (The options they were to be captured by the Egyptian army or going forward through the Red Sea having faith enough that the man who had brought them out of Egypt would see them through.)
2. In what way did the writer give the people more credit than they deserved? (Fear was the motivator not faith.)
3. When has been the case when the consequences of not taking action been greater than stepping out on faith?
4. What is the driving force in your walk with the Lord fear or faith?
5. Why were they willing to trust Moses? (They had already seen God work through him?
6. Who is someone you would follow even though the journey may be difficult or dangerous?

 

Hebrews 11:31

Two separate events that are related took place at Jericho. The people gained confidence after they heard the report of the spies. Unlike the situation 38 years earlier they had the faith to move forward and follow the instructions of Joshua that led to the defeat of the city. One of the citizens of the city believed that her city was doomed and chose to join the side of the Israelites. That woman was Rahab who was in the lineage of Jesus.

 

1. What was the final piece that gave the Israelites the courage to attack the city of Jericho?
2. How different was this than the event that had occurred 38 years earlier? (See Numbers 14)
3. What chances did Rahab take by joining with the Israelites? (If they failed she would probably have been executed.)
4. When has there been a time in your life when you knew making a choice could result in a problem for you?

 

Hebrews 11:32-37

Important people in the history of Israel were just listed without further discussion. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets were all men of faith even though some lacked character. He goes on to give a litany of their accomplishments. They:

• Conquered kingdoms
• Performed acts of righteousness
• Obtained promises
• Shut the mouths of lions
• Quenched the power of fire
• Escaped the edge of the sword
• From weakness were made strong
• Became mighty in war
• Put foreign armies to flight

The women of these individuals

• Received back their dead by resurrection.

Many others experienced

• Mockings
• Sourgings
• Imprisonments and chains
• Stoning
• Being sawn in two
• Temptations
• Death at the hands of their enemies
• Being destitute with only sheepskins and goatskins for clothing
• Affliction
• Ill-treatment.

 

1. What might men and women of faith accomplish?
2. What may be some negative experiences that believers have faced in history?
3. Which has been more prevalent in your life accomplishments or persecutions?

 

Hebrews 11:38

While some of the Christians were contemplating returning to the Jewish faith the writer shared the tremendous cost it took of those who remain faithful in the most difficult of times for them to have the opportunity to become Christians in the first place. If the world had accomplished its goal of wiping out the Jew then Christ would never have been born. Those who were following into apostasy were not even worthy to be compared to those who had suffered so much.

 

1. If you were comparing those among the recipients of this letter with those who had gone on before them what would be your reaction?
2. In what ways can we never be worthy to be named along side those mentioned above?
3. Why were the men and women of the Old Testament willing to suffer so much?
4. Where would we be without their commitment?

 

Hebrews 11:39-40

God all the time had a better plan for those who were believers in Christ. Hebrews over and over repeated the theme that the old covenant accomplished nothing when compared to the sacrifice of Christ ushering in the new covenant. His was a better and more perfect sacrifice. The important factor is that what they did would be meaningless unless the church continues to be strong today.

 

1. What was God’s promise and plan from the beginning of time?
2. How was the new covenant better than the old?
3. How does the church fit into what God began in the Old Testament?
4. What would it mean for the church to fail today? (All of the work and sacrifice of those who have preceded us would be meaningless.)

 

• Learn to be patient. God moves at His own pace and is not answerable to us.
• Trust in the leaders of the church to make the right decisions as they represent each church member.
• Remember faith is the key understanding that God is working out everything for your benefit. (See Romans 8:28-290
• God is depending you to carry on the work of the church that began long before you were born.
• Study church history to observe what it took to make the church what it is today.

 

The church can only grow if its members continue in the faith. So many are looking more for a place of entertainment, ease and comfort forgetting the difficult task of those who came before them. If there is to be a church for the next generation we need to commit ourselves to stay the course until God either calls us home or the Rapture takes place. We need to stop trying to take the easy road but going through the narrow gate. Jesus promised that the gates of hell could not stand up to the onslaught of those who remained faithful to the gospel. Let us decide to part of that force who remains faithful until the job is done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 16

How Much Faith Does It Take?

Hebrews 10:35-11:7

January 9, 2016

 

One of the smartest things to do is to need nothing to chance. I can vouch for that statement. There have been many times that entered into some kind of contest and begin to visualize what I might do with the prize, whatever it might be. The truth is a person cannot build a life on wishful thinking. I often joke that if mine was the only entry form in a box that it would get stuck to bottom. We have sayings that evidently have come from too much playing games of chance or buying a lottery ticket or even entering a raffle. Two of my favorites are:

• Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
• A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

James tells us that we not to even to make predictions about what we think we can accomplish over the next year. There is no guarantee that things will work out as we expect. I have just been reading Hebrews again and found that there are a number of verses that speak of the guarantees that God has given those who remain true to the commitment they have made to Him. They are:

• Christ was faithful as a Son over His house – Whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. (3:6)
• We have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. (3:14)
• We desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end. (6:11)
• We who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one, which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us. (6:18-20a)
• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (10:23)

 

Seeing what God has to say makes me even more aware of the importance in my life my to take no chances with my eternal state. I am going to live somewhere forever. God has a provided me with a plan and a guarantee that I would be foolish to forfeit.

 

There are people who sit in the pews of churches for years who are committing spiritual suicide. They hear enough of God’s word to keep them coming back but not enough to convict of their sins and cause them to turn their lives over to Christ. One of the reasons that this happens is that we assume that because they have been coming for years that they are okay. There are two ways that this happens. First, there are not enough thirty-five minutes sermons that can provide the complete picture of the message they need to hear. It takes additional time in God’s word in private study and involvement and spending time in the assembling together in some type of small group. Secondly, no one has ever bothered to ask them what they believe or have they given their lives to Christ. Many of them will never know their spiritual state until it is too late. It is our responsibility to know where our fellow churchgoers stand. It is better to offend them than for them to spend and eternity separated from God. Hebrews will continue building on the hope that the writer has already offered.

 

Hebrews 10:35-36

The former Jewish religious leaders had already endured a great deal because of their faith. Now the writer once again encourages them not to lose the confidence that they have had in Christ that will end with the promise of a reward. He is very clear that it will only take place if they endure in doing the will of God.

 

1. What was the danger to the Pharisees by having gone through so much difficulty? (They may lose confidence in the promises of Christ.)
2. How from what we have already seen has the writer continued to encourage them? (By constantly pointing to the in results of staying faithful.)
3. What must they do to receive the reward awaiting them?
4. How do we show in our own lives how we are committed to Christ for the long haul?
5. Why do we need continual encouragement?

 

Hebrews 10:37-39

There was a reason that the writer was sharing all of this with hearers of his letter. Christ is coming and could come at any time. Therefore it was important that they understood the definition of those who would be ready at His coming. It was the righteous who continued to trust in the promises that would not shrink back from serving Him. God would never take any pleasure in those who fell from faith. Those like the writer and hopefully his listeners were not party to those shrinking back to their own destruction. He was part of those who kept their faith and therefore preserved their souls.

 

1. Why did the writer believe his message was so urgent?
2. How did he want Christ to find them upon His return?
3. How does that fit what we are to be at His coming?
4. What makes a person righteous? (Continually letting his relationship with Christ affect his every day activities)
5. What are the consequences of falling away from the faith?
6. How do we go about making sure we are not shrinking from the faith but remaining faithful to the end?

 

Hebrews 11:1-3

Once again the writer wrote to reinforce their understanding of faith. It was not the wishful thinking of so many today just hoping something good is going to take place. It is the conviction that what God has promised will with a shadow of a doubt take place. Men and women of the Old Testament had less revealed to them than is available to man today but trusted God explicitly.   Opposite to what man is being told today there was no doubt in their minds that God was the creator of everything and did not need any material with which to work. He created it all out of nothing.

 

1. How do you use the idea of hope?
2. How does what the writer differ from the ways you think?
3. What are the key words that help you understand what he believed?
4. How are we different from those of the Old Testament time? (We have the full revelation of God’s plan for us in His word. They only had a shadow of all that was going to occur.)
5. How do what the writer believed and what some scientists try to tell us differ?

 

Hebrews 11:4

There are all kinds of theories of why God accepted the offering from Abel and rejected the one from Cain. Whatever the reason it can be said that it is the prerogative of God to set the standards for what is acceptable to Him. From the story in Genesis it is obvious that the heart of Abel was pure while the heart of Cain was evil. Abel’s attitude about life had to carry over to what he brought to God in worship. His example has lived far beyond his actual time on earth.

 

1. What were the differences between the offerings brought by the two brothers?
2. From the story in Genesis and what the writer of Hebrews have shared how would you describe a person who pleases God?
3. What kind of attitude you have when you approach God in worship?
4. Why has the story lived on for the thousands of years?

 

Hebrews 11:5

Enoch was a righteous man who spent his 300 of his 365 years serving God. In a time when man did not call on God Enoch was different. God determined because of his tremendous faith he would not experience death. The Bible says, He walk with God and was no more, for God took him. He was translated into heaven without dying.

 

1. Why do you think singled out Enoch for the special treatment by God? (God saw how his lifestyle contrasted to everyone else.)
2. Who might be an example for you who lives a lifestyle that makes them pleasing to God?
3. What does your daily walk look like?
4. How true do you stay to your faith?

 

Hebrews 11:6

The writer said three things that are very important for every believer to heed. He wrote:

• A person must have faith to please God.
• The person who comes to God must truly believe that He is real.
• Must believe that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him.

 

1. What the three things that every person must realize in his relationship with God?
2. Why does it take faith to please God?
3. What would you say to a person who says that God is dead?
4. What is the result that comes from truly believing?
5. Who are the recipients of the rewards that God wants to provide for mankind?

 

Hebrews 11:7

Of the pre patriarchal group of faithful men, the writer spoke of Noah. Noah was the man called by God to be a witness before a wicked world. He was commanded to build a boat in the middle of desert for an event that was not going to occur for a hundred plus year. His faith resulted in salvation for his family, eight total people including himself. During all those years his righteousness was a witness to a decadent world that would be destroyed.

 

1. What impresses you about Noah?
2. How would you respond if God commanded you do something that would not get any results for years and years?
3. What may be the results of your complete devotion to God?
4. Which is more important living a comfortable life or taking risks for God?

 

• Before you can expect that God will do anything in your life you must have faith that He is true.
• God will not do all we might want but will definitely accomplish what He has promised.
• Understand that to live a righteous life will put you at odds with many people who do not believe.
• Remember that your life will continue to impact others after you have died.

 

Be steadfast in your faith. Do not fall away from the confession and commitment that you have made at some point in your life. Your life is meant to be for the service of God and others. As the world looks at us it may not like what it sees until trouble strikes them. It will be at that point they will turn to us for counsel because Christ has made a difference in our lives.