Hebrews Sermon Notes _________________________________________________________________________________________

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Hebrews Study Guide

Hebrews 11:17-40 “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”

The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer, pg 25 1. What does Hebrews 11:24-26 record about the faith of Moses that demonstrates what he treasured and where he was looking?

2. Read our text, Hebrews 11:17-40, and the quote below. What action of faith, by the OT saints in our text, is the most impressive to you?

“Faith without deeds is useless,” says James (2:20). If there is true faith, there will be consequent actions. The writer now launches on a lengthy section in which he shows the variety of actions that can accompany faith, depending on the circumstances which an individual faces. The one mark that is shared by all these activities is that each is unusual—it is not the normal reaction ordinarily expected of those who face such situations. Faith makes some people act differently than others. They will not fit the common mold or drift along with the multitude. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 11:8). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

3. Read Hebrews 11:39. What do you learn about all of the saints listed in Hebrews 11:17-38? Did they receive what was promised? What reason does Hebrews 11:40 give for the delay (that would benefit future saints)? 4. Read Hebrews 11:13-16. Did Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah (11:4-12) receive what was promised before they died? According to verse 13, were they able to “see” what was promised? What did these saints desire, and what was God’s response (verse 16)?

5. The definition of faith is given in Hebrews 11:1. Based on this definition, did the OT saints demonstrate their faith? How does the Ray Stedman quote below reinforce this definition?

Faith gives purpose and destination to life.

Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 11:8). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. 6. Abraham is often referred to as “the father of faith.” According to the quote below, what action by Abraham demonstrated the depth of his faith? What did he believe about resurrection that enabled him to fully trust God with the life of his treasured son?

He reasoned that God was in full control of both death and life; he could restore as well as take. On that basis Abraham was able to carry through what was seen as a grisly task. Little of this is seen in the Genesis account (22:1–10), though Abraham did assure his servants that both he and the lad would return from the mountain. The substitution of a ram for the son was intended to portray that later scene at Golgotha when the Son of God would willingly lay down his life. It is, perhaps, this very scene that Paul has in mind when he writes, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” The restoration of Isaac to his father’s arms is called a parable (Gk parabolē) of resurrection by the writer. So Abraham’s faith reached the highest pinnacle of faith: belief in a resurrection that would fulfill all the promises of God. Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 11:8). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

7. In Hebrews 11:31 Rahab is mentioned. Read the following verses and write a description of her: Joshua 2:1, and 6:25, James 2:25. Rahab is also mentioned in Matthew 1:5 in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Why do you think God would allow a prostitute to be in the lineage of his son? Compare Hebrews 11:6 and 31, and read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 to help you with your answer.

8. The adjective used to describe Rahab related to her sinful occupation: “Rahab, the harlot.” Despite this, she was given the honor of being in the Messianic line. What adjective would you assign to your name? Through her example, do you understand, and are you grateful that -

God loves saving, not condemning, and therefore He is patient with bad people, in order to make good people out of bad people. ST. AUGUSTINE, Sermons