Class Lesson Online - ZOOM @ 9:00 AM Sunday March 22, 2020

We will have class online this Sunday @ 9:00 AM.

Click on the ZOOM link invitation to join us!

Our pastor will be streaming his sermon at 10:00 AM and 11:15 AM this Sunday.

What is the foundation of your faith?

Why...Jiminy Cricket 

maybe you just need to wish upon a star. 

 

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Anything your heart desires will come to you...

Do you believe that?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

It’s hard to know what to believe anymore. The Internet is filled with “news” on topics that range from politics to medicine to conspiracies, and all the writers tout their stories as truth—even though the “facts” they present contradict each other. If you doubt what you read, someone will offer this jewel:

“It may sound hard to believe, but just accept it as true. Take it on faith.”

Really?

Is faith just jumping blindly into something we want to be true—or is it something more? Throughout the Bible, we see a whole different idea of faith. The writer of Hebrews captured the essence of faith in a single chapter. In Hebrews 11, we see individuals whose faith was grounded in something solid: a faithful God who could be fully trusted.

Their faith certainly wasn't based on wishing upon a star...

Let’s embrace a different understanding of faith from that which the world describes. Faith isn’t believing something without substance. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Hebrews 11 shows us real-life examples of people who faced overwhelming situations and expressed a faith grounded in God.

Hebrews 11:1-3

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by it our ancestors won God’s approval. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

Since the Christian life is a life of faith, let’s be very clear on what faith is. Verse 1 describes how faith works and what it does.

• Faith gives us confidence. Faith has substance. It’s an assurance based on the reality of what God has done and said.
• Faith is an inward conviction. We trust God and know He will do what He says He will do—because He always does.

Want an example? Let’s start at the beginning with the creation of the universe. The universe exists. It’s here for us to touch, see, and explore. Yet for all we have learned, science simply can’t answer the most fundamental questions about its existence. While we would all agree the universe exists, not everyone knows why and how it came to exist. Is the universe merely a giant cosmic accident? Or is there some purpose or plan?

Christians know the answers to the “why” and “how” questions because of our faith. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God” (v. 3). He did it to provide a place where we could enjoy a relationship with Him. We can only understand this dimension of reality by hearing God’s Word and believing what He has said. God spoke, and we take Him at His word. That’s faith.

Question 2:

What helps you have faith in God even though you can’t see Him?

  

By studying nature, we can understand some things about the Person of God; in the same way, studying a great work of art will tell us something about the artist. The early church fathers considered nature the second “book” of God. Consider then, what God’s “work of art”—the universe—tells us about Him.

• The massive size and scope of the universe points to God, who is all-powerful.
• The details in nature and the intricacies of our own bodies point to God, who has infinite wisdom. 
• The constant laws of the universe point to God, who is constant and unchanging.

Our universe isn’t some accident of physics; it is the intentional work of God. As we understand God was faithful in the beginning in His work of creation, we then can believe He will be faithful to the future of His creation.

To highlight his point, the writer of Hebrews reminded us God made everything from nothing. God spoke and the universe came to be. In spite of what some people think, the powerful creative work of God does not contradict scientific evidence. Faith points us to the “why” behind all that scientific evidence: God spoke.

God began with nothing and brought all that exists into being from nothing. We can be confident and have faith God will continue to work His will in our world—and in our lives.

Hebrews 11:4

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.

After the writer described faith in verses 1-3, he gave us several examples of those who demonstrated such faith. He provided a list of people who responded to God’s word and work in their lives—and they responded “by faith.” These heroes of faith were people just like us who saw God working in their world and found ways to join God in His work. The message is clear: these people trusted God and endured confidently in Him. So can we.

The first real-life example of faith comes from the life of Abel. Abel’s full story is recorded in Genesis 4:1-10; even unchurched people may be somewhat familiar with the story of Cain killing his brother Abel.

Why did Cain kill Abel in a jealous rage? God accepted Abel’s offering, “but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering” (v. 5). What was the difference in their two offerings? We aren’t told much, but the text offers hints. Abel was careful to choose the best of his flock to offer to God (v. 4). Cain seems to have been careless in what he chose to offer to God (v. 3). It wasn’t the offerings themselves that made them acceptable or unacceptable; it was the attitudes behind those offerings.

ENGAGE

Question 3:

What’s the relationship between faith and genuine worship?

Faith is confidence and trust in God; it is a response to who God is, what He says, and how He has worked. Abel expressed that confidence and trust through his worship. His faith in God affected the way he made his offering. By faith, Abel was sure to choose the best he had to bring before God.

Cain presents a different picture. He apparently did not show the same worshipful trust in God. Cain had no faith in God, and as a result, his offering was a ritual, not a true act of worship. Cain’s offering simply didn’t mean much to him; therefore, it didn’t mean much to God.

Our confidence that God alone is God and no one is like Him affects our choices and actions. Since no one is greater than God, why would we want to bring less than our best to Him?

Hebrews 11:5-6

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The writer of Hebrews referred to Enoch for his second example of a person who lived by faith. We know very little about Enoch, but what we do know is extraordinary. The entire fifth chapter of Genesis is a genealogy that prepares to introduce us to another man of faith named Noah (Heb. 11:7; see also Gen. 6:1–9:29). As we read through the genealogy, we get the impression that life seemed to go on normally: people were born, got married, had children, and died.

But then there was Enoch (Gen. 5:21-24). Enoch was the father of Methuselah—the oldest person recorded in Scripture—and then when Enoch was 365 years old, “he was not there” (v. 24). “God took him away.” He never died. He simply went from walking with God in this life to walking with God in eternity. That’s all we’re told. Hebrews tells us that Enoch’s faith was the key to this new reality.

Like any good teacher, the writer of Hebrews stopped to emphasize his point. He made his point rather bluntly as if he were trying to make sure we’re paying attention: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (v. 6).

Why is that? The church has often stressed the priority of faith over works, and this passage helps us understand why faith takes priority. Without faith, works would never happen. There’s no motivation to do anything if we don’t “believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We live the way we live because we know God exists. We do what we do because we are sure God is there. We live to please God because we believe God will reward those who seek Him.

Question 4:

What are the rewards and challenges of living by faith?

And what reward do we seek? Riches? Fame? No, we don’t want anything so insignificant. We want the victory God gave Enoch—an eternity of walking with God. We seek God because we want the kinds of rewards only He can give. That is what Paul sought.

“More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8a). Faith opens our understanding to see a different reality in the presence of God. We find everything that is important in His presence: peace, love, joy, and hope. All that makes life worth living is found in the presence of Christ. We believe only God possesses these things and only He can make them part of our lives. Faith causes us to live our lives now the way we will live one day in heaven. This is a life of victory.

Question 5:

Based on this passage, how would you summarize what it means to live a life of faith?

LIVE IT OUT

How will you live out your faith this week? Choose one of the following applications:

• Thank God for faith. Thank God for bringing you to faith in Christ. Acknowledge your belief in Him and seek to please Him in how you live out your faith.
• Walk in faith. Choose to walk in obedience to Christ. Daily read God’s Word, and identify areas in which you need to walk by faith and obedience.
• Express your faith. As you live in obedient faith, ask God for opportunities to tell someone else why you believe in Him and choose to live by faith in Christ.

All of us find ourselves in situations that just seem overwhelming sometimes. It is at those times when it’s most important that our faith is grounded in Christ who is faithful.

Hope to see everyone online this Sunday! 

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:

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The Faith of Indiana Jones

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy must pass 3 challenges to what he believes:

1. Only the penitent man will pass – kneel before God.

2. Proceed in the footsteps of the Word.

3. Path of God is a leap of faith – you must believe.

Over the years, what has helped you have faith in God even though you can’t see Him?

Hebrews 11 shows us real-life examples of people who faced overwhelming situations and expressed a faith that was grounded in God. 

There are a lot of names listed in Hebrews chapter 11 that are considered "Heroes" in the Bible's Faith Hall of Fame - look them up.

Hebrews 11:1-3 

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by it our ancestors won God’s approval. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 

Verse 1 describes how faith works and what it does. 

• Faith gives us confidence. Faith has substance. It’s an assurance based on the reality of what God has done and said. 

• Faith is an inward conviction. We trust God and know He will do what He says He will do—because He always does. 

What does creation teach you about faith in God? 

• The early church fathers considered nature the second “book” of God. Consider then, what God’s “work of art”—the universe—tells us about Him. 
• The massive size and scope of the universe points to God, who is all-powerful. 
• The details in nature and the intricacies of our own bodies point to God, who has infinite wisdom. 
• The constant laws of the universe point to God, who is constant and unchanging. 

1. Faith leads us to believe and rely on God. 

Path of God is a leap of faith – you must believe. 

We learn in these first 3 verses that: 

Faith is confidence and trust in God; it is a response to who God is, what He says, and how He has worked. 

Hebrews 11:4 

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. 

Now all of you know the story of Cain and Abel. 

What does Abel’s faith in God teach us? 

2. Faith responds with worship of God. 

• Worship of God is an active expression of our faith. 
• Faithful worship brings commendation from God. 
• The elements of worship are to be pleasing to God. 
• Our influence as a people of faith will live long past us and affect those who follow us. 

• Abel expressed that confidence and trust through his worship. His faith in God affected the way he made his offering. By faith, Abel was sure to choose the best he had to bring before God. 
• Cain presents a different picture. He apparently did not show the same worshipful trust in God. Cain had no faith in God, and as a result, his offering was a ritual, not a true act of worship. Cain’s offering simply didn’t mean much to him; therefore, it didn’t mean much to God. 

It wasn’t the offerings themselves that made them acceptable or unacceptable; it was the attitudes behind those offerings. 

Only the penitent man will pass – kneel before God. 

Makes me wonder sometimes if I give my best to the worship of God. 

Abel approached worship humble and sacrificial - giving his very best to the worship of God and God was pleased with his offering.

Don't you want God to be pleased with your worship time with Him? 

Hebrews 11:5-6 

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

What does Enoch’s life teach us about our faith?

Enoch was the father of Methuselah—the oldest person recorded in Scripture—and then when Enoch was 365 years old, “he was not there” (v. 24). “God took him away.” He never died. He simply went from walking with God in this life to walking with God in eternity. That’s all we’re told. Hebrews tells us that Enoch’s faith was the key to this new reality. 

3. Faith responds with obedience that pleases God. 

• Living in daily fellowship with the Lord on earth leads to eternal fellowship with Him in heaven. 
• We please God when we live by faith in Him. 
• The believer desires to know God and to draw near to Him. 
• God rewards those who seek Him with the joy of being in His presence. 

Proceed in the footsteps of the Word. 

Enoch is found in chapter 5 of Genesis. Listen to what it says in verse 21, “And Enoch lived 60 and 5 years, and begot Methuselah. And Enoch walked with God, after he begot Methuselah, 300 years, and begot sons and daughters. And all the days of Enoch were 360 and 5 years. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” 

Now, here we find that Enoch lived 365 years. And it says two things about him: he walked with God; he walked with God. It repeats it twice. 

Now, this is a new concept in the book of Genesis. Abel didn’t really understand the concept of walking with God. Abel illustrates worship by faith; Enoch illustrates walk by faith. 

Now, the revelation of Scripture is a progressive revelation. It’s not all given at any one point. And Abel got a little of it, and Enoch got a little more of it. You remember that Adam and Eve had walked and talked with God in the cool of the day, and then when they fell and were thrown out of the garden, they ceased to walk with God. And the destiny of man is re-instituted in the man Enoch, who stands as an illustration for all men of what it is to walk with God. In Enoch, then, the true destiny of man is again reached as he experiences the fellowship with God that Adam and Eve had forfeited. 

So, we see in the 11th chapter of Hebrews a very direct continuity. He begins with the worship of faith or approach God by faith, and then the walk of faith in Enoch. You remember that Abel approached God by faith in bringing the right kind of sacrifice. And here Enoch illustrates where it goes from there. In Abel we see a man worshiping, bringing a sacrifice, beginning the life of faith. And you never begin the life of faith until you come on the basis of sacrifice. Right? Even today, we don’t come to God and just say, “God, I’m deciding to walk with You.” The only way you’ll ever walk with God is when you come to go to begin with on the basis of a sacrifice. And the only sacrifice that opens up the way to God is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Abel illustrates that. He came to God in worship through sacrifice. 

In Closing:

Faith is confident trust in what God says and does and we prove we have it by the way we live.