MONDAY: Moses’ parents (Hebrews 11:23)
1. Read the story of the birth of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10). Why did Moses’ parents hide him (Exodus 1:22)? For how long did she hide the baby? What problems would she have had in trying to hide a baby for that long of a time?
Who gave him the name Moses? Why was he given that name?
2. Return to Hebrews 11:23. Why did they hide the child? What fears would you have had trying to hide a baby for such a long time?
3. What fears do you face now that you need to overcome by faith? Right them down, share them with someone and begin to face that fear by stepping out on faith.
TUESDAY: Moses’ faith (Hebrews 11:24-26)
1. What privileges would Moses have had by being known as “Pharaoh’s grandson”?
2. Have you ever made the hard choice because it was the right choice? Write down a time.
3. What do we learn about sin from this passage? Why did he regard “disgrace for the sake of Christ greater than “the treasures of Egypt”? How does looking ahead to heaven keep you walking by faith? How does it help you when tempted by the temporary pleasures of sin?
WEDNESDAY: Moses’ faith and the flight (Hebrews 11:27)
1. There are two possibilities when this passage talks about Moses’ leaving Egypt. One is after he killed an Egyptian who was mistreating and Israelite (Exodus 2:11-15) or the other option is when he led the Israelites out of bondage. Exodus 2:14 says Moses was afraid when a Hebrew slave confronted about the killing and that he left after the confrontation. It does not say he feared the Pharaoh. No matter which view you adopt both trips took great faith.
2. According to Hebrews 11:28, why did he persevere? In what ways do you see the invisible God in your life? (List three) How can you see something that is invisible? How does seeing “him who is invisible” help you to persevere in tough times?
THURSDAY: Moses’ faith and the Passover (Hebrews 11:28)
1. Read about the first Passover Exodus 11:1-12:30. Write what you would think it was like celebrating the first Passover? What sounds would you hear? Would you be afraid? What would you tell the children in your household about the blood over the door? What would you tell your firstborn?
2. Why would keeping the Passover and sprinkling the blood take faith? Why would it take faith to do this on an annual basis?
3. In our fellowship today how does partaking of the Lord’s Supper take faith? Can you take it without faith? Can you sing, pray and give without faith? What role does faith play in your participation of these things?
FRIDAY: Faith at the Red Sea (Hebrews 11:29)
1. Read the story of the crossing at the Red Sea. (Exodus 13:17-14:31)
2. Did it look like the Hebrews had much faith when Pharaoh approached (Exodus 14:10-12)? How did Moses respond to their doubts and fears (Exodus 14:13)? What did God tell Moses to tell the Israelites to do (Exodus 14:15)? Why would moving on toward the seas take faith?
3. Have you ever felt trapped by a relationship, job, fear, etc? Has God told you to “move on” and yet you haven’t? What “trap” do you need to face by faith? Find someone to help you and begin moving.
SATURDAY: On the internet or using a hymnal look up some songs of faith. Spend a few minutes reading the lyrics or singing the songs before asking God to help you live like Moses when facing impossible odds.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
LIVING BY FAITH - Part 3
I know it has been a few weeks since I have posted. We will return to our study of Hebrews 11.
MONDAY: By Faith Abraham became a father (Hebrews 11:11-12)
The Hebrew author gives more space than to anyone else mentioned on his list. Abraham accepted God’s promises and acted on them even there was nothing indicated that they could possibly be fulfilled.
1.What couldn’t happen did happen because Abraham considered God “faithful”. Write down a definition of “faithful”?
2.What promise did God make to Abraham (Genesis 22:17)? Was it fulfilled (Deuteronomy 1:10)?
In what area of your life did you need to depend on the faithfulness of God?
TUESDAY: Looking for a new country (Hebrews 11:13-16)
1. The Hebrew writer is urging his readers to do remain faithful. Read Hebrews 3:14, 6:11. For how long does he want us to remain faithful?
2. Did the people in this passage receive all God had promised while here? Did they remain faithful?
3. What were they looking for? What can you do to keep from seeing this world as a place of permanence?
4. What makes heaven a “better country”?
WEDNESDAY: Hebrews 11:17-19 - A third illustration of Abram’s faith
1. Here it says that “God tested” Abraham. Contrast this verse to James 1:13-14. Is there a difference between a testing and a tempting? Why does God test us? (James 1:3-4; Job 23:10). 2. What is the purpose of temptation (James 1:15, I Peter 5:8)?
3. What did Abraham think God would do after he sacrificed Isaac (Hebrews 11:19)? Has God ever tested you? Did you pass the test? What tests are you going through right now? Who can help you pass these tests?
THURSDAY: Isaac and Jacob’s blessings and faith (Hebrews 11:20-21)
1. Isaac bestowing his blessings upon Jacob and Esau was filled with deceit, by Jacob, and controversy (See Genesis 17). However the Hebrew writer is not concerned with these details but is focusing on Isaac’s faith. When did Isaac give his son’s their blessings (Genesis 2,4)? The point is that Isaac blessed his son’s regarding their future and trusted God to help the boys fulfill their purpose.
2. When did Joseph’s bless each of Joseph’s sons? To whom does Joseph give the “greater blessing” (Genesis 48:1-22)? The lesson for us is that God is not bound by human rules. He fulfills his purposes as He chooses. Why did these actions take faith? Part of the reason lies in the fact that they were recognizing that God would take care of their future generations. Spend time in prayer asking God to bless your family’s future – even after you have left this earth.
FRIDAY: Joseph – by faith (Hebrews 11:22)
1. What did Joseph speak about by faith? (Genesis 50:24-26). What did Joseph want done with his bones?
2. We need to remember that it wasn’t until some 400 years later that this incident Joseph spoke about came to be. Did they remember to carry Joseph’s bones (Exodus 13:19)? We need to remember that somebody kept those bones for the 400 years they were in Egypt and carried them for the 40 years they were in the wilderness. Yet his descendents kept their promise.
Joseph’s faith is seen in his dying wish because he knew that God would keep the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-21) and that in God’s time He would act. What can you learn about the Israelites faith by keeping the bones for 400 years? How does that compare to your faith as you wait on God to fulfill his promises?
SATURDAY: Waiting by faith
1. Reviewing Hebrews 11:19-22 what one thing links these three examples of faith together (Genesis 27:2, 47:29, 50:22-26)?
2. All three men died without entering into the land God had promised them. Isaac was a nomad when he died; Jacob lived in exile in Egypt and Joseph although successful was living in a foreign land. Yet they never doubted that the promise would come true, they never lost hope.
They lived and died knowing that God promises are true. They may have not seen it fulfilled but they were a link in its fulfillment and their family for generations will be blessed because they did not doubt and in death they were rewarded with a heavenly home.
Have you given up on God because of a lack of faith? Take some time to rededicate yourself to trusting God and his word no matter what. And if the answer does not come in this life – stay faithful and be ready to receive the reward in the next life.
MONDAY: By Faith Abraham became a father (Hebrews 11:11-12)
The Hebrew author gives more space than to anyone else mentioned on his list. Abraham accepted God’s promises and acted on them even there was nothing indicated that they could possibly be fulfilled.
1.What couldn’t happen did happen because Abraham considered God “faithful”. Write down a definition of “faithful”?
2.What promise did God make to Abraham (Genesis 22:17)? Was it fulfilled (Deuteronomy 1:10)?
In what area of your life did you need to depend on the faithfulness of God?
TUESDAY: Looking for a new country (Hebrews 11:13-16)
1. The Hebrew writer is urging his readers to do remain faithful. Read Hebrews 3:14, 6:11. For how long does he want us to remain faithful?
2. Did the people in this passage receive all God had promised while here? Did they remain faithful?
3. What were they looking for? What can you do to keep from seeing this world as a place of permanence?
4. What makes heaven a “better country”?
WEDNESDAY: Hebrews 11:17-19 - A third illustration of Abram’s faith
1. Here it says that “God tested” Abraham. Contrast this verse to James 1:13-14. Is there a difference between a testing and a tempting? Why does God test us? (James 1:3-4; Job 23:10). 2. What is the purpose of temptation (James 1:15, I Peter 5:8)?
3. What did Abraham think God would do after he sacrificed Isaac (Hebrews 11:19)? Has God ever tested you? Did you pass the test? What tests are you going through right now? Who can help you pass these tests?
THURSDAY: Isaac and Jacob’s blessings and faith (Hebrews 11:20-21)
1. Isaac bestowing his blessings upon Jacob and Esau was filled with deceit, by Jacob, and controversy (See Genesis 17). However the Hebrew writer is not concerned with these details but is focusing on Isaac’s faith. When did Isaac give his son’s their blessings (Genesis 2,4)? The point is that Isaac blessed his son’s regarding their future and trusted God to help the boys fulfill their purpose.
2. When did Joseph’s bless each of Joseph’s sons? To whom does Joseph give the “greater blessing” (Genesis 48:1-22)? The lesson for us is that God is not bound by human rules. He fulfills his purposes as He chooses. Why did these actions take faith? Part of the reason lies in the fact that they were recognizing that God would take care of their future generations. Spend time in prayer asking God to bless your family’s future – even after you have left this earth.
FRIDAY: Joseph – by faith (Hebrews 11:22)
1. What did Joseph speak about by faith? (Genesis 50:24-26). What did Joseph want done with his bones?
2. We need to remember that it wasn’t until some 400 years later that this incident Joseph spoke about came to be. Did they remember to carry Joseph’s bones (Exodus 13:19)? We need to remember that somebody kept those bones for the 400 years they were in Egypt and carried them for the 40 years they were in the wilderness. Yet his descendents kept their promise.
Joseph’s faith is seen in his dying wish because he knew that God would keep the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-21) and that in God’s time He would act. What can you learn about the Israelites faith by keeping the bones for 400 years? How does that compare to your faith as you wait on God to fulfill his promises?
SATURDAY: Waiting by faith
1. Reviewing Hebrews 11:19-22 what one thing links these three examples of faith together (Genesis 27:2, 47:29, 50:22-26)?
2. All three men died without entering into the land God had promised them. Isaac was a nomad when he died; Jacob lived in exile in Egypt and Joseph although successful was living in a foreign land. Yet they never doubted that the promise would come true, they never lost hope.
They lived and died knowing that God promises are true. They may have not seen it fulfilled but they were a link in its fulfillment and their family for generations will be blessed because they did not doubt and in death they were rewarded with a heavenly home.
Have you given up on God because of a lack of faith? Take some time to rededicate yourself to trusting God and his word no matter what. And if the answer does not come in this life – stay faithful and be ready to receive the reward in the next life.
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