Below is Hebrews 11 along with questions and supporting verses and definitions. If any of the questions sounds interesting to you, scroll down to the comment section to offer your answers. Remember to use scripture references to support your answer!
Hebrews 11: 1 - 2
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
Do you think these verses teach “blind” faith?
Do you think God’s approval means salvation?
Reality or assurance = hypostasis – a foundation or essence.
Hebrews 3: 14
For we have become companions of the Messiah if we hold firmly until the end the confidence that we had at the start.
Proof or conviction = elenchus – scrutiny or attempting to prove something wrong.
Could we define faith by stating that it is the confidence we have after trying to prove something wrong? What is it that we would try to prove wrong? How would we try to prove it wrong?
Hebrews 11: 3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.
Why do you think that the writer of Hebrews used the creation of the universe as an example?
Kalam Cosmological Argument
- Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
- The universe began to exist.
- Therefore, the universe has a cause.
The cause of the universe must be spaceless, timeless, immaterial, uncaused, powerful…
God
Hebrews 11: 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.
Genesis 4: 4 - 7
Now Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted?
Why do you think Abel’s sacrifice was approved by God and Cain’s was not?
What does faith have to do with what Abel did? Why do you think an action represents faith?
Hebrews 11: 1 - 2
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
Did God approve of Abel’s action or something else?
Hebrews 11: 5 - 6
By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Genesis 5: 21 – 24
Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
What do you think it means that Enoch: 1. walked with God? 2. was approved by God?
Was God pleased with Enoch because he walked with God or because he had faith?
James 2: 14; 26
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Ephesians 2: 8 – 10
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Does God approve of us by faith or by our works?
Hebrews 11: 8 - 10
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Genesis 12: 1 – 2; 4
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; So Abram went away as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
At what moment do you think Abraham had faith? What evidence shows you Abraham’s faith?
Hebrews 11: 11
By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.
At what moment do you think Sarah had faith? What evidence shows you Sarah’s faith?
Romans 3: 27 – 28; 31; 4: 3
Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Do we then cancel the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
Are we justified by works of the law or by faith? How is it that our faith upholds the law?
Romans 1: 5
We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name,
Galatians 5: 6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Ephesians 1: 15
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
James 2: 21 - 22
Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.
How should our faith be expressed?
Hebrews 11: 13
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
How do you think we can show affection towards God’s promises?
Confess = give an oath (Matthew 14: 7) declare (John 1: 20)
Hebrews 11: 14 - 16
Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
In what ways could we declare to others that we are foreigners and are seeking a home in heaven?
Hebrews 11: 17 - 19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, and as an illustration, he received him back.
Romans 12: 1
Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
How can we be a living sacrifice? Does this show our faith?
Hebrews 11: 24 - 26
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
What do you think the reproach of Christ means?
Hebrews 11: 32 – 40
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith 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. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
What promises are you embracing?
How do these examples help build our foundation of faith?
Do you have examples of someone being faithful to God? How can these be a foundation for our faith?
Do you think faith is a feeling that we get? What word would you substitute for feeling?
What promises are you embracing? How do these examples help build our foundation of faith?