Hebrews 11

What is Faith?

What is Faith?

Dave Riddle - 5/12/2024

Key Passages: Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith is the reality of what is hoped for

- Hebrews 11:1

- Hypostasis: Reality, assurance, support, strong foundation

- Not a wistful longing, but an absolute certainty.

- “I hope the weather is nice this afternoon”

Faith is… the proof of what is not seen

- Hebrews 11:1

- Proof, conviction, evidence

Faith is the thing by which we are approved

- Hebrews 11:2

- Witnesses of faith

By faith we understand that God created everything

- Hebrews 11:3

- By faith we believe

Faith recognizes, worships, and obeys

- Abel

- Hebrews 11:4

- Genesis 4:4

Faith believes and draws near

- Enoch

- Hebrews 11:5-6

- Genesis 5:21-24

- Jude 14-15

We are people who are called to live by faith

- Are we people who walk by faith?

- Or are we people who walk by sight?

- Do we live by what we think is best, or do we live by what God says is best?

We His People - We Believe

We His People - We Believe

Dave Riddle - 9/3/2023

Key Passage: John 3:14-16

You may have heard “Hope is not a strategy”

  • There is some truth to that popular saying.

    • But hope IS an essential part of our faith.

      • 1 Corinthians 13:13

      • Hebrews 11:1-3

      • Romans 15:13

We Believe

  • We are people of faith.

    • John 3:14-16

    • Ephesians 2:8-9

      • Saved by faith though grace.

    • Romans 5:1-2

      • Faith and hope

We often struggle to live by faith

  • So often, we walk by what we see, know, and feel, rather than walking by faith.

    • Galatians 2:20

    • 2 Corinthians 5:7

      • walk = peripateo (Greek: περιπατέω) literally: to tread all around, walk at large. Figuratively: to live, to make one’s way, to regulate one’s life, to conduct oneself

      • Are you living in a manner consistent with your confident belief in God’s promises?

    • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

      • We do not focus on what is seen!

On what our whom do you set your eyes?

  • What/who are you chasing?

  • Are we people who live by faith?

  • Romans 8:24-25

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith 

  • Matthew 15:21-28

    • Great faith is powerful

The Disciples failure to heal

  • Matthew 17:14-21

    • Little faith is powerful

The Fiery Furnace

  • Daniel 3

    • We have faith even if God doesn’t answer our prayers.

    • We have faith even in death.

Do you believe?

  • John 11:25-26

Make Your Life Count For The Kingdom

Make your life count for the Kingdom

Paul Trulock - 5/28/2023

Key Passage: Matthew 25:14-30

What is the Kingdom like?

  • Matthew 25:14-30

The Master

  • God. The creator and sustainer of all things.

    • Sovereign over all things.

The Servants

  • You and me.

    • Entrusted with responsibility

The Talents

  • The responsibilities God has entrusted us with.

    • Time 

    • Talent/Gifting/Spiritual Gifts

    • Treasures (material resources)

      • Matt 25:14 - all things belong to God and have been given to us to steward.

First & Second Servants

  • Matthew 25:15 - …according to their ability.

  • Luke 16:10 - faithful with little…

  • They took what they were given and “Immediately put it to work”

    • Delayed obedience is disobedience

Third Servant

  • Matthew 25:18 - He dug a hole and hid his money.

    • Our lives will never count for the kingdom if we live a hidden life.

First & Second Servants Received:

  • Praise

    • Praise for their faithfulness, not their fruitfulness.

    • The fruit is the product of the Holy Sprit.

      • Our job is to be faithful. The results are up to God.

  • More responsibility 

  • Invitation of special fellowship

The Third Servant

  • Matthew 25:25 - I was afraid

    • The opposite of faith is not doubt. God can work with our doubt. The opposite of faith is fear.

      • Hebrews 11:6

  • He is described as: Wicked, Lazy, Worthless.

Attend your own funeral

  • Galatians 2:20 - Die to self. Live by faith.