Jesus Is Worthy of Your Faith (Hebrews 11:1-40)
Mark Pitman, March 17, 2013Part of the Hope in Our Sufficient Savior series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
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Hebrews 11 (Listen)
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
(ESV)
Date | Series | Sermon | Scripture | Special Events |
5-Jan | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
12-Jan | Living Life Together | Why Are We Here, Where Are We Going, and How Do You Fit In? | Ephesians 3:14-21 | |
19-Jan | Living Life Together | Living Together As the People of God | Exodus 1:1-2:10, 23-25 | Sanctity of Human Life; Baby Dedication |
26-Jan | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
2-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together Through a Growing Knowledge of Our God | Exodus 3:1-15; 4:1-17 | |
9-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Selecting the Right God | Exodus 5:1-6:13 | |
16-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together in the Joy of Our Redemption | Exodus 11:1-12:41 | Valentine’s Day |
23-Feb | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Trusting Our Mighty Deliverer | Exodus 14 | |
2-Mar | Inclement Weather Day – No Services | |||
9-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Rejoicing in a Shepherd Who Provides | Exodus 16 | Daylight Savings Time Begins; Gideon Speaker |
16-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together by Joyful Obedience to Our Covenant | Exodus 19 | |
23-Mar | Guest Speaker | Chris Gendron | ||
30-Mar | Living Life Together | Living Life Together in Celebration of the Mercy of God | Exodus 32 | 5th Sunday; BCC 101 |
6-Apr | Friend Request | Joining the Celebration | Philippians 2:1-18 | Camp Selah |
13-Apr | Friend Request | The End of Blah, Blah, Blah | John 12:1-19 | Palm Sunday |
20-Apr | Friend Request | When You Give and Receive Nothing in Return | Matthew 26:42-56 | Easter |
27-Apr | Friend Request | Who’s Got Your Back? | 1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-7, 20:1-42 | |
4-May | Friend Request | Strength in Numbers: Praying for One Another | Colossians 4:2-4 | |
11-May | Friend Request | Hospitality for Busy Lives | Romans 12:1-13 | Mother’s Day |
18-May | Friend Request | When You Need a Friend – Because Two is Better Than One | 1 Peter 1:-2:3, 3:13-18, 4:1-10, 12-19 | Congregational Business Meeting |
25-May | Guest Speaker | Scott Towers | Memorial Weekend | |
1-Jun | Friend of God | An Outrageous Possibility | James 2:14-26 | Honor Graduates |
8-Jun | Friend of God | God Dwelling With Us | 1 Corinthians 6:1-20 | Communion |
15-Jun | Friend of God | God Ruling Us – Coming to Grips with Jesus as Our Benevolent King | Romans 10:9-13 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
22-Jun | Friend of God | God Loving Us | Romans 8:31-39 | |
29-Jun | Friend of God | God With Us | Isaiah 7:1-16 | 5th Sunday |
6-Jul | Friend of God | God Interceding For Us | Romans 8:12-27 | Independence Day |
13-Jul | Friend of God | God Our Father | Romans 8:12-17 | |
20-Jul | Friend of God | God Preparing For Us | Revelation 21:1-22:5 | Communion |
27-Jul | Living Life Together | Living Life Together Because Our Family Had a Great Beginning | Acts 11:1-11, 2:1-16 | |
3-Aug | Living Life Together | The Message That Draws Us Together | Acts 4:1-36 | VBS Day |
10-Aug | Living Life Together | Handling Our Finances with Generosity and Integrity | Acts 5:1-16 | |
17-Aug | Living Life Together | Proclaiming the Name | Acts 5:12-42 | |
24-Aug | Living Life Together | Solving Problems Quickly | Acts 6:1-7 | Baptism and Family Night |
31-Aug | Living Life Together | Facing Pressure Courageously | Acts 6:7-15, 51-60 | 5th Sunday |
7-Sep | Living Life Together | When Times Are Hard | Acts 8:1-40 | |
14-Sep | Living Life Together | Amazed by God’s Grace | Acts 9:1-31 | |
21-Sep | Living Life Together | Celebrating Everyone’s Place On The Team | Acts 9:32-42 | Communion; SYATP |
28-Sep | Living Life Together | Praying With Hearts of Faith | Acts 12:1-25 | |
5-Oct | Living Life Together | Properly Fulfilling the Mission | Acts 13:1-16, 38-52 | Hayride—Fall Party |
12-Oct | Living Life Together | Discerning God’s Will As A Family | Acts 15:1-35 | |
19-Oct | Living Life Together | Experiencing the Power of God | Acts 15:36-16:34 | BCC 101 |
26-Oct | Guest Speaker | Scott Towers | ||
2-Nov | Living Life Together | Making a Difference That Can’t Be Ignored | Acts 17:1-15 | Daylight Savings Time Ends |
9-Nov | Stewardship | LLT by Taking the Next Step in Your Financial Earning | Col 3:22-25 | |
16-Nov | Stewardship | The Next Step in Spending | Luke 12:13-33 | Thanksgiving Dinner |
23-Nov | Stewardship | The Next Step in Giving | 2 Cor 8:1-15; 9:14 | Communion |
30-Nov | That Crazy Family of Yours | Tis the Season for OCD | Philippians 3:1-16 | 5th Sunday |
7-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Too Much Sugar, Too Many Presents | Deuteronomy 6:1-9 | |
14-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Fixing Your Focus | Matthew 2:1-12 | Children’s program |
21-Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | Loving Your Outlaws | Genesis 2:18-25 | |
24-Dec, Wednesday | That Crazy Family of Yours | Christmas Has Always Been Crazy | Luke 2:1-20 | Christmas Eve |
28- Dec | That Crazy Family of Yours | The Biggest Bill Has Been Paid | Colossians 2:1-15 |