Faith of Our Forerunners: Faithful Forerunners in Hebrews 11

The Neighborhood Church

We are a story-telling and story-shaped people. We tell stories to make sense of who we are and where we fit in the world. But as people of faith, we find that our stories fit within God’s larger story of blessing, promise, and purpose. This message wraps up this series by running through the famous “Hall of Faith” chapter in Hebrews. Hebrews 11 and 12 tell us how these forerunners kept walking with God though the road was uncertain and many of their hopes remained unrealized in their lifetime. Let us find inspiration for our story through their story of trusting God. NOTES // SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- Hebrews 11.1-16 // QUOTE -- “Faith, for Hebrews, is always closely linked to hope. Faith is looking at God and trusting him for everything, while hope is looking at the future and trusting God for it.” (N.T. WRIGHT, Hebrews for Everyone) // In a word, "Faith" = TRUST and "Hope" = EXPECTATION. But hope needs a foundation of faith underneath in order to transform it from optimism to assurance. // CREATION -- It takes faith to see the visible world as created and sustained by an invisible Creator // ABEL and ENOCH -- It takes faith to see that we can actually please God–that God accepts us and keeps us in life and death // NOAH -- It takes faith to see and align ourselves with the justice of God when the world turns their back and follows their own way. // ABRAHAM and SARAH -- It takes faith to see that God promises and partners with us to make possible what the world believes impossible. // We are the beneficiaries of where God's story was headed all along. Our story is the gospel. The gospel is the Good News that Jesus—through his life, death, and resurrection—is the reigning Lord of heaven and earth and all people are invited to live in God's kingdom, filled with God's Spirit, free from sin and death. // We can tell ourselves this story... - I am a beloved child of a good Father - I am one in whom Christ dwells - I am filled and formed by the Holy Spirit - “I am safe and secure in the unshakeable kingdom of God.” (James Bryan Smith)