Faith

Depending on God

Dale Larsen, Sandy Larsen

• Publisher: IVP Bible Studies
• Year: 2011
• eBook ISBN:
  9780830862634
• Topic: Theology & Religion

Why don't I get what I pray for? Do I wait in faith for God to change a bad situation, or do I step out in faith to look for change? Why don't I feel more confident that God will help me?If you ever struggle with uncertainties about faith, you'llfind good company in the pages of the Bible. These nine studies on people who struggle with faith and on the teachings of faithful people will encourage you in your journey to deeper trust.

1

In Praise of Faith

Hebrews 11:1-16

The runner who crosses the finish line first. The winning candidate on election night. The celebrity Oscar winner. All these get applause and congratulations.

 

But who cheers for the fired factory worker, leaving work for the last time, who still believes that God will provide for him and his family? Who throws confetti on the young woman, waking up in a hospital bed paralyzed from a car accident she can’t even remember, who cries out to God for help instead of cursing him?

 

GROUP DISCUSSION. What do you think it means to live by faith? Who is someone you know that you would say lives that way?

PERSONAL REFLECTION. When have you wished you had more faith?

The Bible cheers for God’s faithful people, and nowhere does the cheer sound more loudly and definitely than in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. The letter to the Hebrews was written by an unknown Christian to a group of persecuted Jewish Christians, people who needed to have their faith affirmed and strengthened. Read Hebrews 11:1-16.

1. Consider the actions of each of the people named in this passage. What does their behavior have in common?

2. If your name was one of those appearing in Hebrews 11, what do you think the writer would say about you?

3. Why do “the ancients” (the Old Testament faithful) deserve honor (vv. 1-2)?

4. How would you describe the faith for which they are honored?

5. Often we associate faith with feeling a certain way (for example: confident, bold, certain, doubt-free). What indicates that these people’s behavior was based on something beyond emotional feeling (vv. 4-5, 7-9, 11)?

6. Do you typically need to feel full of faith before you can obey God? Give some examples.

7. In what ways did the faith of these people remain unfulfilled (vv. 13-16)?

8. How did they see themselves in relation to this world?

9. How does your faith in God affect your attitude toward this world?

10. In this passage, what connection do you see between faith and hope?

11. The writer takes great care to give his readers a full catalog of faithful people and the outcome of their faith. What does that indicate to you about the recipients of this letter? (Verses 1-16 are not the entire list; the names and honors continue through the end of the chapter.)

12. How would you define faith? (If your answer is only to repeat verse 1, rephrase it in your own words!)

13. How does Hebrews 11 encourage your own faith in God?

Thank God for the examples of faithful people. Pray that you will put into action the faith that you have, whether it is great or small.

Now or Later

Make notes about how you would like your attitudes to change during the course of this study on faith. Be as specific as possible.

2

Abraham

Faith Under Construction

Genesis 12:1-9

“Packing up, huh? Where are you h...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Getting the Most Out of Faith
• 1 In Praise of Faith: Hebrews 11:1-16
• 2 Abraham: Faith Under Construction: Genesis 12:1-9
• 3 Righteousness by Faith: Romans 3:19-26
• 4 Naaman: Faith Without Fireworks: 2 Kings 5:1-15
• 5 Faith Without Action: James 2:14-26
• 6 David: Faith That Worships: 2 Samuel 7:18-29
• 7 The Focus of Faith: Hebrews 12:1-11
• 8 In Jesus' Name: Faith That Asks: John 16:16-28
• 9 The Finale of Faith: 2 Timothy 4:6-18
• Leader's Notes
• About the Authors
• Like this book?
• Copyright