By Faith, Not by Fear

In one paragraph

On the Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Josh walked the congregation through Hebrews 11:23-31, the continuing "hall of faith" passage, pressing on one question: are we living out of fear or out of faith? He worked through Moses's parents, Moses himself, the Hebrew people at the Red Sea, the encirclers of Jericho, and Rahab, showing how each one chose faith in God over fear of whatever earthly power...

Read together

1. Hebrews 11:23-31 the main passage preached through, the hall of faith examples from Moses's parents through Rahab
2. Hebrews 11:6 quoted to explain that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that God rewards those who seek Him
3. Hebrews 3 referenced as where the wilderness generation's unbelief was previously discussed
4. Joshua 2:1-22 read at length to tell the story of Rahab hiding the two spies
5. Joshua 6:1-27 cited as the source for the walls of Jericho falling
6. Joshua 6:22-25 read to show that Joshua spared Rahab and her household as promised
7. Psalm 31:19 quoted in the closing prayer about the good things stored up for those who fear God

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nathan pointed out that Moses's parents committed civil disobedience by hiding Moses against the king's edict, and that it came down to fear or faith. When have you faced a situation where obeying God put you at odds with what a person in authority demanded of you, and how did you respond?
2. Pastor Nathan said that Moses chose to endure ill treatment with the people of God rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, giving up enormous wealth and status to do it. What are the comfortable things in your own life that tempt you away from a harder, more faithful path?
3. Pastor Nathan described Rahab as someone who had only heard stories about what God had done, yet she acted on that in faith while the rest of Jericho melted in fear. How has hearing about what God has done in someone else's life shaped the way you trust Him in your own circumstances?
4. The encirclers of Jericho were asked to walk around a fortified city and shout, which must have seemed absurd. Pastor Nathan asked us to consider that sometimes faith looks ridiculous. Can you think of a time when what God seemed to be calling you to do made no practical sense, and what did you do with that?
5. Pastor Nathan closed by asking everyone to sit with this question all week: am I living my life today out of fear, or by faith? Where in your life right now do you notice fear driving your decisions more than trust in God?