By Faith: People of Whom the World Was Not Worthy

In one paragraph

This message was a walk through the final verses of Hebrews 11 and into Hebrews 12, following the writer's list of people who lived and died by faith. Pastor Ray drew a line from those ancient witnesses straight to people in this congregation who have done the same. The sermon closed with the Lord's Supper and a benediction from Jude. The writer of Hebrews spent the first part of chapter 11 naming...

Read together

1. Hebrews 11:32 - 12:3 primary passage studied throughout the sermon
2. Hebrews 11:1 faith as evidence or substance of things hoped for, things not yet seen
3. Hebrews 11:4 Abel gave of the firstlings of his flock by faith and was murdered
4. Hebrews 11:5 Enoch walked with God and was taken up
5. Hebrews 11:7 Noah by faith prepared an ark and saved his household
6. Hebrews 11:8 Abraham when called obeyed and became father of an innumerable number
7. Hebrews 11:11 Sarah by faith considered God faithful and conceived in old age
8. Hebrews 11:20 Isaac blessed his sons' future
9. Hebrews 11:21 Jacob blessed his grandsons
10. Hebrews 11:22 Joseph gave orders concerning his remains
11. Hebrews 11:23 Moses's parents hid him against Pharaoh's edict
12. Hebrews 11:24-28 Moses left Egypt, kept the Passover, led God's people faithfully
13. Hebrews 11:30 encirclers of Jericho walked around the city and the walls fell
14. Hebrews 11:31 Rahab reacted in faith and was accepted into the people of God
15. Hebrews 11:32 writer says time would fail to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets
16. Hebrews 11:33-34 by faith they conquered kingdoms, shut mouths of lions, quenched power of fire, escaped the sword
17. Hebrews 11:35 women received back their dead by resurrection; others were tortured to obtain a better resurrection
18. Hebrews 11:36-38 others experienced mockings, scourgings, chains, imprisonment, stoning, being sawn in two, death by sword, wandering in deserts and caves
19. Hebrews 11:39-40 all gained approval through faith but did not receive what was promised, God providing something better
20. Hebrews 2-3 referenced for the wilderness wandering period skipped in chapter 11
21. Hebrews 12:1 therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every encumbrance and run with endurance
22. Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross
23. Hebrews 12:3 consider him who endured hostility by sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart
24. Psalms today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts, quoted in Hebrews 2-3
25. James 2 faith without works is dead, cited in relation to Noah's faith
26. John 13-16 Jesus preparing disciples for his earthly end and promising the Spirit
27. Jude 24-25 benediction: to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless with great joy

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray worked through the recurring phrase 'by faith' in Hebrews 11, showing that each person's act flowed from what they believed rather than from the act itself. Where in your own life have you seen that pattern, where what you believed shaped what you did?
2. The writer of Hebrews moves from 13 specific examples to more general ones, including people who were tortured, mocked, imprisoned, and killed rather than deny God. What does that progression tell you about what the writer was asking his original readers to be prepared for?
3. Pastor Ray built his own list alongside the Hebrews 11 list, naming people from this congregation and from his own life, such as Chad, Mark Upton, Grace McDaniel, Wes Flanagan, and Kurt Ripley. Who would you add to a list like that from your own life, and what did their faith look like in ordinary, daily terms?
4. Hebrews 12:1-2 connects the cloud of witnesses to the call to 'run with endurance' by fixing our eyes on Jesus. How does looking back at people who lived by faith actually help you move forward right now?
5. The sermon noted that Jesus endured the cross 'for the joy set before him,' and that he is now interceding for those who believe so that they would endure. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is actively praying for your endurance?