I. New Format
a. Verse by verse teaching
b. Q&A in the sanctuary with Pastor Chris
c. [Optional] – For those who want to stick around and have more fellowship, there will be several small group areas you can gather at to share prayer requests and/or just chat. During this time the Men’s Bible Study will also meet in the Green Room

II. 2 Reasons the book of Hebrews is important
a. Highly exalted view of Christ (Heb 1:1-3)
i. Jesus is God’s last Word to mankind – Nothing to be added to God’s final revelation
ii. Jesus has been appointed heir of all things – Jesus’ obedience took back the authority lost to Satan by Adam and Eve v.2
iii. The world was made through Him – Jesus is the Word that created all things v.2
iv. Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory – “Just as the radiance of the sun reaches this earth, so in Christ the glorious light of God shines into the hearts of men and women.” F.F. Bruce v.3
v. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature – The image on a coin corresponds exactly to the die from which it was cast. In the same way, when we look at Jesus we are seeing the exact representation of God. The image of God. That’s why Jesus told Phillip. If you’ve seen me. You have seen the Father. v.3
vi. Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power – He not only created all things by His Word, but He holds everything together by His Word
vii. Jesus made purification of sins – The priesthood of Jesus. He was the priest offering the sacrifice and He Himself was the sacrifice!
viii. After that He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high – In the Old Testament, the priest’s work was never done, but when Jesus was done, he was done once and for all. It is finished!
b. Helps believers hold on, especially during times of fiery trials/persecution
i. During this time, believers were persecuted for their faith
ii. Looked down at by society
iii. You could lose your possessions
iv. Potentially lose your life
v. The letter was written to prevent faltering believers from abandoning Christ
vi. The book of Hebrews helped them stand strong and will help us stand strong through lives struggles and trials
vii. Bottom line – Jesus is better and a life lived with and for Jesus is the only life worth living
III. Hebrews 10:36-39 – The righteous ones shall live by faith…
a. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
b. It takes endurance to live for God
c. Enduring faith is the method God has given us to live this life. It will prevent us from “shrinking back”
d. In Hebrews 11, the writer will teach us what it means to live ‘by faith’
IV. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
a. Faith is like the title deed of a car it is proof of ownership
b. You may not be able to see faith but it is real ‘substance’
c. Faith can be seen in your life by your actions
d. Living by faith definition “Living by faith means you live your life according to what you see in God’s Word, regardless of what you see in the world.”
V. Hebrews 11:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
a. Throughout these next 4 weeks we are going to look at the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, The Nation of Israel, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and many unknown saints from the Old Testament era
b. They will provide a model for us
c. We need to find ourselves in the story as well
VI. Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
a. By faith we believe the creation story of Genesis – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
b. Some would say that there is a conflict between science and religion, but the conflict is really between theism (belief in God) and atheism (belief that there is no God)
c. There are scientists who are atheists and there are scientists who are theists
d. Many of the greatest minds of the past believed in God and many of the greatest minds today still believe in God
e. By faith we know that the universe did not create itself – we understand that it was prepared by the Word of God
VII. Hebrew 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
a. In chapter 4 of Genesis, in the next recorded story after mankind’s fall, Eve begins having children.
b. First she has Cain, who eventually becomes a farmer
c. Then she has Abel, who eventually works with livestock. He is described as a keeper of flocks
d. At some point in time, both bring God an offering. Cain brings an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground
e. Abel brings of the firstlings of his flock
f. God accepts Abel’s offering but rejects Cain’s offering
g. Cain gets angry and jealous and his brother Abel. The first recorded murder in the Bible
h. This sad story has been repeated over and over throughout human history
i. Both Cain and Abel knew the proper way to come to God, but Cain chose to do it his way
j. Abel said “Not my will be done, but Thine.”
k. Cain said “Not Thy will be done, but mine.”
l. We want to be like Abel and do things God’s way
VIII. Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
a. Enoch walked with God by faith
b. Enoch’s faith was so pleasing to God that one day he was translated or “raptured”. He never tasted death!
c. It’s important to know that your faith pleases God. Enjoy the fact that your faith makes God happy
d. God is a rewarder! Let that sink in and believe God for good things in your life
IX. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
a. Noah was obedient even when it was hard
b. Be encouraged. When you stick with Jesus when things get hard, you are in good company!
c. Hang in there…it will be worth it in the end!