Definition of Faith
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. This foundational verse sets the stage for understanding faith as both a confident expectation and a conviction in the unseen.

Faith of the Ancients
The chapter highlights the faith of Old Testament figures such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, emphasizing that by faith they received commendation from God (Hebrews 11:2).

Faith and Obedience
The faith of Abraham, who obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8), illustrates that true faith is accompanied by obedience to God's call.

Endurance in Faith
The chapter underscores the endurance of faith, as seen in Moses, who persevered because he saw Him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Faith empowers believers to endure trials and remain steadfast.

Faith and Future Promises
Hebrews 11:13-16 speaks of those who died in faith, not having received the things promised, yet they saw them from afar and embraced them. This teaches us that faith looks beyond the present to the fulfillment of God's promises.Cultivate Assurance
Strengthen your faith by regularly meditating on God's promises and trusting in His character, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

Act in Obedience
Like Abraham, be willing to step out in faith and obey God's leading, even when the path is unclear.

Persevere Through Trials
Draw inspiration from the endurance of biblical figures, and rely on God's strength to persevere through life's challenges.

Focus on Eternal Promises
Keep your eyes fixed on the eternal promises of God, allowing them to shape your perspective and priorities.1. Abel
Abel is commended for offering a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, demonstrating righteousness through his faith.
"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God gave approval to his gifts." (Hebrews 11:4)

2. Enoch
Enoch is noted for his faith that pleased God, resulting in him being taken up to heaven without experiencing death.
"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him away." (Hebrews 11:5)

3. Noah
Noah, in reverent fear, built an ark to save his family, becoming an heir of righteousness through faith.
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family." (Hebrews 11:7)

4. Abraham
Abraham obeyed God's call to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, living as a foreigner in the promised land.
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance." (Hebrews 11:8)

5. Sarah
Sarah, by faith, received the power to conceive, even when she was past the age, because she considered God faithful.
"By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child because she considered Him faithful who had promised." (Hebrews 11:11)

6. Isaac
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future, acting in faith regarding things to come.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future." (Hebrews 11:20)

7. Jacob
Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." (Hebrews 11:21)

8. Joseph
Joseph spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning his bones.
"By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones." (Hebrews 11:22)

9. Moses
Moses, by faith, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing to be mistreated with God's people.
"By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter." (Hebrews 11:24)

10. Rahab
Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies in peace and was not killed with those who were disobedient.
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient." (Hebrews 11:31)1. Egypt
Mentioned in Hebrews 11:26-27, Egypt is where Moses was raised and later led the Israelites out of bondage. The passage highlights Moses' faith in leaving Egypt, "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible."

2. Red Sea
Referenced in Hebrews 11:29, the Red Sea is where the Israelites crossed on dry land, escaping the Egyptian army. The verse states, "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned."

3. Jericho
Found in Hebrews 11:30, Jericho is the city whose walls fell after the Israelites marched around them for seven days. The scripture notes, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days."

4. Canaan
While not directly named in Hebrews 11, Canaan is implied as the Promised Land that Abraham and his descendants were to inherit. Hebrews 11:9 refers to Abraham living "in the land of promise, as in a foreign land," which is understood to be Canaan.1. Creation by God's Command
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3)
This verse emphasizes the belief that the universe was created by God's word, highlighting the concept of creation ex nihilo, or "out of nothing."

2. Abel's Offering
"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God gave approval to his gifts." (Hebrews 11:4)
Abel's faith is demonstrated through his offering, which was accepted by God, contrasting with Cain's.

3. Enoch's Translation
"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: 'He could not be found, because God had taken him away.'" (Hebrews 11:5)
Enoch's faith led to his being taken up by God, bypassing death, as noted in Genesis.

4. Noah's Ark
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family." (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah's faith is shown in his obedience to God's warning about the flood, leading to the construction of the ark.

5. Abraham's Call
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance." (Hebrews 11:8)
Abraham's faith is evident in his willingness to leave his homeland and go to an unknown land.

6. Sarah's Conception
"By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child." (Hebrews 11:11)
Sarah's faith is highlighted in her ability to conceive Isaac despite her old age.

7. Abraham's Offering of Isaac
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar." (Hebrews 11:17)
Abraham's faith is tested when he is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, demonstrating his trust in God's promises.

8. Isaac's Blessing
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future." (Hebrews 11:20)
Isaac's faith is shown in his blessings to his sons, foretelling their futures.

9. Jacob's Blessing
"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons." (Hebrews 11:21)
Jacob's faith is evident in his blessings over his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

10. Joseph's Instructions
"By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones." (Hebrews 11:22)
Joseph's faith is shown in his belief in God's promise to bring Israel out of Egypt.

11. Moses' Parents' Courage
"By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a beautiful child." (Hebrews 11:23)
The faith of Moses' parents is demonstrated in their defiance of Pharaoh's edict.

12. Moses' Choice
"By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter." (Hebrews 11:24)
Moses' faith is shown in his choice to identify with the Israelites rather than Egyptian royalty.

13. The Exodus and Passover
"By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn." (Hebrews 11:28)
Moses' faith is evident in his observance of the Passover, protecting the Israelites.

14. Crossing the Red Sea
"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land." (Hebrews 11:29)
The Israelites' faith is demonstrated in their crossing of the Red Sea, escaping the Egyptians.

15. Fall of Jericho
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days." (Hebrews 11:30)
The faith of the Israelites is shown in their obedience to God's instructions, leading to Jericho's fall.

16. Rahab's Protection
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient." (Hebrews 11:31)
Rahab's faith is evident in her protection of the Israelite spies, leading to her and her family's salvation.James 2:17
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. This verse complements Hebrews 11 by emphasizing that genuine faith is demonstrated through action.

Romans 4:20-21
Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. This passage highlights Abraham's unwavering faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight. This verse reinforces the concept of living by faith, as exemplified in Hebrews 11. Pray for Strengthened Faith
Ask God to deepen your faith and help you trust Him more fully in every area of your life.

Pray for Obedience
Seek God's guidance and courage to obey His will, even when it requires stepping into the unknown.

Pray for Endurance
Request God's sustaining power to persevere through trials and remain faithful to Him.

Pray for an Eternal Perspective
Ask God to help you focus on His eternal promises and live with a heavenly mindset.

As we study Hebrews 11, may we be inspired by the faith of those who have gone before us and be encouraged to live lives marked by unwavering trust in our faithful God.

1. How would you define faith based on Hebrews 11:1?

2. How has your understanding of faith been challenged or affirmed by Hebrews 11?

3. Discuss the link between faith and obedience as evidenced by the characters in Hebrews 11.

4. How did Noah, Abraham, and Moses exhibit faith despite not seeing the fulfillment of God's promises in their lifetimes?

5. How might understanding the world as framed by God's word affect your perspective on current global events?

6. In today's context, what might it look like for you to step out in faith as Abraham did?

7. What kind of "sacrifices" might faith ask of us in modern life?

8. How can Sarah's faith in God's promise inspire women today, particularly those facing seemingly insurmountable challenges?

9. Why do you think faith is considered an essential aspect of a believer's life?

10. How does Rahab's story challenge the societal definition of a hero of faith?

11. How can we maintain faith during times of persecution or hardship, as shown in verses 32-38?

12. How does the faith of these biblical figures challenge the cultural norm that results should be immediate?

13. How can the examples of faith in Hebrews 11 inspire you in your personal walk with God?

14. How does the concept of faith presented in Hebrews 11 contrast with the worldly view of faith?

15. Considering the experiences of these Old Testament figures, how does their faith inform our understanding of God's "better plan" mentioned in Hebrews 11:40?

16. What steps can you take to develop a faith similar to those listed in Hebrews 11?

17. What are some practical ways to demonstrate faith in your community?

18. How can understanding the stories of these faithful characters equip us for evangelism?

19. How does the understanding of faith in Hebrews 11 shape your perception of hope and future?

20. How can you apply the lessons from Hebrews 11 to your present-day living?