Fewer concepts are more essential in relationship to God than faith. I invite you to join me a series of studies that will highlight faith in Hebrews. Particular attention will be paid to how faith relates to an exhortation for Christians to “Stand Firm, Carry Your Cross,” the title of this series.

1. Part 1:
The Faith of Heroes Proved
Hebrews 11:1-16
by Samuel E. Ward

2. “O Beautiful
for heroes
proved in
liberating
strife, who
more than self,
their country
loved and
mercy more
than life.”

3. “Some faced jeers
and flogging,
while still others
were chained and
put in prison.
They were stoned;
they were sawed
in two; they were
put to death by
the sword.

4. The world was not
worthy of them.
They wandered in
deserts and
mountains, and in
caves and holes in
the ground.”
(Heb 11:36-38
NIV)

5. The Faith of Heroes
Proved, Heb 11:1-16
I. The Description of Faith, Heb 11:1-3
A. Hope Requires Faith in God to Keep His
Promises about Things We Cannot See
Happening Right Now, Heb 11:1.
B. Creation Requires Faith in God’s Ability to
Make What Is Seen Out of that Which Cannot
Be Seen.

6. II. The Practice of Faith,
Heb 11:4-38
A. Abel: Faith Obeys God, Heb 11:4.
Note the negative example of Ananias and
Sapphira in Acts 5:1-4.
B. Enoch: Faith Pleases God, Heb 11:5-6.
Nowhere is this taught more clearly than in
Rom 8:6-8.

7. C. Noah: Faith Responds to God’s Warnings,
Heb 11:7.
Observe the stern warning of Heb 2:1-3
D. Abraham: Faith Trusts in God’s Guidance and
Direction, Heb 11:8-10.
This principle is illustrated in Luke 18:29-30.

8. E. Abraham: Faith Believes that God Can Do the
Impossible, Heb 11:11-16.
We each have potential that we know nothing of
because God is the One who puts it in us. See
Luke 1:30-31, 37 and Luke 18:24-27.
F. Abraham: Faith Trusts God With What Is Most
Precious, Heb 11:17-19. See John 3:16
Remember Job 42:10-12a and 1 Cor 2:9.

9. Conclusion
Descriptions of Faith
1. Faith Obeys God, Heb 11:4.
2. Faith Pleases God, Heb 11:5-6.
3. Faith Responds to God’s Warnings, Heb 11:7.
4. Faith Trusts in God’s Guidance and Direction,
Heb 11:8-10.

10. 4. Faith is willing to leave one’s comfort zone to
go places and do things to advance the
kingdom of God.
5. Faith is believing that God can do the
impossible to accomplish His will in one’s life.
6. Faith is not holding anything back from God
no matter how precious it might be.