The Great Ones is our theme through November. Each month has a different sub-theme:
September = Commands
October = Chapters
November = Choices

It's hard to choose, but this month we'll look at Pastor Don's list of 4 great chapters of the Bible.
One chapter was chosen out of the 4 main divisions of the Bible:
-The Torah: Deuteronomy 5 & 6
-The Writings: Psalm 23
-The Prophets: Isaiah 53
-The New Testament

Today we wrap up the "chapters" portion of this series by looking at the New Testament. Pastor Don has chosen Hebrews 11 as our text. This chapter is often referred to as The Saints Hall of Faith or The Faith Chapter as the word faith is used about 21 times depending on which version of the Bible you have.

The entire book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish people to introduce them to Jesus as their Messiah and teach them that the old Jewish system of religion was null and void.
As Dr. John Macarthur pointed out last week, the Jewish faith had become corrupt, twisted into a works system with all kinds of legalistic requirements. And this has no effect on mankind’s sinfulness or in restoring our relationship with God. Romans 3:28
It had fallen from the faith system that God had originally established with His people. Judaism had become a religious cult built on ethics and behavior. They had forgotten or disregarded God’s statements to Abraham about Faith and what the prophets had written; Habakkuk 2:4 [NLT]
In writing Hebrews, the Lord wants to take the Jews and us back to the essence of a healthy relationship with Him; and that is by faith. Faith in Who God Is, What He Has Done, and What He has Said.

The author of Hebrews was writing in large part to those Jews who had come to faith in Christ or were considering doing so. It was a hard life for the new Jewish believers. The readers of this book were tempted to return to what they knew, what was easy, and what was comfortable. The idea of trusting God's approval rather than trying to earn it meant they had to let go of the control of their life. In Hebrews 11 all Christians are called to live by faith and not by works.

Hebrews 11 can be divided along 3 main trains of thought:

First - The Definition of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-2

Confidence means: "a firm, solid, unwavering confidence that is based upon factual reality."
Assurance means: "a conviction that is more than a settled intellectual agreement that leads you to just sit and ponder but a motivation that compels you to pursue that which you believe."
True Biblical Faith: "the confident obedience in the reliability of God's proven character, conduct, and communication in spite of circumstances and consequences."
Faith is something everyone uses everyday of their lives. But the important thing is the object and giver of faith.

Second - The Description of Faith
Hebrews 11:3

The author of Hebrews has the subject of creation in view.
In our world we see evidences of a Creator in the principles of cause & effect, intelligent design, and systematic order. The secular world rejects this, not because of the lack of evidence, but because of the high cost of admitting there is a God to whom they would be subject.

Third - The Demonstrations of Faith
Hebrews 11:4-40

The numerous examples in this passage demonstrate a firm confidence in the person and promises of God. Some of these individuals did live to see the fruit of their faith but many did not.
We see Abraham in verses 8-10 who is often called "a man of faith" and "the friend of God".

7 vital principles for our life:

1) We must be open to hearing God’s word [Bible].
2) We must obey whatever we discover God’s will to be.
3) We must move forward – from Here to There. [Re-order our lives]
4) We must be willing, whether we have all of the details or not.
5) We must continue in faith and not resort to doing things our way.
6) We must try and pass our faith on to others.
7) We must live with eternity in mind.

Application and Discussion Questions:

1) Read Hebrews 11 this week and let God speak to you about that quality in your life.

2) Think about the definition of faith that was given (look at it in short phrases and meditating upon the words). What are your thoughts about faith being like binoculars, the fact that faith comes from God (gift), and that the foundation of your faith is truly critical?

3) Read Psalm 19:1 and Hebrews 11:6. Where do you see evidence for God in our world and the universe?

4) Read Romans 1:18-32. Think of your non-Christian family members and friends. Do you understand why they reject the Lord and may actually claim to be an atheist and or believe in evolution?

5) Review the 7 principles taken from Hebrews 11:8-10. Which of these resonates the most with you? Which do you struggle with?

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

Sunday, October 25 - Dayton & Sara Walker
Monday, October 26 - Ethan Binkowski
Wednesday, October 28 - Becky Wilson
Thursday, October 29 - Denise Hansen, Karen Smith
Saturday, October 31 - Elaina Nowicke