1. What faith is not

• Not just a RELIGIOUS FEELING
• Not WISHFUL thinking
• Not BELIEF apart from EVIDENCE

2. What faith is

• KNOWLEDGE
• ASSENT
• TRUST

3. Why faith matters

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

If your faith is like pocket change in a pouch, on what in your life have you spent the most faith?

1. Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” When did you first hear about Jesus?
2. How does our hearing point our faith in the right direction? What do we hear “through” according to that verse?
3. What is something you’ve recently heard through Christ that has strengthened your faith in God’s promises?

READ Hebrews 11:1-6

4. What is something in your life that has contributed to your lack of assurance? (vs 1)
5. What is the difference between faith and hope?
6. Why is "not seeing" important to the reality of our faith? (vs. 1 & 3)
7. What are the similarities of our faith in the unseen God (vs. 1) and God’s actions in the creation not yet visible? (vs. 3)
8. Do you ever feel like you’d have more faith if you would see God more? How would that help you?
9. What about Abel’s sacrifice showed a more commendable faith than Cain? (vs. 4)
10. How does Abel’s faithfulness still speak even though he dead such a long time ago? (vs. 4)
11. Enoch was commended as having pleased God. (vs. 5) How might verse 6 explain what his faith looked like?
12. What are the key elements of a faith that pleases God (vs. 6)
13. What are practical ways you can demonstrate faith in God?
14. How can you foster faith in the lives of those around us?