Sarah: Our Matriarch of FaithSample

Think About It

1. What spiritual lessons and values did you receive from your parents? What one lesson would you want to pass on to others?
2. Sarah waited decades for God’s promise of a child to come to fruition. What promise from God are you waiting to happen? How might Sarah’s faithful waiting encourage you?
3. For 2,000 years, like Sarah, the Jewish people waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise to return His people to Israel. They never gave up and never stopped praying God’s promise to be fulfilled—and it was. What biblical promises have you seen fulfilled in your lifetime? How does that deepen your faith?
4. What aspect of Sarah’s life has encouraged you the most? Share that with someone you know who is in need of encouragement today.
5. The Hebrew word for faith, emunah, is closely related to the word emunim, which means “training” in Hebrew. From this we learn that faith must be practiced. How can you “practice” your faith each day?

Apply It

1. Encourage others. Faith is contagious! Think of a time in your life when you overcame a challenge through faith. Share your story with others. (Psalm 40:10; Acts 20:20, 27)
2. Let faith guide you. During these uncertain times in our world and in our lives, cling to your faith in God, as Abraham and Sarah did. Trust He is guiding you. (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 16:13)
3. Reach out to a person in need. Just as Sarah was a spiritual mother to many, think of how you can serve as a spiritual mentor to someone you know. (Psalm 34:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
4. Believe the impossible. When Sarah wondered if she could indeed give birth to a child at the age of 90, God responded: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”(Genesis 18:14). Believe that anything is possible with God. (Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26)
5. Be patient. Sometimes our prayers are answered immediately; sometimes, we must wait years, even decades. As we learn from Sarah, never give up and never stop praying. (Isaiah 40:31; Luke 18:1)

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