Hebrews 11 (CEB)
1 Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. 2 The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.
3 By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
Trust in God’s character frees us from the limits of our vision.
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. Faith in God means trusting in God. Consider all the healings, and the resurrection of Lazarus, that make up so much of Jesus’ resume. What does that suggest about the timing in which God will act? How does that impact your faithful trusting in God?
2. If the visible world came from unseen realities, how best could the church itself become a visible sign of God’s unseen Kingdom? What practices—like sharing resources, forgiving one another, welcoming strangers, bearing one another’s burdens—make the invisible reign of God visible to the world around us?
3. Hebrews says the universe was formed by God’s Word. Why do you think God chose to create by speaking rather than through force or struggle? What does this reveal about God’s authority, intentionality, and the trustworthiness of His Word? Our own words have the power to shape relationships, influence reputations, build communities, and even affect how people understand themselves. How should this truth transform the way we, as believers, speak to and about others?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Hebrews says faith helps us understand reality itself. In what ways are we tempted to let politics, consumer culture, fear, nationalism, or personal success define reality instead of the story God tells? How do we intentionally train ourselves to see the world through the Kingdom of God rather than through the lens of our culture?
2. Much like a surprise trust fall, we often trust in God to do something based on our expectations alone. And, much like how a surprise trust fall may end up with us on the ground, have you ever trusted in God for something you wanted and found yourself laying on the ground? What does this mean to our trusting faithfully in God?
3. There is a degree of trust in all of our relationships, but how does our faith in God help us through those times in which we don’t experience the outcome we wanted? How does our faith in God at that moment enable us to trust God loves us still?
4. We are, in part, a reflection of our past experiences. How does Nancy Ambrose’s past shape her faith? How does the context or history of a person perhaps shape the way our faith should be constructed by reading Bible verses or sharing stories?
For further contemplation, consider these prompts:
1. Take a look back at this week’s scripture. What is the very first act of faith Hebrews asks of the reader? Why do you think the author chose to begin there rather than with just a command to obey?
2. For Howard Thurman — no matter the strength of his faith, what he meant, or what he wanted his grandmother to hear in his words, he was still forced to speak to her in specific terms. When we want to discuss faith with another we must consider the words they will hear, not just the words we will speak. Consider being in such a situation, from both sides, what will this mean to the way you engage?
