Hebrews 11 has a nickname: the hall of faith. Movie a hallway in your onetime school where all the trophies are stored. The best athletes make it into the hall of fame. Similarly, Hebrews 11 covers the stories of some of the best faith-keepers always… at least, the best faith-keepers of the Former Testament! If you're looking to answer the question, "What is faith?" these stories are a great identify to start. Y'all'll become to come across faith in activeness.

Along with reading Hebrews 11, it can be insightful to read from a study Bible or commentary. Below, we broke Hebrews 11 upwards into iii sections. First, yous'll read a department of Scripture. And then, you can read commentary from the NIV Bible Speaks Today Report Bible.

First, Read Hebrews 11:1-16

In this commencement department, the writer of Hebrews covers more than a few hall of faith-ers. Here'due south the list:

  • Abel
  • Enoch
  • Noah
  • Abraham
  • Issac
  • Jacob
  • Sarah

Read Hebrews 11:one-16

At present that yous've read the start department, check out this commentary. Similar we mentioned above, it's from the NIV Bible Speaks Today Written report Bible. You'll become a ameliorate idea of what faith is and who the heroes of faith actually are.

Faith: Its Meaning and Its Heroes

"Hebrews eleven tells us what information technology means to have faith and obtain life. Those with true faith accept God's word, focusing on assurance about what nosotros do not meet, looking across the situation as information technology can be perceived by natural vision. By exercising this kind of faith the ancients gained the warm citation of God. Past faith they discerned God'due south majestic ability in the created gild.

Abel gave a better offer than that presented by his brother Cain. Although Abel was murdered past his blood brother, he still speaks of the importance of a sincere heart.

Those who, like Enoch, wish to draw near to God, believe that God exists and is generous.

Noah accepted God's give-and-take, won God'south approval, became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith and recognised God's ability in both judgment and conservancy. He was obedient, fifty-fifty when others regarded his obedience to God equally an human activity of foolishness.

Abraham and Sarah are introduced to illustrate unlike aspects of faith.

What Religion Is

It is responsive: By faith Abraham, when called … obeyed. It is sacrificial and courageous: Abraham was willing, went from all that was secure and began his travels non knowing where he was going.

Faith is persistent: Abraham and his sons lived in tents. They did not see the country as their own, but exercised faith knowing that God would exist true to his discussion. Abraham looked frontward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Finally, faith is dependent: to those every bit skillful as dead the child of promise was given.

All these people were living by faith when they died. Although they did non actually possess the promised gifts of God, they saw them and welcomed them. Their hearts were set on sky, not on the state they had left. Sky was their homeland, they were citizens of sky. God is non ashamed to be chosen their God and he has prepared for them a city."

Awarding QUESTION

Every section in the NIV Bible Speaks Today Study Bible contains a follow-upwardly question! We love immediate, helpful application.

"How does the instance of Abraham and Sarah encourage us to practice religion? In what ways does eleven:1-sixteen help us continue our eyes stock-still on the future?"

Read Hebrews eleven:17-32

Adjacent, read Hebrews 11:17-32. It walks through Abraham's lineage and the way each exercised faith. Then, the author spends quite some time talking near Moses, and even his parents. Through and so many hard times, Moses exercised faith again and again. Then, at the finish, Rahab also makes an appearance!

Read Hebrews 11:17-32

After you've read that passage of Scripture, go along reading beneath. Nosotros have more commentary from the NIV Bible Speaks Today Study Bible.

having faith in hard times

Faith in Hard Times

"This section resumes the exposition of faithful exploits. Abraham was ordered to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The Lord had assured him that it would exist through Isaac that the promised grace of offspring would begin to exist established. Abraham was determined to do what the Lord God required. He held on to the truth of God'due south promise, believing that God could fifty-fifty enhance the dead. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph anticipated a time when their descendants would inherit their ain land and prosper under God'south merciful direction.

Faith conquers our fears.

Moses' parents were not afraid of the king'south edict.

Faith determines our opinions.

By faith Moses took a serial of important decisions by which he bandage in his lot with the people of God. By faith Moses abased social honours, physical satisfaction and material gain. And by organized religion he came to realise that disgrace for the sake of Christ was of greater value.

Faith sharpens our vision.

Moses focused his vision not on earth merely on heaven, seeing him who is invisible. Nosotros fix our eyes on the ultimate, not the firsthand, on the eternal advantage rather than our temporal gain.

Faith recognises our dependence.

In simple religion the Israelites kept the Passover. The instructions were strange, the demands plush and the ritual unprecedented, but they did precisely as they were told. And then the people passed through the Ruddy Sea as an human activity of obedient and dependent faith.

Faith is undaunted, adventurous and diversified.

Jericho stood as a symbol of Canaan'southward invincible might, only after the walls had been encircled for seven days they fell. Although she lacked the religious identity and moral integrity of and so many of the heroes of this chapter, Rahab put her religion in their God and was delivered. She believed in God's power, so she dared to welcome the spies. Finally, 6 men are briefly mentioned, all vastly dissimilar in homo personality, social circumstances and spiritual opportunity, yet in diverse ways God used them."

Awarding QUESTION

"Look through the examples given in 11:17-32. How do they encourage y'all to persevere in faith?"

Lastly, Read Hebrews 11:33-forty

Alright! Yous're set up to read the last department of Hebrews xi. Are you lot ready? Verses 33-forty don't mention anyone past name. Instead, this passage covers some of the tragedies than many people of faith experienced.

Read Hebrews eleven:33-xl

Lastly, read this final department of commentary from the NIV Bible Speaks Today Written report Bible. It should exit you inspired in your faith, grateful that you can root your faith in Christ.

hall of faith hebrews 11

Unknown Conquerors and Sufficient Forcefulness

"In the verses which close the chapter we are introduced to a vast visitor whose names nosotros may never know, but whose heroic faith volition be non but remembered simply treasured. Past faith God's justice is enforced, God's promises are received and God'south power fabricated manifest, fifty-fifty in resurrection. Information technology is by such faith that weakness was turned to strength. Past faith people are enabled to cope with wild beasts, raging burn and aggressive warriors. In all these cases faith was a forceful, agile ingredient, and always essential to life.

The focus next turns to suffering for one's faith. In time of violent hostility and cruel persecution many were given the organized religion to cope heroically with torture, jeers and other sufferings. The world despised them, only was not worthy of them. In their moments of crisis, organized religion was imparted to them, by which they could evaluate the nowadays and conceptualize the future. These valiant men and women were given the strength to endure rather than to conquer. They turned agonising distress into triumphant achievement.

Rich as it was, all their faith was bars to the limits of the former covenant. It strained forwards to something better. They predictable the fulfilment of God's hope, the fuller revelation in Christ, but they did not witness its realisation. They could be fabricated perfect only as Christians are today; that is, past Jesus himself and his sacrifice."

APPLICATION QUESTION

"In what ways exercise the examples of perseverance given here encourage us to persevere? Faith looks to Christ and his sacrifice. How does this passage enable us to keep looking to Christ?"

NIV Bible Speaks Today Study Bible

Bible speaks today niv

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The study Bible, like the series, presents and explains the biblical text with accuracy, forth with relating it to gimmicky life. With over 2300 extracts, the written report Bible offers a wealth of information covering key themes and passages, along with insightful teaching and questions for group or personal study. The editorial team of experienced theologians, pastors and editors from the UK and the U.s.a. worked together to create a one-of-a-kind Bible study feel.

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