Community Note
The end of the fall small group term is approaching quickly. The last day of the scheduled term is November 14th. Groups are free, of course, to meet throughout the holiday season as they’d like, but make time to set a plan together in advance of the term’s end.
Sermon Recap
Hebrews 11 invites us to consider the question, “What is faith?” It opens with what seems to be a concise definition (vs 1) but translating the Greek terms and understanding the meaning has been notoriously difficult. Thankfully, the chapter lays out a pattern of how people in the biblical story lived “by faith”. In this way, faith is displayed.
Reading through the stories given, a pattern emerges: call, consider, respond. It’s seen clearly in the story of Abraham (vs 8-19). By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place he would receive as an inheritance. By faith, he received the power of procreation even though he was too old and Sarah herself was barren because he considered him faithful who promised.
It starts with a call – God graciously revealing Himself and reaching out to us, as he has in Jesus. But faith is not a blind response – it considers. (See verses 11, 19, 26). It includes thinking, weighing, counting the cost. The parallel word in Hebrew points to how believable or how faithful the one you are leaning on actually is.
Faith combines the reality of being convinced with the response of having to decide. That response is the 3rd movement in the rhythm of faith: call, consider, respond.
Faith rests on what cannot be seen but is displayed in what can be seen. Like Jesus seeing faith in the actions of the men who tore up a roof and lowered their friend to him. Or in a quieter way, in the actions of the parents of Moses, whose story is told in a single sentence in verse 23. They heard no audible voice but looked at their son the way God looks at creation. They considered God’s word heavier than the word of Pharaoh, and so responded in faith by protecting their son. You don’t have to hear a voice to hear the call of God.
In light of this, how might you write your own entry into the list of Hebrews 11? Even in the time of writing, for some their entries looked like a highlight reel (see vs 33-34) and for some, the story seems to end tragically (vs 36-37). “Yet all of these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised” (vs 39).
The author of Hebrews is writing to people who once endured a time of deep struggle but now they are tired and thinking of shrinking back. So the pastor says, “Hold on.” The one who has promised is faithful. You heard the call once. Do it again. In all of his theological conversations about angels and the priesthood and heavenly sacrifices – he is pleading with his people to hear the call again and consider Jesus again. Respond again.
Call – consider – respond is not a line you walk once. It is a rhythm, like walking a circle where you go around again and again. The repeating rhythm is how you move from having faith to being faithful.
Sometimes we feel a deep longing for our lives to be different and we might name it as a lack of faith. But – what if, just as often, the longing might be in us because of faith? Like those who desired a better country (vs 13), we, too, might be feeling the God-given longing for his kingdom, a gut-level ache for the home God has promised.
Faith, said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is the daily bread God gives like manna. “Either we receive it daily or it rots…Every morning in your life the same prayer will be necessary. I believe, dear Lord, help my unbelief.”
Entering Conversation
Feel free to use any or all of these questions - or your own – in any order. The goal of our talking together is not merely better understanding, but to help us respond to what we have heard. Always, share as much or as little as you are comfortable with.
(NB: Some groups are giving intentional time this term to learning each other’s stories. If so, feel no pressure to also attempt a weekly sermon discussion. Let stories be told, maybe followed by a prayer of blessing over those who shared this week.)
Faith is difficult to define. Before Sunday’s sermon, how might you have defined faith? Has it changed over time?
Who in your own life has displayed for you what faith looks like? What did you see in them?
Think back to a time you heard God’s call clearly. Where were you? What was going on in your life?
Faith is described as the rhythm of call – consider – respond. Do you feel like you are in a moment right now that aligns with one of those beats? Is there a way we might join with you in it?
It is a challenging ask to write yourself into Hebrews 11, but worth the wrestling. Take 5 minutes of quiet and allow each member to attempt it. Invite people to share their words, as they feel ready and/or comfortable.
David asked whether some of our aching for life to be different might be coming from a place of faith rather than from the absence of faith. Is there an ache in your life right now? Does this reframe change the way you name the ache?
If specific needs were shared this week, it might be appropriate to talk through ways of practically responding, ways of stepping toward each other in relationship.
End your time by praying together. If specific concerns were shared, name them as you’re able and trust them to God’s care. Wrap up your time in prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer together, including kids if appropriate to your group.