{"id":11808,"date":"2022-02-06T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/?post_type=ctc_sermon&#038;p=11808"},"modified":"2022-02-10T12:10:42","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T17:10:42","slug":"abraham-the-obedience-of-faith","status":"publish","type":"ctc_sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/sermons\/abraham-the-obedience-of-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Abraham: The Obedience of Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-gdm-google-drive-embedder-viewer\"><iframe width='100%' height='100' frameborder='0' scrolling='yes' src='https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1Tga9O2o-Fd0cLgQQRnJO4JFu3h0imQPM\/preview?usp=drivesdk' allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n<h4><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Read<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Hebrews 11:1<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2013<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">12:12<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Consider<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">This Sunday a four-week series of sermons begins based on Hebrews 11 and the first 12 <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">verses of Hebrews 12. This series is called<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201c<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The Faith Hall of Fame<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201d<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. My suggestion is <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">that you read from Hebrews 11:1<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2013<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">12:12 as preparation not only for this Sunday but for <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">this entire February series. This series will focus on four of the<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201c<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">heroes<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201d<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of biblical faith, <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Abraham, Moses, Rahab and Jesus. Jesus is called<\/span> <em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">the pioneer and perfecter of our faith <\/span><\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">(Hebrews 12:2) and that sermon leads into the series for Lent and Holy Week, also based <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">on Hebrews, Jesus is Greater. More about that in the Pathways newsletter for March 6.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Hebrews is in the Letters section of the New Testament and it might be true that copies <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">of Hebrews circulated through the churches beginning in the second half of that first <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">century A.D. Many scholars have guessed that Hebrews began its life as a sermon. <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Hebrews 11:32 sounds like the sort of thing a preacher would say<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2014<\/span><em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">And what more should <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon<\/span> <\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><em>etc.<\/em> Perhaps if one is writing a letter there is <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">concern about the amount of time taken, but time is much more likely to be a concern <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">when people are being asked to listen to a sermon.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Hebrews 11 begins with a definition of faith. That definition is well known.<\/span> <em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Now faith is <\/span><\/em><em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen<\/span><\/em> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">(Hebrews 11:1). This winter <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and early spring we are spending every Sunday talking about faith in one way or <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">another. And I suppose some of you might say the preacher talks about faith every <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Sunday, and that would be true to one degree or another. The reason for this is given to <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">us by the preacher of Hebrews. Look at Hebrews 11:6.<\/span> <em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">And without faith it is impossible to <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">please God, for whoever would approach him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who <\/span><\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><em>seek him<\/em>.<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">There is the reason why all those who are preaching in this series are anxious <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">to talk about faith, for unless you are a person of faith, and unless your faith finds its <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">focus in Jesus Christ, God<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2019<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">s Son and our Saviour, then it is impossible for you to please <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">God. Yes, we want us to be people of faith; we want our faith to grow; we want to be <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">those whose lives please God.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Our first faith hero is Abraham. He is the first great character of the Old Testament after <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">the stories of Noah and the Tower of Babel. Abraham is the patriarch of God<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2019<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">s people <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and he is the most unlikely of people to be the ancestor of a great multitude. But we are <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">told in Hebrews and in Genesis that Abraham responded to God with obedience. It is <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">almost as if the preacher of Hebrews says to the congregation,<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u201c<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">I can<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2019<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">t quite define what <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">faith is in the life of Abraham, but I can easily tell you what Abraham did as a result of <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">faith. Abraham and his wife Sarah, while not perfect, are obedient to God. Doing as God <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">asks is where we are going to start with our look at the Faith Hall of Fame. I hope you <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">will be watching the YouTube presentation at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" style=\"color: #999999;\" role=\"presentation\">The Rev. Dr. Bill Norman<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Pray<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Almighty God, our loving Father, infinite in majesty,<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">I humbly ask you for myself and for all your servants everywhere, that you would give <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">us a pure mind, perfect love, sincerity in conduct, purity in heart, strength in action, <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">courage in distress, self-command in character. May our prayers ascend to your gracious <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">ears and your loving benediction descend on us all, that we may in all things be protected <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">by your care.<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Remember all your people everywhere; give us all the grace of devotion to your will; <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">fulfill our desires with good gifts; and crown us with your mercy. When we serve thee <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">with faithful devotion, pardon our sins and correct us with fatherly tenderness. Grant <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">that, being delivered from all adversity, and both here and eternally justified, we may <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">praise you forever and ever, saying Holy, holy, holy; through Jesus Christ our Lord and <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Saviour, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, ever one God, without end. <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Adapted from an 8<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">th<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">century liturgy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Diving<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Deeper<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Can you think of a time when you demonstrated great faith in God? What was it that <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">prompted this faith? Was there a particular promise of God that came true for you at <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">that time?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Does Hebrews 11:1 strike you as an adequate or helpful definition of faith? What do you <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">think are the<\/span> <em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">things hoped for<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">and the<\/span> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">things not seen<\/span><\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Read Hebrews 11:8<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2013<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">12. What are the examples given that the preacher of Hebrews says <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">demonstrates Abraham<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u2019<\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">s faith? How are these stories helpful to you in your world as <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">you seek to live out your faith?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Our text describes Abraham and others <em>as<\/em><\/span><em> <span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">strangers and foreigners on the earth<\/span><\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">. Does that <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">describe you? Perhaps in this different time and place those words should not describe <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">faithful people. What do you think? Do we also<\/span> <em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">desire a better country, that is, a heavenly <\/span><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">one<\/span><\/em><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">How can we live closer<\/span> <strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">WITH<\/span> <\/strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">GOD in our lives?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">How are we being<\/span> <strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">TRANSFORMED<\/span> <\/strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">to be more like Christ?<\/span><br role=\"presentation\" \/><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">How is the Holy Spirit empowering us to imitate Christ in what we<\/span> <strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">DO<\/span> <\/strong><span dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">this week?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hebrews 11:8-22<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":11809,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","ctc_sermon_topic":[],"ctc_sermon_book":[36],"ctc_sermon_series":[522],"ctc_sermon_speaker":[484],"ctc_sermon_tag":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/11808"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ctc_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11808"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/11808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11846,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/11808\/revisions\/11846"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_topic?post=11808"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_book?post=11808"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_series?post=11808"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_speaker","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_speaker?post=11808"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scbc.com\/em\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_tag?post=11808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}