We conclude our current study in Hebrews this Sunday with a look at Hebrews 12:1-13. After giving us all these examples of the faith the writer says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..." Read the text - what are these people witnesses to? What does it mean that we are surrounded by them? And what is the central answer to this - since we are "surrounded" by "witnesses" like Abraham and Moses and so many others - so what? What does the text call us to do with this?

This week we look at a series of brief examples of faith found in Hebrews 11:24-40. Read the text and make two lists - one with the positive things that came from faith and one with the negative. Have any of these shown up in your life? Why do you think the text makes a point of bringing up examples of people who suffered dramatically because of their faith along with stories like the Red Sea, Rahab and the walls of Jericho where there was dramatic deliverance?

This week we look at the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses' Parents. How did the faith of our spiritual fathers affect their biological children? Read Hebrews 11:17-23 - what does it teach you about how to help those you have influence over, especially your children grow in their faith?

This week we are learning about faith from "Father Abraham" in Hebrews 11:8-19. Take some time to read the text along with Genesis 12:1-4. What promises did God make to Abraham? What did Abraham have to do in trusting those promises? What promises has God made to you? What risks do those require?

This week we will take a look at examples of faith by our biblical forefathers. What did faith produce in these men and how can we walk in faith as they did. Take a look at Hebrews 11:4-7.

What is Faith?

We are concluding our study of the fear of God this Sunday with a look at Proverbs 14:26 which says, "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence..." Where do you draw your confidence from? How can the fear of the Lord give a person "strong confidence"? Consider the question posed to Job in Job 4:6, "Is not the fear of the Lord your confidence?"

This Sunday we will be examining Proverbs 14:27's claim that "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life..." As you consider this passage - what gives you life? what drains your life? How is a healthy fear of the Lord a fountain of life for us?

This week we continue our examination of the fear of the Lord with a look at Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil." When you think of evil, what do you think of? What evil do you find in your life? How does the fear of the Lord produce "hatred" for evil (not people but evil itself)? Read Proverbs 3:7 and Proverbs 16:6. 

This week we continue our study of the Fear of the Lord in scripture with a consideration of Proverbs 9:10 which tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." Take some time and prayerfully consider what the difference is between knowledge and wisdom. How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? Read Job 28:28, Proverbs 3:7; 15:33, and 1 Corinthians 3:19 for further understanding.