1. Look to Jesus

2. Today’s Focus: Witnesses

3. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Dear Heavenly Father, You are an amazing God. Thank you for sending your son to be our Savior. We are sorry for our sin. Help us learn from those who came before us so we can be more like Jesus and share the love He showed us. Please bless our time together. In Your Name, Amen. Opening Prayer

4. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

5. Witnesses Hebrews 12: 1a “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…” Today’s Focus

6. What can we learn from them? What is a witness? Who are these witnesses? Today’s Questions:

7. What is a witness? A witness is a person who testifies to something they have seen and know is true.

8. Who are these Witnesses? The author of Hebrews offers a partial list in Chapter 11.

9. Why Should we Care? We often rely on ourselves to make decisions, but the witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 11 show us that we should trust and rely on God. Our way doesn’t always work, God’s way does.

11. My name may mean vanity, breath, or vapor

12. I was the second child born in my family

13. I was probably a shepherd

14. I lived in what is now present-day Iraq or Iran

15. After I died my brother Seth was born

16. I can be found in Luke 11:51

17. And in Matthew 23:35

18. But most people know me from Genesis 4:1-8

19. I am Abel.

20. Think on it. Later in your small groups you will answer these questions: 1. Why was Abel mentioned as a witness in Hebrews 11? 2. What can we learn from Abel?

21. Witness Another Noah

22. That’s Pretty Neat! Hebrews 11:7 “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”

23. God said to Noah There’s gonna be a floody, floody. God said to Noah There’s gonna be a floody, floody. Rise and Shine Gen 6-8

24. Get those children Out of the muddy, muddy, Children of the Lord.

25. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

26. Noah, he built him, He built him an arky, arky. Noah, he built him, He built him an arky, arky. Made it out of gopher Barky, barky, Children of the Lord.

27. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

28. The animals, they came on, They came on by two-sies, two-sies. The animals, they came on, They came on by two-sies, two-sies. Elephants and Kangaroosies, roosies, Children of the Lord.

29. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

30. It rained and poured for forty daysies, daysies. Nearly drove those animals crazy, crazy. Children of the Lord.

31. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

32. Finally, yes finally, the rain did stoppy, stoppy. Landed on a mountain toppy, toppy, Children of the Lord.

33. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

34. The animals, the animals, They came off by threesies, threesies. The animals, the animals, They came off by threesies, threesies. Elephants and chimpanzeesies, zeesies. Children of the Lord.

35. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

36. The sun came out And dried out the landy, landy. The sun came out And dried out the landy, landy. Everything was Fine and dandy, dandy, Children of the Lord.

37. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

38. This is the end of, The end of our story, story. This is the end of, The end of our story, story. Everything is hunky-dory, dory, Children of the Lord

39. So, rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine And give God the glory, glory. Rise and shine And give God the glory, glory, Children of the Lord.

41. I did not die. God “took me away”

42. My father’s name was Jared

43. I lived in the Ancient Fertile Crescent

44. My most famous child was Methuselah

45. You can read about me in Jude 1:14-15

46. Noah was my great- grandson

47. I lived 365 years

48. Most people know me from the book of Genesis

49. I am Enoch.

50. Think on it. Later in your small groups you will answer these questions: 1. Why was Enoch mentioned as a witness in Hebrews 11? 2. What can we learn from Enoch?

51. Witness Another Abraham

52. That’s Pretty Neat! Hebrews 11:8-19 Left his home and went to a land God gave him His wife Sarah had a child even though she was old and barren He offered his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice when God tested him And because of his faith his descendants became as numerous as the stars

53. Father Abraham had many sons And many sons had father Abraham I am one of them, and so are you So let’s all praise the Lord! 1.Right Arm4. Left Foot 2.Left Arm5. Nod Your Head 3.Right Foot 6. Turn Around Father Abraham

54. Confession Unlike the witnesses we’ve looked at, we often rely on ourselves instead of on God. Let’s take a moment to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

55. Confession L: Let us make a confession of our sins. C: Merciful Father, we poor sinners confess that we are guilty of our sins. We sin when we try to rely on ourselves instead of on You. When we focus on ourselves we often hurt others and don’t do what you want us to do. Help us learn from those who have come before us so we can be more like Jesus. Lord, we are sorry and seek your forgiveness.

56. Forgiveness L: Our loving Father sees our pain and the pain we give to others. Christ lived, died, and rose again, so that there would be forgiveness to replace the hurts of our lives. Through the love and grace of Christ, we are forgiven. C: May we go out into the world knowing we are completely forgiven and that You will guide our thoughts and actions so that we can be more like Jesus. Amen!

58. I disobeyed God at Meribah

59. My parents were slaves

60. I carried a staff

61. I grew up in Egypt

62. I led people to the edge of Canaan

63. I spent a lot of time in the desert

64. I wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

65. With God’s help, I parted the Red Sea

66. I am Moses.

67. Think on it. Later in your small groups you will answer theses questions: 1. Why was Moses mentioned as a witness in Hebrews 11? 2. What can we learn from Moses?

68. Pharaoh, Oh baby, let my people go! (Oofta!) Ya, sure, you betcha. (repeat) Pharaoh, Pharaoh Ex. 3-15

69. Well, a burnin’ bush told me just the other day That I should come over here and stay. Got to get my people out of Pharaoh’s hand. And lead them all to the promised land!

70. Pharaoh, Oh baby, let my people go! (Oofta!) Ya, sure, you betcha. (repeat)

71. So me and God’s people comin’ to the Red Sea, And Pharaoh’s army comin’ after me. I raised my rod, stuck it in the sand, And all of God’s people walked upon dry land!

72. Pharaoh, Oh baby, let my people go! (Oofta!) Ya, sure, you betcha. (repeat)

73. Well, old Pharaoh’s army was a-comin’ too. So what do you think that I did do? I raised my rod, and I cleared my throat, And all of Pharaoh’s army Did the dead man’s float

74. Pharaoh, Oh baby, let my people go! (Oofta!) Ya, sure, you betcha. (repeat)

75. Witnesses Other Check Out Hebrews 11 to learn more! Sarah Isaac Jacob Joseph Joshua

76. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Lord’s Prayer

77. Read Hebrews 11  Make a list of everything you learned from those who have come before you.  Who are other ‘witnesses’ in the Bible who are not mentioned in Hebrews 11? What can you learn from them? Meet back in about 20 minutes Small Groups

78. What did you learn from the people mentioned in Hebrews 11? Who else did you list as ‘witnesses’ from the Bible that you can look to? What did you learn from them? Small Groups

79. Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

80. Pastor’s Message

81. Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.

82. Apostle’s Creed The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

83. Today’s Thought The Bible is filled with witnesses, people who have seen what God can do, yet we still have a hard time changing from relying on ourselves to relying on God. I challenge you to spend more time in the Word, in prayer, and in doing daily devotions to learn directly from God what his plans are for you. Switch from trying to tell God your plans to listening to God’s plans for you!

84. Men: Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. (repeat) Women: Walkin’ in the light, ooh-ooh, We can trust each other; We can trust each other; Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, We can see ourselves. We can see ourselves. Walkin’ in the Light Ps 89:15; Isa 2:5; 1 Jn 1:7

85. It’s a sad situation, People running scared. It’s a crazy mixed-up world Where there’s nothing to fear but fear. 2, 3, 4, What da ya think your feet are for?

86. Men: Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. (repeat) Women: Walkin’ in the light, ooh-ooh, We can trust each other; We can trust each other; Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, We can see ourselves. We can see ourselves.

87. We always walk in darkness, Forget about the day. We’re afraid to face our problems; We’re hoping they’ll go away! 2, 3, 4, What da ya think your feet are for?

88. Men: Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. (repeat) Women: Walkin’ in the light, ooh-ooh, We can trust each other; We can trust each other; Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, We can see ourselves. We can see ourselves.

89. So we finally pull our heads out, Pull ‘em from the sand. There’s light and warmth and sunshine, And it’s never dark again! 2, 3, 4, What da ya think your feet are for?

90. Men: Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. Walkin’, walkin’, walkin’ in the light. (repeat) Women: Walkin’ in the light, ooh-ooh, We can trust each other; We can trust each other; Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, Walkin’ n the light, ooh-ooh, We can see ourselves. We can see ourselves.

91. Closing L: Lets us fix our eyes on Jesus C: The author and perfecter of our faith L: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus C: So that we can be more like Him.

92. Benediction L: Jesus is here, Jesus is there, Jesus is everywhere, but especially, because He loves us, He lives right here in our hearts.