1. a look at Heb 10:19 - 12:13

2. 1 Cor 13:13 Each one of these has its own chapter in scripture Faith (Heb 11) Hope (1 Cor 15) Love (1 Cor 13) A closer look at Hebrews passage on faith

3. General outline The mission of Christ The Priesthood of Christ Specific breakdown Heb 10:19 Therefore brethren Because of what we have in Christ let us… draw near (Heb 10:22) hold fast (Heb 10:23) consider one another (Heb 10:24-25) not turn back (Heb 10:26-31) all remember what we have already been through (10:32-39) consider the example of … (Heb 11) hang tough no matter what (Heb 12)

4. Key issue vs 23 …hold fast…without wavering… Price for turning back is very high (vs 26-31) Experienced trials before (vs 32-34) There is a reward (vs 35) Promises are fulfilled (vs 36) His coming will straighten out everything (vs 37) We are to live by faith (vs 38-39)

5. Abel vs 4 Enoch vs 5 Abraham vs 8-10 & 17-19 Sarah vs 10 Isaac vs 20 Jacob vs 21 Joseph vs 22 Moses vs 23-29 Rahab the harlot vs 31 Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel & prophets vs 32-34 Unnamed people of faith vs 35-40 More in Heb 12

6. Common people can stand strong These were not all heroes in the rest of their lives Got drunk & committed incest Characterized by deception Lied about his wife Murdered another Prostitute Womanizer Adulterer You dont have to be someone special to stand in faith

7. Common people, such as Abraham, triumphed Move without a destination (Gen 12:1-4) Acceptance of a physical impossibility (Gen 17:15-19) Accepts anything is possible with God Offering only son (Gen 22:1-5) Encouragement to hang on in the face of trouble Triumphant in the end (Heb 11:13) To do right when it is difficult or trying Sometimes things dont work out (Heb 11:35-37) They all obtained a good report (Heb 11:39)

8. The entire passage is designed to teach how faith operates, what faith can do for us, and what faith can accomplish through us. The readers were facing hard times that were not self-created, and they were considering just giving up and turning back. The writer is encouraging them to keep on going. If they could hang in with what they faced (and if the people in chapter 11 could hang in with what they faced), then surely we can find the strength, through faith, to hang on in our situations. -- Wood