“A Legacy of Faith”
II. Some of the People of Faith
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September 24 & 25, 2016
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The Bible reading today … Hebrews, chapter 11 … is often referred
to as the Hall of Faith Chapter. The whole chapter lifts up the names of
many faithful leaders of the people of Israel; Noah, Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses and so on. It’s a great history of our people. Today
in many ways is a celebration of all those many people who served God
through St. Luke and Lincoln Heights church.
It’s all about faith. Chapter eleven is perhaps the best definition of
faith in the Bible.
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I. Faith - A Hope that Is Certain
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The Christian faith looks forward with more than a wistful longing.
Faith looks forward with certainty because the future belongs to God.
One of the greatest evidences of faith is the witness of all those who
have believed in Christ over the years.
The Christian hope is belief in God against the world.
In the Book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had the
choice of obeying Nebuchadnezzar or choosing God and a fiery furnace.
(Daniel 3)
Faith is always in motion, stepping out, doing God’s work.
Faith is coming together as God’s people. “Do not neglect to meet together as is the habit of some.” (Hebrews 10:25)
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Enoch is mentioned here and only one other place. “And Enoch
walked with God, and he was gone, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)
There’s only two people in the Bible who didn’t die on earth, Enoch
and Elijah. Elijah left earth on a chariot of fire.
Noah was a great example of faith to start building an Ark in a desert land.
Abraham was called to pull up stakes and move to a place he had
never been before.
God called many others like Sara and Isaac and Jacob and Moses.
God called many faithful folks in Nebraska to start churches and
build buildings and start ministries. We have all benefitted from
the faith of so many who have gone before us.
Prayer: Our Lord, thank you for the faith of many lay people and pastors
who have gone before us. We have been blessed by many saintly folks.
Sometimes it was difficult to keep going, but they did. Encourage our
faith by the legacy of faith we celebrate today. Amen.
Hebrews 11:1-8
(NRSV)
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by
faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by
the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received
approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he
still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not
found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had
pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach
him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned
by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household;
by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with
faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive
as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.