Untitled Sermon (46)

Faith's Journey: Our Road of Trust

Bible Passage: Hebrews 11:39–40

Summary: Hebrews 11:39–40 reflects on the culmination of faith where the faithful of old did not receive the fullness of God’s promises in their lifetimes, emphasizing that they, along with us, are part of a greater journey of faith.

Application: This passage encourages believers to understand that their struggles, seasons of waiting, and the realities of life are interconnected with a larger story of faith. It offers hope that our current hardships align with the faithful experiences of those who have gone before us, inspiring us to endure and trust in God’s ultimate plan.

Teaching: The sermon emphasizes that faith is a journey shared across generations, and believers today can learn from the examples of the faithful. It illustrates that while we may not see immediate results or answers to our prayers, God is faithful and we are part of His grand narrative.

How this passage could point to Christ: As the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises, Jesus stands as the pinnacle of faith. In Him, we see both the realization of the promises made to the ancients and the assurance that our hopes in Him are valid and will come to fruition in God’s timing.

Big Idea: Although we may feel disconnected in our faith journey, we are united with the faithful of the past, showing that persistence in faith leads to ultimate fulfillment within God's story.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider delving into the historical context of Hebrews to understand the audience's struggles with faith. You might explore how the examples from Hebrews 11 serve as a bridge to contemporary faith struggles. Utilizing your Logos library, examine commentaries that highlight the original Greek terms and their implications for understanding faith and inheritance in God's promise.

1. Perseverance of the Past

Hebrews 11:39

Perhaps you could explore how the faith of the ancients demonstrates trust in God despite not receiving the promises in their lifetime. The emphasis may be on their perseverance and commitment to God's plan, trusting His timing beyond their understanding. By illustrating their faith journey, we might gather strength to endure our own periods of waiting and apparent silence from God, knowing that such endurance is part of our shared faith heritage. You might suggest that we too are called to such faithfulness, holding the bigger picture of God’s narrative in mind.

2. Purpose of the Present

Hebrews 11:40

You could discuss how verse 40 reveals God's intent for something greater that involves both the faithful of the past and present. By underscoring how these ancient faith stories are not just historical tales but part of a collective faith journey that believers today continue, we find unity and encouragement. The Christocentric perspective could highlight Jesus as the fulfillment of these promises, uniting all believers in one grand story. You might encourage believers to see their struggles as part of God's unfolding plan, trusting in Christ for ultimate fulfillment.

 The word “Year” is defined- as the time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the Sun. A year comprises seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months that formulate a year. There are 12 months, 52 weeks, 7 days in each week, 24 hours each day, 168 hours a week, 730 hours in a month, and 8,760 hours in a year totaling 365 days. Today we celebrate the 157th anniversary of Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church’s existence. So Happy Birthday Day Brown Chapel! The year was 1868, and the American Civil War had come to an end and the Reconstruction era had begun. Oftentimes, with the permission of Union Army officials, AME clergy moved into the states of the collapsing Confederacy to pull newly freed slaves into their denomination. “I Seek My Brethren,” the title of an often repeated sermon that Theophilus G. Steward preached in South Carolina, became a clarion call to evangelize fellow blacks in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and many other parts of the South. Brown Chapels’ founding father is the late Reverend Brown, the cousin of Casey Brown Sr., who moved from North Carolina to South Carolina in the Bucksville Community of Horry County. Before he came, local African Americans worshiped with white people at the Hebron Methodist Church just a half mile away from here on Bucksville Drive. The Civil War was over, and the Reconstruction era was in full swing. 81 years before Brown Chapel was established, Richard Allen and his friends were pulled from the alter rail while praying at St. George Methodist Church in Philadelphia Pensivanlya. Because of the harsh treatment and humiliation, no longer did Richard Allen and his friends want to endure worship restrictions and limits from whites during worship services. Richard Allen along with Aslom Jones, William White, and Dorus Ginnings sparked the movement of the Free African Society that evolved into what is now known as the AME Church. Reverend Brown knew of Bishop Richard Allen's struggles in starting the church and understood that African Americans needed the Word of God and leadership in their communities before Sunday service. The mission of AME Pastors of that day was to assist in abolishing Slavery, Helping blacks to help themselves, and to provide help one to another. Reverend Brown knew the mission and was inspired by God to establish this great Church. Reverend Brown knew that his people were not going to sit in the back of anybody's Church to worship the Lord, so a spark was ignited and the work began. It was by faith that Reverend Brown and others put their minds and hands to the construction of Brown Chapel AME Church. Since its inception, 30 Pastors have assumed the responsibility to lead Brown Chapel AME Church by faith. The theme for today's celebration is “We have come this far by Faith!” Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," provides a sweeping overview of Old Testament figures who demonstrated unwavering faith in God. It begins by defining faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".

The chapter then recounts the acts of faith of numerous individuals, including:

Abel: Offered a better sacrifice than Cain.

Enoch: Walked with God and was taken without experiencing death.

Noah: Built an ark to save his family from the flood.

Abraham: Left his home and went to a land God promised him, even though he didn't know where he was going.

Sarah: Had a child despite her old age.

Isaac: Blessed his sons.

Jacob: Blessed the sons of Joseph.

Joseph: Gave instructions concerning his bones.

Moses: Chose to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Rahab: Sheltered the spies.

The chapter also mentions other unnamed individuals who accomplished extraordinary feats through faith, such as conquering kingdoms, administering justice, gaining promises, shutting the mouths of lions, quenching the power of fire, escaping the edge of the sword, and becoming mighty in war.

Our Sermonic text is found in verse 40 which says, God having provided some better thingfor us, that they without us shouls not be made perfecrt.

The author concludes by emphasizing that all these people died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar. They acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth, longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

The overall message of Hebrews 11 is to encourage the Body of Christ to persevere in their faith, even when facing difficulties. It reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, and that we too can live lives of faith that please God. Reverend Brown was How is Your Road Work?

During a marathon, runners often face moments of doubt and fatigue. One runner, struggling in the final miles, recalled Philippians 3:14, urging himself to press on towards the goal for the prize of God's heavenly calling. With each step, he drew strength from his faith, pushing through not just for himself, but as a testament to those who celebrate his journey. Like this runner, our faith can propel us to overcome obstacles in our lives, even when the path feels overwhelming.