Cultivating the Core Ingredient of the Christian Life
Biblical faith is more than “wishing” or “believing” it is a sincere & reasonable confidence in truth that leads to action and ultimately to God’s reward.
Series: Ambitious Faith
Cultivating a Tenacious Trust in a Powerful God
April 15, 2007
• Hebrews 11:1-40
In this thirteen-part study of Hebrews 11, Pastor Mike explores the life-changing virtue of trusting God with a bold confidence. Discover that biblical faith is more than the beginning of the Christian life and that cultivating a tenacious trust in God is actually the key to being and doing all that God intended for us.
Boldly Trusting in God's Ability to Create
Hebrews 11:3
It is reasonable and required that we Christians have a faith that is ambitious enough to boldly affirm the biblical record of God’s personal and instantaneous creation of the universe.
Trusting God Enough to Give Him Our Best
Hebrews 11:4
Perceiving God’s greatness and generosity should bolster our faith to ambitiously give God our best efforts, best behavior and best gifts.
Ardently Seeking a Deeper Relationship with God
Hebrews 11:5-6
Because we are not yet glorified, we Christians must work to achieve the joy and satisfaction of knowing God more intimately on a day-to-day basis.
Believing All of God's Promises About the Future
Hebrews 11:7
We must boldly in trust God’s promises about the future seeking to be prepared and to prepare as many as possible to experience God’s grace instead of his judgment.
Boldly Following God's Path for My Life
Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
Christ has called us to follow him wherever that might lead; we should do so fearlessly, fueled by a focus on our eternal home.
Trusting God When Hope Seems Lost
Hebrews 11:11-12, 17-19
We must tenaciously trust in the goodness of God even when he makes us wait for his perfect timing or introduces a divinely designed detour.
Living & Dying with Biblical Confidence
Hebrews 11:20-22
God would have us exercise ambitious faith in boldly asking him for Christ?s work to thrive beyond the confines of our local geography and limited lifespan.
Courage to Do the Right Thing
Hebrews 11:23-26
God requires ambitious faith to boldly face the consequences and temporary deprivation of resolutely pursuing a righteous life and saying no to the lure of sin.
Trusting God When Your Back's Against the Wall
Hebrews 11:27-29
When problems, pressures or people are pitted against you and they threaten to do you harm, make sure you’re right with God, focus on him and leave your opponents for him to deal with.
Embracing the Unconventional & the Unexpected
Hebrews 11:30-31
Often it takes ambitious faith to obey God’s counter-intuitive commands or accept the way he lavishes his grace on the unworthy.
Attempting Great Things for God
Hebrews 11:32-35a
God would have us exercise ambitious faith to courageously step up to do his will no matter how difficult or intimidating it may be, knowing that he takes care of his servants.
Looking Past the Pain to the Prize
Hebrews 11:35b-40
Ambitious faith will likely bring extraordinary suffering, but we can be sure God will compensate it and continue to comfort us by the security we have in Christ.