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A Promised �Community

Month 3| week 4: CONNECT

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WELCOME!

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In common

Let’s Play!

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Digging deeper

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Key idea

As we remain committed to spending time together, we grow spiritually.

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How did your community support you through a challenging time?

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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

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Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. ��

Hebrews 11:1-2

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By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:7-8,11

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And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again.

Hebrews 11:32-35

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These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39-40

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is there anything that connects you to their story?

These people lived centuries before you, but is there anything that connects you to their story? (Take a few moments for students to share.)

Despite their obvious differences, the bonds the people whose stories are mentioned here shared are startlingly clear. They acted by faith, and they trusted in a Kingdom that was unseen. Their belief in this eternal Kingdom was so strong that they hurled themselves into obedience to God in order to experience and advance that Kingdom.

Did you notice that it is only when we are all together that the Bible says these heroes of the faith will see the complete fulfillment of God’s promise. They saw the seas parting, armies falling, the dead brought to life and yet God reminds us that it is only when we are all united that the picture is made complete.

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So what…

How do these verses impact our view of God’s design for the church?

Tool time

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Key idea

God is the same yesterday and today.

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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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2

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For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Hebrews 12:2-4

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How does the faith of those who lived before us encourage us in our walk with God?

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What are some of the ways we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds?

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Key idea

The promises of God are for the whole church.

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Let’s pray

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Thanks

See you next time!