Summary

The author of Hebrews organizes Abraham’s life around three tests that God put him through to see whether he had true faith. Testing, as you know, is an essential part of growth. Sometimes when you’re cooking something you have to test to see if it’s done. My grandmom used to use a little timer when she was baking a cake—the old-school kind where when it got to the end it would go, “ding!” Trials are God’s “fork” to see whether our faith is really done.

Sermon Questions

1. What does Hebrews 11 highlight about Abraham’s faith in leaving his homeland and going “without knowing where he was going” (v. 8)?
2. What part of Abraham’s faith journey do you most identify with—stepping into the unknown, waiting on promises, or surrendering something dear to God? Why?
3. Abraham’s faith was not perfect, but it was persistent. What encouragement does this give you in your own walk with God?
4. Where might God be calling you to step out in obedience even when you don’t see the full picture?
5. How can we cultivate a mindset like Abraham’s—looking forward to “a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God”?