Summary

Rahab is as unlikely a person of faith as you could imagine. She’s a Gentile--the only Gentile mentioned in this list; and not only that, she’s a citizen of Jericho, the enemy Canaanite city that opposed Israel’s possession of the Promised Land. She’d grown up worshiping idols, with no knowledge of the living God. And on top of all that, she was a prostitute. And yet, Hebrews 11 lists Rahab as one of the great all- time heroes of faith.

Sermon Questions

1. When you hear Rahab described as “the prostitute,” what emotions or assumptions surface? Why do you think Scripture continues to mention her past even in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Matthew 1:5)? What does that say about how grace works?
2. What did Rahab believe about God — before she ever met God’s people? What makes her faith remarkable when you consider her background, her culture, and her city?
3. Hebrews 11:31 says Rahab was saved. What did she need saving from? In what ways does Rahab show us that faith always involves trust + obedience? Where is God calling you to trust Him before you see the outcome?
4. Rahab goes from:Prostitute → Protector of God’s People; Outsider → Ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) What does her transformation teach us about how God sees people? How might this challenge how we see others in our community, church, or neighborhood?
5. If Rahab walked into our church today, how would she be received? What are some attitudes or habits we need to repent of in order to be a true Church of Refuge? Where is God calling us to extend grace before someone “gets their life together”?