Pastor's Outlines

       By Faith- 7 TITLE: The Essence of Faith TEXT: Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:1-14 THESIS: The passage shows that the faithful worshipers will hold nothing back but will obediently give to God whatever he asks, trusting that “the Lord will provide.”   TRUTH: Last week, I spoke to you about Pilgrim's Progress. I want to start this morning by telling you a little story about the man who wrote the book. When John Bunyan was jailed for preaching the gospel, he became deeply concerned about his family. He was particularly grieved about his little blind daughter, for whom he had a special love. He wrote, “I saw in this condition I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the head of his wife and children. Yet, though I, I must do it; I must do it.” He truly embraced the hymn writer Cowper, “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.”   TRANSITION   ...

     By Faith -6 TITLE: The Journey of Faith TEXT: Hebrews 11:8-16 THESIS: The journey of faith requires embracing the unknown, living as pilgrims in a world that is not our home, and holding steadfast to God’s promises.   TRUTH: In the 1950s, Jim Elliot, along with a group of friends, felt called to share the Christian faith with the people of Ecuador, particularly the Huaorani (or Waodani), who were known for their resistance to outside contact.   Jim Elliot and his companions -Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian -prepared extensively, learning the language and culture, all the while believing that their mission was divinely ordained. The Huaorani lived deep in the jungle and had little interaction with the outside world, leading a lifestyle that was both rich and yet marked by violence and fear of outsiders.   After months of planning and a few successful initial contacts from the air, the group d...

     By Faith- 5 TITLE: The Witness of Faith TEXT: Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:13-22 THESIS: Noah's testimony is a significant illustration of the characteristics of saving faith, showing that true faith is reflected in the believer's actions. These qualities include preparation for judgment, perseverance in the face of ridicule, protection from God, proclamation of righteousness, and praise to God.   TRUTH: The first part of Hebrews 11 focused on faith and the things unseen (vv. 1-7). It now concludes with the example of Noah. Like Abel, Noah was a righteous man (Genesis 6:9; 7:1). He walked with God (Gen. 6:9), as did Enoch. What is singled out here is that when God warned Noah about things not yet seen , he responded obediently to God’s word and began to make practical preparations for the day when that word would come true. Noah, then, is the first of the attested witnesses whose faith meant taking God at His word, a faith that is clearly ...