Monday, May 12, 2008

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets" (Hebrew 11:32).

IDEA: God focuses on faith, not our conduct, when he looks at us; but that doesn't mean that our conduct doesn't matter to God.

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that our relationship with God is based on faith and not on our actions.

Do you think God has standards?

Do you think He takes those standards seriously??

I. In Hebrews 11, the writer presents what has been called "an Honor Roll of Faith." Does it bother you that many of those selected were seriously flawed?

Noah got drunk and was involved in a sexual scandal.

Abraham lied about his wife and ran ahead of God to produce an heir.

Moses had a bad temper that kept him out of the land God had promised to his people.

Samson lived an undisciplined and somewhat profligate life.

Jephthah sacrificed his daughter to God when he won a great victory.

David's life was scandalized by adultery and murder.

II.  If God has standards, why do you think the writer of Hebrews ignored the sins of these people?

Do you think God ignored these people's sins? No and yes.

No, many of these people suffered the consequences of their sin.

Yes, God accepts all of us on the basis of our trust in Him.

Do you think any of this has anything to do with us today?