Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Adult Sunday School 22 July 2018 MESSIAH’S VISIBLE RETURN Zechariah 14:1-11 (KJV) 1Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For I will gather all nations against …
Looking Unto Jesus (1)
(The Author and Finisher of Our Faith)
OUTLINE
(1) Free Ourselves from Encumbering Sin
(2) Patiently Run the Race
(3) Look Forward to the Joy of the Prize
(4) Endure the Hardship
(5) Despise the Shame
INTRODUCTION
Our study of the life of men of faith finds its climax in Jesus Christ. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. By Him, we obtain faith and by Him these men finished the course of their lives in faith. He is our example par excellence. And this truth is spoken in Hebrew 12:12.
Carl McIntire observed well, “Hebrews, the eleventh chapter, is deprived of its glory and its meaning without the first two verses of the twelfth chaper…One may talk about faith, and present an abundance of illustrations, even a cloud of witnesses, but unless we have some knowledge as to where faith comes from we are in a blind alley. Is faith the product of man’s creation? Is it the result of some emotional state? Is it the consequence of logical conclusions? Who is to be praised for the glories of faith? These questions rise up and clamour for an answer. These is an answer! The Bible says Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of faith…The writer of Hebrws regards himself and his fellow sufferers as place in an arena, contending for a great prize. The image of the amphitheater with the rising rows of spectators seems to suggest the thought of an encircling cloud. The witnesses are those who have run the race in previous generations. Each has received a good report in victorious achievements or courageous suffering. Faith has been their stay. The apostle depicts the Christian as running a race, a course which has been laid out for him, not not by himself but by God…The central figure, however, in this amphitheater is not the one running. The writer would have us look ahead to the author and finisher of faith, Jesus Christ.”[1]
The Apostle Paul speaks of the reward for winning the race and urges us to press on!
Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Adult Sunday School 15 July 2018 AFFLICATION IS PURIFICATION Zechariah 13:1-9 (KJV) 1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for …
Hymns: 542 Saved by Grace, 445 O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, 411 Stand Up for Jesus
Hebrews 11:35b-40 (KJV)
KJV Hebrews 11:35b … and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Heb. 11:35b-40 KJV)
The Others’ Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Suffered Without Recourse
(2) Suffered Without a Better Promise
Hymns: 320 – ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, 335 Keep On Believing, 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail
Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell … of the prophets 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again:
The Prophets’ Faith (2)
OUTLINE
(1) Experience God’s Mighty Deliverance
INTRODUCTION
The writer of Hebrews sought to inspire his readers to understand the substance of faith through the trials of faithful men in the past by showing us their actions of faith.
We notice these trials were life-threatening. Exercising faith involves entrusting and surrendering our lives to God’s care even in the sight of imminent physical danger. Faith overcomes even men’s greatest fears, of pain, suffering to the point of death.
How is it possible to be still and not fret in the face of mortal danger? This is the substance of faith that the writer is drawing us to take hold of for our own lives, in our times.
Jesus gives words of comfort and encouragement to the persecuted in Matthew 5:10-12, “10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12 KJV)
Heavenly reward seemed so distant from the suffering saint, yet this is the substance of faith that God has us to take hold. The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides us with the substance of faith to have strong hope in the face even of the prospect of death.
Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Adult Sunday School1 July 2018 THE NATIONS ATTACK ISRAEL Zechariah 12:1-14 (KJV) 1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the …
Hymns: 418 O Jesus, I Have Promised, 337 Never Give Up, 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Hebrews 11:32g (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of prophets …
The Prophets’ Faith
OUTLINE
(1) Courage to Stand and Speak for God’s Honour
INTRODUCTION
God raised prophets, in the Old Testament time, to be His voice to His people, Israel, and to the world at large, as a witness to the words and works of the living and true God for His honour and glory. The prophets raised by God declared the will of God to His people so that they may be instructed to know the perfect will of God. Some were writing prophets like Moses (Pentateuch), Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets. And there are the 12 minor prophets. These are the writing prophets, there were the non-writing prophets like Gad (with David in the wilderness and rebuked David when he numbered the people, Nathan (David’s advisor and chastised David for adultery with Beersheba), Elijah, Elisha.
Hymns: 324 Simply Trusting, 205 Thine Is the Glory, 446 Lord Speak to Me
Hebrews 11:32f (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Samuel …
Samuel’s Faith
OUTLINE
Courage to Speak According to God’s Word
INTRODUCTION
Israel was ruled by her patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob before the period of 400 years of prophetic silence during the time of the Exodus when God raised Moses, Israel’s leader, the prophet of Israel, where Israel was a theocracy, God rules! Samuel was the last of the prophet from Moses to Samuel who bear rule in Israel before the people demanded a king, , before princes would rule Israel through her first king Saul, finally Israel will be ruled by priest after her exile from Babylon, from Joshua, the high priest during the time of Zerubabbel, to Caiphaias, during the time of Christ.
Samuel was born during the time when Eli was the high priest in Israel. However, Eli’s sons were no godly.