Commentary On 9-9-12, Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Faith Gives Assurance aka Faith is Assurance.

Faith Gives Assurance

Aka

Faith is Assurance

Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

International Sunday School Lesson

September 9, 2012

By

Jed Greenough

Whether rich or poor or somewhere in between I hope that you had the type of childhood where you had someone in your life such as both parents, grandparents or even just one individual that you could put your faith in growing up.  Some didn’t I know and now you are in a position “to make up for it” because now someone is putting their faith in you.

It doesn’t matter whether we are a teacher, an electrician, a pastor, a stay at home parent or in a sales position,  the person who has faith in you knows that you will take care of them when it counts.  They know that you will be there when they are sick or hurt or hungry or scared.  You are like a momma grizzly is with her cubs.

Now let’s imagine this scenario.  Let’s say you have dutifully been there for a child for 20 years.  You came to every program, you missed work, and you went without things so that they would not go without.  You made costumes at the last minute, you used your funds you’d been saving for your own needs to buy those suddenly wore out shoes a replacement.  You went out in the rain at 1:30 in the morning because of car trouble, you went into debt for them and you defended their position when at times they may have been in the wrong.

Then one day you come under attack.  You are accused of never having been there or some other grossly inaccurate accusation.  Before this their faith in you wasn’t an issue it was a given, just like breathing.  How does it feel?  It certainly doesn’t feel good and why does it happen?  Why do some continue to have faith and others not?

Children are faithful, I know that, and we know that rather than change as we age we all should remain the same so that what it says in Mark 10:15 can always be true of us when we read, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

But yet the statistics show us clearly that our children who are raised in church go from, “Jesus loves me this I know.  For the Bible tells me so.”  To saying there is no God at an incredibly high rate these days.

And God for millennia now has received daily over and over again this callous display like the scenario we described above yet He is always there for us.  He has protected and blessed, healed and given in ways that go unknown and unthanked up to the ultimate giving up of His son.  But we question His ability, His motives and His existence; of course this is displeasing to Him.

In the scenario above where you or I may have come under attack after having always been there for someone we were hurt.  However, if that person came back to us with a penitent heart we would lovingly take them back and be there for them just as we always have been there.

So it is with God for those that need to be reminded.  He has always been there and we need to always be there too.  It certainly is not pleasing to him if we are constantly seesawing up and down in our faith in Him.  We must have the daily faith of a child who just like they breathe so they believe.

For Discussion:

1.     Have individuals discuss the strength and weakness that they have had in their faith.

2.     Discuss examples of people with strong faith.

3.     Discuss why you think some people can easily accept God’s creation of everything while others cannot.

4.     As we consider Hebrews 11:1 we must honestly admit that there are some aspects of our faith that are more strong, or to use the words of the verse, sure and certain than others.  Discuss.

5.     Here are several verses that fit in with today’s scripture: Romans 8:24, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 3:6, and Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 10:39.

6.     Discuss the role of God in an individual’s faith.

7.     Have individuals discuss what things that they are hoping for that that they have faith they will one day see or receive.

8.     The postings for 9-16 and 9-23 may be delayed as I will have difficulty obtaining Internet access but I will endeavor to get it to you in a timely manner.  If you want them before 9-7 you can certainly shoot me an email.  Thanks and blessings, Jed.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries

9-16-12:  Faith Empowers Endurance aka Faith is Endurance Hebrews 12:1-11

9-23-12:  Faith Inspires Gratitude Hebrews 12:18-29

9-30-12:  Faith Instills Love aka Faith Requires Mutual Love Hebrews 13:1-3, 6; 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

10-7-12:  Stephen Defends His Faith aka Stephen’s Arrest and Speech Acts 6:8-7:2a, 22, 44a, 45b-49 or Acts 6:8-7:2a

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved