Finish up the Bible Plan “Why Easter” with us today…we’ll start a brand new plan tomorrow!
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JESUS
Hebrews 11:35-40, “But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”
Read the Why Easter? Bible Plan with us today!
Take communion together as a family, and remember the sacrifice, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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SAMSON
Hebrews 11:32-35, “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.”
Read Samson’s Story: Judges 13-16
Questions to consider:
What parts of Samson’s story can teach us what NOT to do?
Why is Samson still considered a hero of the faith?
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JEPHTHAH
Hebrews 11:32-35, “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.”
Read Jephthah’s story: Judges 10-12
Questions to consider:
What is Jephthah known for?
How can his faith teach us today?
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GIDEON
Hebrews 11:32-35, “How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.”
Read Gideon’s Story: Judges 6-9
Questions to Consider:
What is God speaking to you through Gideon’s story?
What can we learn about our need for Jesus in this story?
RAHAB
Hebrews 11:31, “It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
Rahab’s story: Joshua 2:1-3; 6:21-25
Questions to consider:
Why do you think Rahab did the right thing when no one else was?
What surprises you most about this story?
ISRAEL
Hebrews 11:29, “It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.”
Read Israel’s journey through the Red Sea: Exodus 13:17-15:21
Questions to consider:
What can we learn from Israel’s doubts in this story?
What are you going to remember for a long time about this story?
MOSES
Hebrews 11:24-28, “It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.”
Moses’ early story: Exodus 2:11-12:30
Questions to consider:
What can we learn about God’s character from the beginning of Exodus chapter 4?
How much faith do you think it would have taken to appear before Pharaoh?
MOSES’ PARENTS
Hebrews 11:23, “It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.”
Their story: Exodus 1-2:10
Questions to consider:
What is God speaking to you through this story?
What can we learn from the faith displayed here?
JOSEPH
Hebrews 11:22. “It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.”
Jospeh’s story: Genesis 37-50, especially Genesis 50:22-25
Questions to consider:
How do you think Joseph’s faith guided him in forgiveness?
What is God speaking to you about your faith, through Joseph’s story?
JACOB
Hebrews 11:21, “It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.”
Jacob’s story: Genesis 48.1-22
Questions to consider:
Why do you think the Bible included the words, “as he leaned on his staff”?
What can we learn from Jacob’s faith?
ISAAC
Hebrews 11:20, “It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.”
Isaac’s Story: Genesis 27:1-40
Questions to consider:
Why do “promised blessings” require faith?
What, from Isaac’s story, can apply to your life today?
SARAH
Hebrews 11:11-12, “It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.”
Sarah’s story: Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-8
Questions to consider:
Why do you think God blessed Sarah, even though she laughed?
What can we learn from Sarah’s faith?
ABRAHAM
Hebrews 11:8-10, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”
Hebrews 11:17-19, “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”
Abraham’s story: Genesis 12:1-9, 17:1-8 see also: Romans 4
Questions to consider:
How do you think Abraham kept going?
How does Abraham’s faith inspire your own?
NOAH
Hebrews 11:7, “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Noah’s story: Genesis 6:1-9:17
Questions to think about:
Why would it have been difficult for Noah to obey God?
What can we learn about faith from Noah?
ABEL
Hebrews 11:4. “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.”
Abel’s story: Genesis 4:1-16
Questions to think about:
Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God, and Cain’s wasn’t?
What can we learn about faith through Abel’s example?
