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By Faith Abraham
(Hebrews 11:8–10)
Introduction
Hebrews 11:8–10 shows Abraham answering God’s call, dwelling in
promise by faith, and looking for the city with foundations, whose
builder and maker is God.
Called Out by God
The Lord confronted Abraham with a holy summons: leave country,
kindred, and father’s house for a land He would show (Genesis
12:1–5). The call required separation and trust. Abraham received
the word, believed the promise, and acted decisively. Scripture
later urges Christians to the same separation of life unto God:
“Come out from among them and be separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17–18).
Faith responds to revelation with obedient movement. Abraham
gathered his household and set his feet toward Canaan because he
trusted the One who spoke.
Obedient Faith in Motion
Hebrews 11 opens the tent flaps of Abraham’s journey: he went out
without knowing the destination, and he lived as a pilgrim in the
land of promise with Isaac and Jacob (Hebrews 11:8–9). The path was
unfamiliar, yet the Promiser was faithful. Paul celebrates this
certainty: Abraham was fully convinced that what God promised He was
able to perform (Romans 4:18–21). True faith receives God’s promise
as reality and aligns conduct to match it. Faith listens, believes,
and obeys.
Promises That Shape a Household
God pledged three great gifts: a people, a land, and a blessing for
all families of the earth through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:2–3).
Abraham carried these promises into his home, teaching Isaac and
Jacob to trust the Lord’s word even when fulfillment seemed distant
(Hebrews 11:9). Parents of faith cultivate a family culture of trust
in God’s promises, speaking Scripture over the next generation and
ordering life around the Lord’s agenda.
Strength for the Impossible
The promise of a child rose above human limitation. Sarah received
strength to conceive because she considered Him faithful who had
promised (Hebrews 11:11–12). Abraham believed in the God who gives
life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist
(Romans 4:17). Faith gazes upon the Promiser and finds strength to
walk through impossibility. Multitudes came from one who was “as
good as dead,” a living testimony to the power of God’s word.
Pilgrims Seeking a City
Abraham pitched tents in Canaan and lifted his eyes toward a city
with foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).
This hope reaches its fullness in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city
of the living God (Hebrews 12:22). Believers confess that here we
have no continuing city; we seek the city to come (Hebrews 13:14).
John was given a vision of that holy city descending out of heaven
from God, radiant with His glory (Revelation 21:10–11). Those who do
His commandments have the right to the tree of life and may enter
through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14). Faith keeps the
eyes lifted toward that promised homeland.
Faith, the Gospel, and New Life
The gospel calls every soul to the obedience of faith. On Pentecost,
believers asked, “What shall we do?” and were instructed to repent
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism saves because God has joined forgiveness
to obedient faith; the power rests in His promise and in the blood
of Christ (1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3–4). The Lord still calls His
people to a distinct walk—separate from the world’s passions,
devoted to His will, and traveling as pilgrims toward the better
country.
By Faith, Abraham Sermon Outline:
(Hebrews 11:8–10)
Text and Theme
- Primary Text: Hebrews 11:8–10
- Theme: Abraham exemplifies obedient
faith that leaves, lives as a pilgrim, and looks for the city
with foundations.
Purpose and Proposition
- Purpose: Call hearers to respond to
God’s word with decisive obedience and enduring hope.
- Proposition: Faith believes God’s
promise, obeys God’s command, and seeks God’s city.
I. The Divine Call and Decisive Obedience
(Genesis 12:1–5; Hebrews 11:8; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18)
- A. The Call Described (Genesis 12:1)
- Leave country, kindred, and father’s
house at God’s word.
- B. The Promises Declared (Genesis
12:2–3)
- A great nation; a great name;
universal blessing through Abraham’s seed.
- C. The Obedience Demonstrated (Genesis
12:4–5; Hebrews 11:8)
- He departed at seventy-five; obedience
without full sight of the destination.
- D. The Separation Directed (2
Corinthians 6:17–18)
- God’s people are called to be set
apart unto Him.
- E. Application
- Identify what God’s word calls you to
leave, and step forward in obedience.
II. Faith in Motion: Pilgrim Life in the
Land of Promise (Hebrews 11:9; Genesis 12:5)
- A. Tents and Trust
- Dwelling in tents shows loosened grip
on earth and tightened grip on promise.
- B. Generational Faithfulness
- Living with Isaac and Jacob “heirs
with him of the same promise” (Hebrews 11:9).
- C. Application
- Order the home around God’s promises;
model pilgrim priorities before the next generation.
III. The Character of the Promiser Fuels
Endurance (Romans 4:17–21)
- A. Who God Is
- The One who gives life to the dead and
calls things into being (4:17).
- B. What Faith Does
- Hopes against hope; does not waver;
grows strong; gives glory to God (4:18–20).
- C. Why Faith Endures
- Fully convinced God is able to perform
what He has promised (4:21).
- D. Application
- Fix confidence on God’s ability, not
on visible circumstance.
IV. Strength for the “Impossible” Promise
(Hebrews 11:11–12)
- A. Sarah’s Strength Received
- She considered Him faithful who
promised and conceived by God’s enabling.
- B. Multitudes from One
- As many as the stars and sand from one
“as good as dead.”
- C. Application
- Seek strength from the Lord to obey
when fulfillment appears beyond human power.
V. The Pilgrim’s Horizon: The City With
Foundations (Hebrews 11:10; 12:22; 13:14; Revelation
21:10–11; 22:14)
- A. Abraham’s Sightline (Hebrews 11:10)
- The city with foundations, whose
builder and maker is God.
- B. The Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews
12:22)
- The city of the living God, home of an
innumerable company.
- C. Seeking the City to Come (Hebrews
13:14)
- No continuing city here; hearts set on
the promised one.
- D. Vision and Entrance (Revelation
21:10–11; 22:14)
- The holy city radiant with God’s
glory; entrance granted to doers of His commandments.
- E. Application
- Aim decisions at heaven’s foundations;
invest life in what endures.
VI. The Gospel Pattern of Obedient Faith
(Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3–4; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18)
- A. The Call Heard
- “What shall we do?”—the heart awakened
to God’s word.
- B. The Response Given (Acts 2:38)
- Repent and be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for forgiveness; receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
- C. The Meaning Affirmed (1 Peter 3:21)
- Baptism saves as an appeal to God
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- D. The New Life Walked (Romans 6:3–4)
- Buried with Christ in baptism; raised
to walk in newness of life.
- E. The Separated Life Continued (2
Corinthians 6:17–18)
- Consecrated living that keeps step
with the initial obedience.
- F. Application
- Embrace the full pattern of faith:
hear, trust, obey, and walk in newness of life.
VII. Practical Applications for Disciples
- A. Daily Obedience
- Practice prompt obedience to Scripture
in ordinary tasks.
- B. Family Discipleship
- Read, pray, and teach promises at
home; shape habits around worship and service.
- C. Stewardship and Generosity
- Use resources like
pilgrims—open-handed toward God’s mission.
- D. Perseverance
- Return to God’s promises in seasons of
delay; strengthen faith by giving glory to God.
- E. Witness and Hope
- Speak the promise of the city with
foundations; invite others into gospel obedience.
VIII. Questions for Self-Examination
- Where is God calling me to step out in
obedience?
- Which habits keep me anchored to earth
more than to promise?
- How am I discipling my household in
pilgrim hope?
- Have I obeyed the gospel as taught by the
apostles?
Call to Action
Answer God’s call as Abraham did. Receive His word, trust His
promise, and move in obedient faith. Turn from sin, confess Jesus as
Lord, and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Walk
as a pilgrim whose hope is set on the city with foundations,
ordering every decision by the promises of God.
Key Takeaways
- Faith obeys God’s call with decisive
movement (Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 12:1–5).
- God’s promises form households that live
as heirs together (Hebrews 11:9).
- Faith rests in God’s ability and grows
strong by giving Him glory (Romans 4:18–21).
- God supplies strength to fulfill promises
beyond human power (Hebrews 11:11–12).
- Pilgrims seek the city with foundations
and shape life toward it (Hebrews 11:10; 13:14).
- The gospel pattern unites faith,
repentance, baptism, and new life (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21;
Romans 6:3–4).
Scripture Reference List
- Genesis 12:1–5 — The call to leave
and the promises of nation, name, and blessing.
- Hebrews 11:8–12 — Abraham’s
obedience; pilgrim life; Sarah’s strength.
- Romans 4:17–21 — The God who gives
life to the dead; Abraham fully convinced.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17–18 — Separation
unto God with the promise of fellowship.
- Hebrews 12:22 — The city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.
- Hebrews 13:14 — Seeking the city to
come.
- Revelation 21:10–11 — The holy
city, radiant with God’s glory.
- Revelation 22:14 — Right to the
tree of life and entrance through the gates.
- Acts 2:38 — Repentance and baptism
in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
- 1 Peter 3:21 — Baptism as appeal to
God through the resurrection of Christ.
- Romans 6:3–4 — Buried with Christ;
raised to walk in newness of life.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of
Christ at Granby, MO
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The
church of Christ
