Faith Works (Hebrews 11)
Phil Gons · 1999 · Calvary Baptist Church · 46m
0:0045:32
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For families
Ages Teens
A sermon that takes Hebrews 11 seriously as a call to *active* faith—not mere intellectual assent, but trust that moves you to obedience and action. The preacher’s three-level framework (understanding, belief, reliance) and the Niagara Falls wheelbarrow illustration make abstract theology concrete. Teens wrestling with what it means to actually *live* their faith will find this clarifying.
Worth knowing: Extended discussion of martyrdom and persecution (stoning, torture, imprisonment) in the final section; otherwise straightforward.
Character of GodHoliness & obedienceFaith & trust
Talk about it together (5 questions)
- The preacher describes three levels of faith: understanding, belief, and reliance. Which level do you think most people stop at, and why is the third level so hard?
- What does the wheelbarrow illustration teach us about the difference between saying we believe something and actually trusting it?
- Pick one person from the ‘Hall of Faith’ (Abel, Noah, Abraham, etc.) and describe what their ‘working faith’ actually looked like—what did they *do* because of what they believed?
- The preacher says faith that doesn’t change how you live isn’t real faith. Do you agree? What would it look like for your faith to ‘work’ in your daily life this week?
- How does understanding that we’re saved by faith *alone* (not by works) change the way we should think about doing good works as Christians?
Used by permission of Phil Gons — philgons.com