Podcast appearances and mentions of faith hall

Build the man then build the player. Adversity builds growth...   Rod Marinelli's inspirational and faith-based approach to playing and coaching football resulted in Super Bowl  XXXVII Championship Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Super Bowl XLI Chicago Bears.   Listen to this inspirational interview conducted as part of the WSFI Catholic Radio 2024 Shareathon.   To join Rod Marinelli at the upcoming Sports Faith Hall of Fameor learn more about Sports Faith International, visit Home - SFI (sfint.org) To donate visit Donate - WSFI Radio (wsficatholicradio.org)

In honor of Leap Day, Erin and Evan, along with special guest Sarah Bessey, are inducting new members into the Leap of Faith Hall of Fame. Who are those people who took the biggest trust fall for the Lord? Who said, “Spirit lead me where my faith is without borders,” and meant it? You'll hear about some of the biggest leaps of faith in the Bible, cultural icons that have taken some chances, and some trust falls that are questionable at best. Be sure to grab a pen and paper because you'll want to take some notes as Sarah Bessey preaches through her leaps!  MENTIONS Here's where to connect with Sarah Bessey: Website | Instagram | Field Notes for the Wilderness Book | Jesus Feminist  History Corner: History of Leap Day from National Geographic Kids | Leap Day Fun Facts What to Watch for Leap Day: 30 Rock Season 6, Episode 9 | Leap Year Movie Starring Amy Adam Original Leap of Faith Hall of Fame: Read Hebrews 11  Relevant Past Classics Episodes: Judah and Tamar | Baby Moses Bible Passages Mentioned: Joshua 3-4 | Genesis 38 | Exodus 1 | John 4 | Luke 1:46-56 Absolute Banger: The Making of Biblical Womanhood | Listen to our episode with Beth Allison Barr  Can you tell me more about Medieval fart jokes? Listen to Medieval (Christian) Times with Dr. Grace Hamman Can you tell me more about Hell? Listen to SWDGISS: Hell Curious about Handel's Messiah? Watch it here What was that Frozen docu-series? Watch Into the Unknown on Disney+ BONUS CONTENT We have tons of additional content, including monthly Fellowship Hall gatherings, Office Hours episodes, and so much more! You can access them now with a 7-day free trial. You'll be able to listen to over 250 more episodes! Tuition is just $5 a month after the trial period. Become a Seminarian here! THE POPCAST Check out our other podcast: The Popcast with Knox and Jamie. It's a weekly show about pop culture where we educate on the things that entertain but don't matter. Here is our suggested Popcast starter playlist. Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith Adjacent Shop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacent Follow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discussed the definition of faith and how Jesus is the perfecter of our faith.

- Thursday November 2, 2023 -

Pastor Tyler continues our study from the Book of Hebrews, Faith Moving Forward.

Pastor Herman Haupu www.faithfamilymaui.com

In a startling turnabout, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin have reached an expansive agreement that had eluded them for months on health care, energy and climate issues, taxes on higher earners and corporations and trimming the federal debt. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned he's ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea. State media reported Kim made such a warning in a Wednesday speech marking the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Heat wave duration records could be broken in the Pacific Northwest this week and authorities are expanding capacity at some cooling centers as temperatures near triple digits are forecast to extend into the weekend. The National Weather Service has extended the excessive heat warning for Portland, Oregon, from Thursday through Saturday evening. Alabama is set to execute a man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend decades ago, despite a request from the victim's two daughters to spare the man's life. Joe Nathan James Jr. is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday night at a south Alabama prison. He was convicted of the 1994 shooting death of 26-year-old Faith Hall and sentenced to death. Hall's daughters say they've forgiven James and would rather he serve life in prison. “Leave It to Beaver” actor Tony Dow has died. Agent Frank Bilotta says Dow died Wednesday at age 77. As Wally Cleaver on the beloved sitcom that ran on CBS and ABC from 1957 to 1963, Dow helped create the popular and lasting image of the 20th century American teenager. “Jeopardy!” is giving itself two answers to the question of who gets to host the quiz show — Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings. Bialik and Jennings have been serving as rotating hosts since Mike Richards exited the show amid controversy after a short tenure as the late Alex Trebek's replacement. JetBlue has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines in a $3.8 billion deal, a day after Spirit and Frontier Airlines agreed to abandon their merger proposal. The Mets padded their lead in the NL East with a Subway Series sweep of the Yankees, the A's swept away the Astros, the Brewers defeated the Twins, the 76ers inked James Harden and the U.S. is ready to trade for Brittney Griner. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a hefty three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its most aggressive drive in three decades to tame high inflation. The Fed's move will raise its key rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, to its highest level since 2018. The Ukrainian military has used a U.S.-supplied precision rocket system to deliver a morale-lifting knockout punch to a bridge Russia used to supply its forces in an occupied region of southern Ukraine. The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan. That's according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also revealed Wednesday that he has asked to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time in months. Griner testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during questioning when she was detained at Moscow's airport in February and officials told her to sign documents without giving an explanation. The last two former Minneapolis police officers who were convicted of violating George Floyd's civil rights have been sentenced in federal court. J. Alexander Kueng was sentenced Wednesday to three years and Tou Thao got a 3 1/2-year sentence. They were convicted in February of two counts of violating Floyd's civil rights. The British environmental scientist whose influential Gaia theory sees the Earth as a living organism gravely imperiled by human activity has died on his 103rd birthday. James Lovelock's family said Wednesday that he died the previous evening at his home in southwest England after his health deteriorated from a bad fall this year. President Joe Biden has emerged from five days of isolation after contracting the coronavirus, telling Americans that “COVID isn't gone” but saying serious illness can be avoided with vaccines, booster shots and treatments. Biden spoke after testing negative for the virus Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning. The Justice Department says Trident Mortgage Co., owned by billionaire businessman Warren Buffett's company, discriminated against potential Black and Latino homebuyers in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. Officials are calling it the second-largest redlining settlement in history. A California federal judge has rejected a legal push to require Uber to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles, finding that such a mandate would be too onerous on the ride-hailing company. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich is a staple in many a New Yorker's diet. It's easy to make, easy to eat on the go and cheap — although not as cheap as it used to be. To keep up with today's levels of inflation, bodega owners are faced with no choice but to raise the prices of their famously low-priced breakfast sandwiches. Buzz Aldrin's jacket worn on his historic first mission to the moon's surface in 1969 has been auctioned off to a bidder for nearly $2.8 million. Sotheby's says the amount paid for the Apollo 11 Inflight Coverall Jacket is the highest for any American space-flown artifact sold at auction. Raccoon Island, a barrier isle an hour's boat ride off the coast of Louisiana, is one of the few remaining breeding refuges for the iconic brown pelicans. A dozen years ago, there were 15 low-lying islands with nesting colonies of Louisiana's state bird. But today, just six islands in the state harbor brown pelican nests — the rest have disappeared underwater from subsidence and rising seas from climate change. —The Associated Press        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An overview of Hebrews chapter 11 and the role of faith in the life of the faithful. ★ Support this podcast ★

An overview of Hebrews chapter 11 and the role of faith in the life of the faithful.

An overview of Hebrews chapter 11 and the role of faith in the life of the faithful.

On this episode of Running Times, Gagz welcomes Faith Hall into the studio for a conversation about comfort zones, and the difference between being scared and having a healthy respect for a daunting challenge. What's remarkable about Faith is that she began running less than 4 years ago, and just finished 3rd Female at the notoriously unforgiving Eastern States 100 - her first 100 miler!    In addition to an ES100 deep dive, also discussed is why being a bartender is great training for ultras, how to wrestle a bear, and all sorts of physical tips and mental tricks to help you tackle your next big race with confidence.   

All of your bonobo questions are answered in this new episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales with their keeper Faith!   

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the author repeatedly challenges his readers to stay faithful to Jesus no matter what. By the world's standards, many of them had good reason to bail on their faith in Jesus. Being a disciple often put their families, their resources, their homes, and even their lives in jeopardy. But these early believers had a hope that far surpassed any of those earthly things. They drew purpose and courage from their faith… even when they couldn't see how circumstances were going to play out.

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the author repeatedly challenges his readers to stay faithful to Jesus no matter what. By the world's standards, many of them had good reason to bail on their faith in Jesus. Being a disciple often put their families, their resources, their homes, and even their lives in jeopardy. But these early believers had a hope that far surpassed any of those earthly things. They drew purpose and courage from their faith… even when they couldn't see how circumstances were going to play out.

This week we took a dive into Hebrews 11 and talk through the scriptures. We draw lessons from how these men and women of faith lived lives for the glory of God in the face of impossible situations.

Face the mirror people. Have a resolution every day you wake up. Love languages: know yours and know your people's. We've grown up some since college...thankfully. Perspective and truth from a new momma and her natural birthing story. Lil Kai made an appearance too. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rantnotover/support

Part 1 of a 3-part verse-by-verse study of Ether 12-15, which recounts the ministry of Ether and the downfall of the Jaredite civilization. Part 1 covers Ether 12:1-22 and focuses on the "Faith Hall of Fame," anchoring the soul, the trial of faith, the eye of faith, and seeing ourselves among the faithful. Join Jared Halverson for your weekly Come Follow Me study of the Book of Mormon!

Hermeneutics Made Simple. Herman who? Herman what? Every Bible reader is a Bible interpreter. We process God's Word into our lives through observation and application. This podcast episode presents the SOAP Bible Study Method. So simple. So applicable. So sustainable. Scripture (what verse sticks out to you). Observation (what do do you think about the verse?) Application (How do you apply the verse to your life?) Prayer (How can you pray concerning this, for yourself and for others?) Using Hebrews 11:33-35, Poitras does a quick study using the SOAP Method of Bible Study. You've heard of Faith Hall of Fame, of Faith Hall of Heroes. But this podcast episode deals with Faith's Hall of Gain.

Join us as we study with Pastor Alex about Father Abraham and how through faith God built a nation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Join us as we study with Pastor Alex about Father Abraham and how through faith God built a nation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Join us as we study with Pastor Alex about Father Abraham and how through faith God built a nation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Part two of this powerful study of the obedience of the prostitute Rahab to God. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen as we share with Rachel Cobert about Rahab the prostitute and how by faith she obeyed God and helped his people. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Mike is Joined by Elise DIsmer as they share together in God's word. We focus on this Hero of Faith Queen Esther. Join them as they share together her story of how through faith she saved a whole nation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In Hebrews 11, we get a glimpse at the often-called “Faith Hall of Fame.” These people loved and trusted in God, even when His ways didn’t make sense. They diligently sought Him, and He did mighty works in and through them!

Mike is Joined by Elise DIsmer as they share together in God's word. We focus on this Hero of Faith Queen Esther. Join them as they share together her story of how through faith she saved a whole nation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Full Service   Sermon   Discussion Questions print version: Who is someone in your life that you have seen “finish strong” and why? Read Hebrews 11:8–19. What elements in Abraham’s story cause him to be listed in the Faith Hall of Fame and how might we demonstrate those characteristics in our own lives? Describe a... Read more » The post Abraham | Over the Long Haul appeared first on Shepherd of the Valley.

When is the last time you read Hebrews 11? You may have heard this chapter referred to the Faith Hall of Fame. There is a reason this chapter is in the Bible. It's not to make you feel terrible, for not measuring up. Rather, it is the complete opposite. It also provides an interesting challenge for those who take the time to read about these people. It's not what you think! I would like to invite you to listen to what I'm sharing on this podcast and to visit my blog site and read the blog post for some more details. The blog post shares the same name as this episode. Here's a direct link to the blog post: http://christianityexplained.blog/2020/06/16/the-faith-hall-of-fame-can-you-be-imperfect-and-join/

In Hebrews chapter 11, we see a list of Heroes of the Faith, like Abraham, David, Deborah and many more. These men and women fixed their eyes on God and refused to be moved from what they knew God was doing with them.Some by faith escaped the edge of the sword, as mentioned in verse 34, but others were put to death by the sword, as in verse 37. This shows that the people mentioned in this faith "Hall of Fame" were those who trusted that God's will for their lives was best. So we see Daniel's faith when he wasn't eaten by lions, but also the faith of the early believers who were thrown to the lions and eaten. Both are inspiring to us.So here in this video, find a modern faith "hall of fame" of heroes who trusted God with their lives in the same way. Some of these like Brother Andrew escaped the clutches of the communist regimes of Eastern Europe, but others like the 21 Coptic Martyrs laid down their lives for Christ and went to their reward.May this quick 2 minutes video inspire you to be a person of trust in God, so that regardless of His will for your life, whether good, or bad, you will serve Him with a whole heart. Let there be no grumbling but rather praising because God is at work in you for His much bigger purpose, and our lives will be joined in praise with those in this video and together we will bring Him much glory.

Hello friends and happy Wednesday to you! Today we are covering a Bible passage that many might be familiar with, as this is a favorite for preachers to preach through - and with good reason! Hebrews 11 is rich with meaning and lots depth and encouragement. This passage gives us not only a definition of faith, but a plethora of illustrations that demonstrate to us what faith is, and how it might look in our lives. In addition to Hebrews 11, we will also be reading Numbers 14, Psalms 50 and Isaiah 3 and 4. Let's go read Hebrews 11 and then return and discuss our major question: What is faith? Did you catch the Hebrews definition? Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 That is a very interesting definition of faith, isn't it? Hebrews 11:1 in the ESV says this, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." and in the NIV, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." and the NLT, "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." In the KJV: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" In the Lexham, "Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen,"and the Young's Literal, "And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction" All of these translations are expressing the same Greek words in a slightly different way of explanation, but the meaning is clear: faith is not mere hopeful belief that something might happen - "I hope this quarantine will be over soon," "I hope Alabama wins the 2020 national championship," "I hope my doctor visit goes well." It is good to hope, but faith is something different - it is not hopefulness in an uncertain outcome in a wishful sense, but it is assurance, confidence, reality, realization and substance. Faith is a concrete belief in a reality - that is the point of what Hebrews is telling us, and that reality/substance/confidence/assurance/conviction produces actions....and not actions like merely going to church, or going through religious motions. Actions like Noah building an Ark for years in the middle of dry land. Actions like Abraham heading out on a life-changing move of himself and his whole family to a land he didn't know and had never seen. Actions like Rahab welcoming the Israelite spies and risking her life to protect them. Actions like Joshua leading a musical/prayer march around the walls of a well-fortified city that led to its capture. And actions like Moses refusing to live as fake royalty in the house of Pharoah. Hebrews is telling us that faith is a bedrock reality that causes people to make life-changing, life-altering decisions that are risky and stupid if our faith is somehow misplaced. Faith is concrete substance/reality/confidence/assured says Hebrews 11 and faith leads to action and life-change. Here are a few other definitions: "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." Martin Luther "True faith, not head knowledge, is a firm conviction that brings personal surrender to God and His Word." Kay Arthur "Faith means being sure of what we hope for now. It means knowing something is real, this moment, all around you, even when you don't see it." Joni Eareckson Tada "TRUE faith is reliance. Look at any Greek lexicon you like, and you will find that the word πιστευειν does not merely mean to believe, but to trust, to confide in, to commit to, entrust with, and so forth; and the marrow of the meaning of faith is confidence in, reliance upon. Let me ask, then, every professor here who professes to have faith, is your faith the faith of reliance? You give credit to certain statements, do you also place trust in the one glorious person who alone can redeem? Have you confidence as well as credence? A creed will not save you, but reliance upon the anointed Saviour is the way of salvation." - C. H. Spurgeon, Flashes of Thought (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 146. “Faith is the evidence of things not seen”; that is, it is their being evident. This verse is as much as if he had said, “Faith is the being present of things that are to come, and the being clearly seen of things that are not seen.” Jonathan Edwards, Notes on Scripture, ed. Harry S. Stout and Stephen J. Stein, vol. 15, The Works of Jonathan Edwards (London; New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998), 81. "Faith is a grounded, justifiable knowledge, and not a fancy, or ineffectual opinion; having for its object the infallible revelation and certain truth of God; and not a falsehood, nor a mere probability, or ‘verisimile.’" Richard Baxter, William Orme, The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter, vol. 12 (London: James Duncan, 1830), 54. "We all in one sense ‘believe’ we are mortal: but until one’s forties does one really believe one is going to die? On the edge of a cliff can’t one believe, and yet not really believe, that there’s no danger? But certainly this real belief in the truths of our religion is a great gift from God. When in Hebrews ‘faith’ is defined as ‘the substance of things hoped for’,179 I wd. translate ‘substance’ as ‘substantialness’ or ‘solidity’ or (almost) ‘palpableness’." - C. S. Lewis, The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, ed. Walter Hooper, vol. 3 (New York: HarperCollins e-books; HarperSanFrancisco, 2004–2007), 751. Faith is to believe what you do not see, or to trust words about a hidden thing which truly exists, though you cannot see it with your eyes. About the things that we see we have knowledge, and not faith.Elliot Ritzema, 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013). Great definitions there - let me close with a bit of exposition from John Piper to give us a fuller  idea of what exactly faith is: Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the conviction—or better, the evidence—of things not seen.” And then the writer illustrates this in verse 3 when he says that “we understand by faith” that God created the world. In other words, faith is not just a responding act of the soul; it is also a grasping or perceiving or understanding act. It is a spiritual act that sees the fingerprints of God. This does not mean that you believe them into being. That would be wishful thinking—the power of positive thinking. That is not authentic faith. Real faith is based on real Truth. It looks deeply at the world God has made—looks through it, so to speak—and by the grace of God, it sees the glory of God (as Psalm 19:1 says) standing forth off the creation like a 3-D image. The Substance of Things Hoped For Now that leaves us just a few minutes to focus on the other part of the definition of faith in verse 1: “Now faith is the assurance—or the substance—of things hoped for.” It may be that all this means is that faith is a deep confidence that the promises of God will come true so that we bank on them. That would be enough to free us from the fears and greed and worldliness that block the flow of radical, risk-taking, sacrificial love. If we have a strong conviction that God will care for us and bring us to glory and fulfill all his promises to us forever, then we will be free from self-indulgence and free for serving others. But I think it means more—or maybe this is just a way of filling up this meaning with all that’s really here. The word “assurance” here can mean “nature” or “substance” or “reality” or “essence” in other places, for example, Hebrews 1:3 (“exact representation of God’s nature”). If that is what is meant here, then we should think like this. What could the “substance” or “nature” of things hoped for mean? I think it could mean that faith apprehends the goodness and the sweetness of what God promises so clearly that this goodness and sweetness are substantially present in faith. In other words, faith grasps—lays hold of—God’s preciousness so firmly that in the faith itself there is the substance of the goodness and the sweetness promised. Faith doesn’t create what we hope for—that would be a mere mind game. Faith is a spiritual apprehending or perceiving or tasting or sensing of the beauty and sweetness and preciousness and goodness of what God promises—especially his own fellowship, and the enjoyment of his own presence. Faith does not just feel confident that this is coming some day. Faith has spiritually laid hold of and perceived and tasted that it is real. And this means that faith has the substance or the nature of what is hoped for in it. Faith’s enjoyment of the promise is a kind of substantial downpayment of the reality coming. John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007). As a bonus, here are two other great quotes on faith: "Let us see to it that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways, and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies." Hudson Taylor “Furnish thyself with arguments from the promises to enforce thy pravers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make thee fervent, and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer…. The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.” - William Gurnall

Hello friends and happy Wednesday to you! Today we are covering a Bible passage that many might be familiar with, as this is a favorite for preachers to preach through - and with good reason! Hebrews 11 is rich with meaning and lots depth and encouragement. This passage gives us not only a definition of faith, but a plethora of illustrations that demonstrate to us what faith is, and how it might look in our lives. In addition to Hebrews 11, we will also be reading Numbers 14, Psalms 50 and Isaiah 3 and 4. Let's go read Hebrews 11 and then return and discuss our major question: What is faith? Did you catch the Hebrews definition? Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 That is a very interesting definition of faith, isn't it? Hebrews 11:1 in the ESV says this, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." and in the NIV, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." and the NLT, "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." In the KJV: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" In the Lexham, "Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen,"and the Young's Literal, "And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction" All of these translations are expressing the same Greek words in a slightly different way of explanation, but the meaning is clear: faith is not mere hopeful belief that something might happen - "I hope this quarantine will be over soon," "I hope Alabama wins the 2020 national championship," "I hope my doctor visit goes well." It is good to hope, but faith is something different - it is not hopefulness in an uncertain outcome in a wishful sense, but it is assurance, confidence, reality, realization and substance. Faith is a concrete belief in a reality - that is the point of what Hebrews is telling us, and that reality/substance/confidence/assurance/conviction produces actions....and not actions like merely going to church, or going through religious motions. Actions like Noah building an Ark for years in the middle of dry land. Actions like Abraham heading out on a life-changing move of himself and his whole family to a land he didn't know and had never seen. Actions like Rahab welcoming the Israelite spies and risking her life to protect them. Actions like Joshua leading a musical/prayer march around the walls of a well-fortified city that led to its capture. And actions like Moses refusing to live as fake royalty in the house of Pharoah. Hebrews is telling us that faith is a bedrock reality that causes people to make life-changing, life-altering decisions that are risky and stupid if our faith is somehow misplaced. Faith is concrete substance/reality/confidence/assured says Hebrews 11 and faith leads to action and life-change. Here are a few other definitions: "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." Martin Luther "True faith, not head knowledge, is a firm conviction that brings personal surrender to God and His Word." Kay Arthur "Faith means being sure of what we hope for now. It means knowing something is real, this moment, all around you, even when you don't see it." Joni Eareckson Tada "TRUE faith is reliance. Look at any Greek lexicon you like, and you will find that the word πιστευειν does not merely mean to believe, but to trust, to confide in, to commit to, entrust with, and so forth; and the marrow of the meaning of faith is confidence in, reliance upon. Let me ask, then, every professor here who professes to have faith, is your faith the faith of reliance? You give credit to certain statements, do you also place trust in the one glorious person who alone can redeem? Have you confidence as well as credence? A creed will not save you, but reliance upon the anointed Saviour is the way of salvation." - C. H. Spurgeon, Flashes of Thought (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 146. “Faith is the evidence of things not seen”; that is, it is their being evident. This verse is as much as if he had said, “Faith is the being present of things that are to come, and the being clearly seen of things that are not seen.” Jonathan Edwards, Notes on Scripture, ed. Harry S. Stout and Stephen J. Stein, vol. 15, The Works of Jonathan Edwards (London; New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998), 81. "Faith is a grounded, justifiable knowledge, and not a fancy, or ineffectual opinion; having for its object the infallible revelation and certain truth of God; and not a falsehood, nor a mere probability, or ‘verisimile.’" Richard Baxter, William Orme, The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter, vol. 12 (London: James Duncan, 1830), 54. "We all in one sense ‘believe’ we are mortal: but until one’s forties does one really believe one is going to die? On the edge of a cliff can’t one believe, and yet not really believe, that there’s no danger? But certainly this real belief in the truths of our religion is a great gift from God. When in Hebrews ‘faith’ is defined as ‘the substance of things hoped for’,179 I wd. translate ‘substance’ as ‘substantialness’ or ‘solidity’ or (almost) ‘palpableness’." - C. S. Lewis, The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, ed. Walter Hooper, vol. 3 (New York: HarperCollins e-books; HarperSanFrancisco, 2004–2007), 751. Faith is to believe what you do not see, or to trust words about a hidden thing which truly exists, though you cannot see it with your eyes. About the things that we see we have knowledge, and not faith.Elliot Ritzema, 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013). Great definitions there - let me close with a bit of exposition from John Piper to give us a fuller  idea of what exactly faith is: Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the conviction—or better, the evidence—of things not seen.” And then the writer illustrates this in verse 3 when he says that “we understand by faith” that God created the world. In other words, faith is not just a responding act of the soul; it is also a grasping or perceiving or understanding act. It is a spiritual act that sees the fingerprints of God. This does not mean that you believe them into being. That would be wishful thinking—the power of positive thinking. That is not authentic faith. Real faith is based on real Truth. It looks deeply at the world God has made—looks through it, so to speak—and by the grace of God, it sees the glory of God (as Psalm 19:1 says) standing forth off the creation like a 3-D image. The Substance of Things Hoped For Now that leaves us just a few minutes to focus on the other part of the definition of faith in verse 1: “Now faith is the assurance—or the substance—of things hoped for.” It may be that all this means is that faith is a deep confidence that the promises of God will come true so that we bank on them. That would be enough to free us from the fears and greed and worldliness that block the flow of radical, risk-taking, sacrificial love. If we have a strong conviction that God will care for us and bring us to glory and fulfill all his promises to us forever, then we will be free from self-indulgence and free for serving others. But I think it means more—or maybe this is just a way of filling up this meaning with all that’s really here. The word “assurance” here can mean “nature” or “substance” or “reality” or “essence” in other places, for example, Hebrews 1:3 (“exact representation of God’s nature”). If that is what is meant here, then we should think like this. What could the “substance” or “nature” of things hoped for mean? I think it could mean that faith apprehends the goodness and the sweetness of what God promises so clearly that this goodness and sweetness are substantially present in faith. In other words, faith grasps—lays hold of—God’s preciousness so firmly that in the faith itself there is the substance of the goodness and the sweetness promised. Faith doesn’t create what we hope for—that would be a mere mind game. Faith is a spiritual apprehending or perceiving or tasting or sensing of the beauty and sweetness and preciousness and goodness of what God promises—especially his own fellowship, and the enjoyment of his own presence. Faith does not just feel confident that this is coming some day. Faith has spiritually laid hold of and perceived and tasted that it is real. And this means that faith has the substance or the nature of what is hoped for in it. Faith’s enjoyment of the promise is a kind of substantial downpayment of the reality coming. John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007). As a bonus, here are two other great quotes on faith: "Let us see to it that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways, and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies." Hudson Taylor “Furnish thyself with arguments from the promises to enforce thy pravers, and make them prevalent with God. The promises are the ground of faith, and faith, when strengthened, will make thee fervent, and such fervency ever speeds and returns with victory out of the field of prayer…. The mightier any is in the Word, the more mighty he will be in prayer.” - William Gurnall

Putting our faith into action.

Putting our faith into action.

Message by Pastor Mark Hebrews 11 is often called the Faith Hall of Fame. What's important to remember is every single person in this Hall of Fame were flawed and broken people just like us today. It is also important to note that God used them in unbelievable ways because they were willing to step out in faith so that God could use them powerfully. Pastor Mark calls us to take steps of faith to see how God can and will use you in your everyday life.

Bear Creek UMC is located in Houston, TX. For more information, visit us online at https://bearcreekumc.org

Martin Luboyera knew from the time he was 4 years old he was destined to become a world-famous soccer player. He was well on his way when something happened that forever changed his life.  Mark Curran interviews Fr. Martin about the turn of events which have led him to become a Catholic priest... and soon to be inducted to the 2019 Sports Faith Hall of Fame.     Tickets to the Induction Ceremony are available online at https://wsficatholicradio.org/online-registration-12th-annual-hall-of-fame-induction/

Hebrews 11:11-12 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. When we think about Sarah, it comes to our mind Sarah as a woman of failure.  We can understand Abraham a man of faith.  But some time we hesitate to accept Sarah as a woman of faith.  But since God considered her a woman of faith, certainly we want to know what kind of faith Sarah had.----more---- Sarah was not a weak, spineless, overly dependent, empty-headed woman. Her parents called her Sarai, that means princess. When God changed her name to Sarah, he did not remove the princely meaning, but rather He added the further dignity of motherhood.   Because a according to Gen. 17:15-16 she will be blessed as a mother of nations”.  Sarah never doubted God.  She never considered God as unfaithful.  Sarah judged God or considered God as faithful.

Unlike Abel, Noah and Enoch, the life of Abraham is addressed in the scriptures in detail.  As we will note, Abraham did not come from a godly home. In fact, his father was an idol worshiper.  Thus, Abraham was brought up in a home with heathen, ungodly ideas. Yet, though he was born into a home of pagan idolaters, he became a great man of God who left an example for those who would follow in his footsteps and walk by faith in the promises of God. - By faith Abraham obeyed the call of God- By faith he went out not knowing where he was going- By faith he dwelt in the foreign land as a stranger- By faith he waited for the city built by God----more---- Today Abraham, the one called as the father of faith is encouraging us and telling us that we are not left as orphans , Jesus is preparing a mansion for us and one day HE is going to comeback to take us home Abraham died but the faith he had on God still speaks to us. By faith Abraham obeyed the call of God, by faith he went out not knowing where he was going, by faith he dwelt in the foreign land as stranger and a pilgrim, by faith he also waited for the city built by God.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. God is looking for such Noahs who will build an ark to save themselves and their household.

What is Isaac's faith? - Isaac's faith in God that leads to obedience to his father.- His prayer life, that he could ask God for a blessing that was missing in his life.- His faith in sowing the seed, even in season and in out of season.- His faith in digging the wells of Abraham that are covered by mud Such a faith in God made Isaac to bless his children even at the old age. Today, God wants us to be a blessing to others.

Hebrews 11:21 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. Jacob's faith could foresee the things that are yet to happen on the land.

Hebrews 11:5 5 By faith Enoch was taken away (translated/taken up to heaven) so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  Genesis 5: 21-24 21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.----more---- Enoch went to be with the Lord, Jesus' disciples went to be with the Lord.  Our ancestors were gone to be with the Lord.  One day it will be our turn, we will be gone.  Where we will be depends on what we believe in while living on this earth.  Our belief will enable us to prepare to be with the Lord.  Enoch was well prepared and he was gone.  One day will be our turn. Are we ready? 

Hebrews 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative (symbolic, allegorical or metaphorical ) sense. What made Abraham to demonstrate such a faith in God? What was the reason for such a faith of Abraham in God?----more---- - God was not a stranger to Abraham, God was a family member- Abraham believed death doesn't limit God's ability- Abraham believed the New Testament doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead- Abraham understood that it is his privilege, not his right If you get a strong hold of this amazing truth in your life, you will have such a faith as Abraham.

  Tickets for Lagunitas Ethical Drinking EventL   Job Description:   Opening Arguments Podcast:

Message from Tim Blaber on 05/07/2015