Leap faith-people group

TAKE HOME

• I'll always live in my own poor power until I act on my faith in God!

• Those people in Hebrews 11! Oh, to have faith like that. They inspire us and cheer us on to live Faith Lives in the here-and-now.

• Most of us would like to fly like that, to have our sail full of God's breath, hanging on for dear life. It's all about a great Leap of Faith!

Lord, I want to take Lord, I want to take the leap of faith in an the leap of faith in an area of my life. I'm area of my life. I'm trusting you to hold trusting you to hold me, lead me and me, lead me and make me more make me more useful in your useful in your Kingdom.Kingdom.

Commitment:

ANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTS

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WHAT A GREAT LIST OF WHAT A GREAT LIST OF 'FAITH PEOPLE'! 'FAITH PEOPLE'!

THEY MADE HISTORY BY THEY MADE HISTORY BY TRUSTING GOD TRUSTING GOD

AND BELIEVING HIS PROMISES.AND BELIEVING HIS PROMISES.

Hebrews 11:32-40Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11:32-40 The New Living TranslationWell, 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.

Hebrews 11:32-40 The New Living TranslationBut others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. [36] Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. [37] Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. [38] They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Hebrews 11:32-40 The New Living Translation

[39] All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. [40] For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.

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THE WRITER DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SPEAK OF THEM. BUT WE DO.

• Gideon-David Lockwood• Barak - James Altman• Samson - Julie Hamilton• Jephthah - Marie Hoffman• David - Earl Sisson• Samuel - Bob Harrison

THEY BELIEVED THAT GOD HAD THE POWER AND CHARACTER TO KEEP HIS

WORD

• Daniel and his friends: “Our God is able!”

WHO DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST?

• Unless-I-see-with-my-own-eyes people

• Nobody-can-walk-on-water people

• When-you-are-dead-you-are-dead people

• The-land-is-full-of-giants-and-we-are-just-ordinary-people people

WHAT MAKES FAITH-PEOPLE DIFFERENT?

Following Communion we will discover the difference…

Meditation: The Leap of Faith will led

to AMAZING THINGS.

Let’s watch…

COMMUNION!Part of the Amazing

Leap of Faith

Confession:I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is my Lord Jesus is my Lord and Savoir.and Savoir.

THEY BELIEVE THAT PHYSICAL AND EVEN SPIRITUAL ROADBLOCKS ARE NO PROBLEM

FOR GOD. THERE MOTTO IS: "THAT'S GOD'S PROBLEM!"

Listen to Abraham's testimony!

--Hebrews 11:17-19

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, [18] though God had promised him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted." [19] Abraham assumed 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.

THEY BELIEVED THAT IF GOD ORDAINS HE SUSTAINS

SO MANY BLESSINGS ONLY COME TO US WHEN WE ACT IN FAITH

• God's promise to Joshua (Joshua 1:3-5)

Joshua 1:3-5

I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Everywhere you go, you will be on land I have given you— [4] from the Negev Desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River on the east to the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and all the land of the Hittites.' [5] No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

WHAT AWAITS THOSE WHO TAKE SUCH 'FAITH STEPS'?

• Who can describe their joy?!

• God delights in responding to steps of faith!

• God touches you, transforms you, uses you and fills you with joy!

GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU

• Start with small steps.

• Start with an interest in pleasing God.

• Begin with an area of your life that you've always controlled.

• Pray for courage.

• Start today!

SINCE GOD HAS PLANS TO WHISK US HEAVENWARD ONE DAY, WE

MAY AS WELL GET USED TO FLYING NOW!

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PRAYER & PRAISE

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Your Offering:

““Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,

and live righteously, and he will give you

and live righteously, and he will give you

everything you need.” --Jesus

everything you need.” --Jesus

Worship in SongWorship in Song

THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES CHEERING US ON!

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.

TAKE HOME

• I'll move beyond my meager power step out in the power of God’s power!

• Like those faith-pioneers in Hebrews 11 who now cheer me on, I will run this race focused on Jesus.

• With all the help of Heaven I take this Leap into all that God has for me, right now!

Lord, I want to take Lord, I want to take the leap of faith into the leap of faith into all the wonderful all the wonderful things you have in things you have in store for me, store for me, beginning right now. beginning right now. Help me to cast off Help me to cast off all constraints as I all constraints as I jump fully and jump fully and completely into your completely into your arms. arms.

Commitment: