WINTER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2010



FALL QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012

A LIVING FAITH

UNIT ONE: THE FACTS OF FAITH (HEBREWS)

UNIT TWO: THE PEOPLE OF FAITH (ACTS 7-9)

UNIT THREE: THE PRICE OF FAITH (ACTS CONTINUED)

“FAITH’S FOUNDATION IS IN THE UNCHANGING GOD”

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Sunday School Lesson No. II September 9, 2012

Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III Pastor-Teacher

Lesson Text: Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

Required Reading: Hebrews 11:1-7; Psalm 46:1-11

Memory Text: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Reliable Resources: Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; Precepts for Living (UMI), Word Search 9 and 10 Electronic Library; MacArthur Study Bible; Life Application Bible Commentary (Hebrews); Hebrews 26 Simple Studies in God’s Pattern For Virtuous Living (M. R. DeHaan, M.D.)

INTRODUCTION

Beloved, the facts of our living faith in God is now being further challenged. We remember faith’s focus is in the unchanging God through Christ Jesus our Lord. But this week the facts of faith are now strengthened as we stand on its foundation. The Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator shares this familiar illustration: “There is a story (whether true or fiction we do not know) of a man who watched an acrobat push a person in a wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls on a wire. The acrobat then came to the spectator and asked, ‘Do you believe I could do this for you?’ The man answered confidently that he did. ‘Well, then,’ said the acrobat, ‘get in and we’ll go.’ At this point the man’s confidence vanished and he refused the invitation.” Dear friend, this story illustrates the foundation of many people’s faith, based on simply the experiences of others, but not on a personal experience with God! Oh how it sounds to hear the testimony of others, but truth be told, one should have a testimony of his own.

Our lesson this week focuses on the fact that a person must individually and realistically have a faith whose foundation is in the unchanging God. Let us examine two passages of scripture, first from the New Testament and then from the Old Testament, that absolutely presents, “Faith’s Foundation is in the Unchanging God.”

Anticipated Power Points:

• The Basics of Faith’s Foundation. Hebrews 11:1-3, 6

• The Basis of Faith’s Foundation. Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

LESSON OUTLINE

I. The Basics of Faith’s Foundation. Hebrews 11:1-3, 6

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1, NLT. The basics of faith is in what we rest on as our foundation. Reader, where do you rest your confidence today? Is it in things that perish? Is it in people who are at best only humans? Psalm 146:3 reminds us, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.” NLT.

Beloved, the foundation of our faith should rest in the perfect object who is our great God! Why? Note the basis: According to H. L. Wilmington, the basis of our faith is described by “It’s nature and it’s necessity.”

A. “Faith’s nature. vss. 1-2

1. It’s nature expressed. vss. 1-2

The greatest expression of faith is in the synonyms that mirror it. (Trust, Assurance, Confidence, Certainty). Faith’s nature is expressed by the track record of its object, the Lord! He has demonstrated His trustworthiness in times past, present and of a certainty, He has to be counted on for the future! “Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.” Believer’s Bible Commentary). It’s nature is expressed in its followers of old. “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” vs. 2 NLT. These elders staked their life, reputation and eternal hope in the God who revealed Himself to them and required them to simply step out on the substance of His Word!

2. It’s necessity expressed. vss. 3, 6

The very foundation of faith in the unchanging God is of necessity expressed in the power of Creation, through the Word of God. When one doubts the creative work of God by faith, there is no room for anything else. “In the beginning God…” is the mantra of faith and security forever! Not evolution or the theories of the educated, but the Word spoken from the Eternal! From there everything begins to take shape. (Read Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; John 1:3). Beloved, this orderly universe did not randomly become what it is and I believe like the Hebrews writer: “But without faith it is impossible to please him…” Why? “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is; and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him.” The very basics of faith is founded in the very Person of God who has revealed Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Read John 14:6-7).

II. The Basis of Faith’s Foundation. Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11

The lesson now reaches back to the Old Testament book of Psalms and draws a historical observation. According to Wiersbe, “The historical background is probably God’s deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians in time of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18 – 19; II Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36 – 37). It would be helpful for you to read these accounts before examining the psalm.” According to the psalmist we have four things that describe the basis of our faith’s foundation in the unchanging God!

A. God is our Protector. Psalm 46:1-3

In Him Israel, like us, will find shelter and protection in overwhelming circumstances, preparing His people to weather the storms and return to the fight! There is nothing that will overcome His trusting saints. (Read Psalm 61:3)

B. God is our Power. Psalm 46:6-8

The musical term selah is used in this Psalm to remind the psalmist to pause, repeat, modulate and or shout out loud the passage with great emphasis. The Lord is our Protector and the Lord is our Power. The voice of the Lord and His unseen heavenly armies will put all of His adversaries to flight. (Read Psalm 2:1-6)

C. God is our peace. Psalm 46:9.

Rejoice in Isaiah 2:4, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

D. God deserves all praise! Psalm 46:10-11

He deserves praise for His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence! Beloved, the 150th Psalm says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

CLOSING

My faith is anchored and built on the foundation of our unchanging God. Psalm 34:1-3, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

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PASTOR FRANK A. DAVIS, III

Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA & Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179

Phone: (504) 486-7876 Email: bible32@ Website:

TV Broadcasts: WHNO TV 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. – Channel 14 (Hammond-Amite area), 6:30 a.m.

Radio Broadcasts: WLNO AM 1060, Saturday 8:30 a.m.; Sunday 5:30 a.m.

WABL AM 1570 (Hammond-Amite area) Sunday 7:00 a.m.

LOOKING AHEAD: September 16, 2012 Hebrews 12:1-11

PASTOR DAVIS TEACHES THE LESSON ONLINE VIA VIDEO AT and at Bibleway every Wednesday at noon. Please come and hear the lesson in person, and ask questions as needed.

NOTE: Please go to to print the lesson weekly. You may not receive the lessons via email.

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