Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

​Thoughts:         “Standing on the Promises” is an old and rather raucous hymn, with too much repetition and daunting octave leaps.  We seldom sing it now. 
 
Perhaps it was inspired by Hebrews 11, and the timeless stories of several people from the Old Testament.
 
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are named as people who had faith.
 
When Abel was a young man, he was killed by his jealous older brother Cain.
 
Enoch “walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.”
 
Noah built an ark, as commanded by God, and he survived the flood, but then he fell into a drunken stupor and was shamed by his son Ham.
 
God repeatedly promised Abraham that he would be the father of nations, but he was not the father of a legitimate son until he was 100 years old.
 
His wife Sarah suffered the ignominy of being known as a barren wife until she was 90 years old.
 
These five people died in faith, “…not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them …”
 
Discussion:      What promise from the Bible comes first in your memory?
 
Activity:            I’ll call you.  I’ll write that recommendation you need.  I’ll send you that recipe.  I’ll lend you that book.  I’ll serve on that committee.  I’ll help with coffee hour. I’ll….