WINTER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2010



FALL QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012 - A LIVING FAITH

UNIT ONE: THE FACTS OF FAITH (HEBREWS)

“FAITH’S FORTITUDE IS IN THE UNCHANGING GOD”

Sunday School Lesson No. III - September 16, 2012

Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III Pastor-Teacher

Lesson Text: Hebrews 12:1-13

Required Reading: Hebrews 11 – 12

Memory Text: Hebrews 12:1-2, (Please read)

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.); Epistle of Hebrews by John Owen

INTRODUCTION

When one thinks of fortitude, he should think of a race and the need for one’s continuing endurance. Our lesson this week uses the familiar metaphor of racing to teach us of the importance of steadfastness and endurance in our faith in the unchanging God. The Christian race for most of us is not a mad dash of 100 meters, but a marathon that depends on the utmost of preparation and endurance.

The writer, like a personal trainer, gives us reasons to continue with all diligence to press forward with all fortitude, keeping our eyes on and faith in the unchanging God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Warren Wiersbe reminds us “The Jewish believers who received this letter were getting weary and wanted to give up; but the writer encouraged them to keep moving forward in their Christian lives, like runners on a track.”

Anticipated Power Points:

• Faith’s Fortitude Teaches us Where to Look. Hebrews 12:1-4

• Faith’s Fortitude Teaches us God’s Lessons for Life. Hebrews 12:5-13

THE LESSON OUTLINE

I. Faith’s Fortitude Teaches us Where to Look. Hebrews 12:1-4

The writer directs us where we should look for encouragement in running a successful race in the Christian life. He declares that we should be looking in a threefold direction.

A. Looking back. vs. 1a

Here he refers to the list of heroic witnesses in chapter 11 who had been mentioned as faithful mentors and martyrs of his readers. Now I don’t believe as some may imply, that they are watching the present day runners, but their testimonies are given as examples of faithfulness and fortitude so the present runners could reflect upon their examples for experience and encouragement to keep running. “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Please read Romans 15:4 (NLT) and I Corinthians 10:11 (NLT)

B. Looking within. vs. 1b “… let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

“Athletes used to wear training weights to help them prepare for the events. No athlete would actually participate wearing the weights because they would slow him down. Too much weight would tax one's endurance…What are the "weights" that we should remove so that we might win the race? Everything that hinders our progress. They might even be "good things" in the eyes of others. A winning athlete does not choose between the good and the bad; he chooses between the better and the best.”

Likewise the Christian runner must rid himself of all excess baggage that would impede his or her progress in living a successful Christian life. The puritan theologian John Owen writes, “If unmodified sin in any prevalent degree does abide in us, we shall never be able to hold out in our race unto the end.”

C. Look up. vss. 2-4

But in what direction does a runner look who is running in life’s race? The writer makes it crystal clear. Jesus is the originator and pioneer of our complete salvation, with nothing else to add or take away! Note Wiersbe here, “Our Lord went through many trials while on earth. What was it that helped take Him through to victory but, “The joy that was set before Him” (v. 2). This was His goal—the joy of presenting His church before the Father in heaven one day (Jude 24). His battle against sin took Him to the cross and cost Him His life. Most of us will not run on that course; it will probably be our task to live for Him, not die for Him. “Consider Him!” “Look unto Jesus!” These words are the secret of encouragement and strength when the race gets difficult.” Beloved, remember Jesus’ joy was to fulfill the Father’s will and we are His trophies to ever abide with Him in Glory!

II. Faith’s Fortitude Teaches us God’s Lessons for Life. Hebrews 12:5-13

A. His resources. vss. 5-6

The writer now teaches that God uses two main resources to prepare His people for greatness, the scriptures and chastisement or discipline. He quotes from Proverbs 3:11-12, again reminding us of the importance of Scripture. Note again Wiersbe on these verses, “The key words in this quotation are "son," "children," and "sons." They refer to adult sons and not little children. (The word "children" in Hebrews 12:5 should be "sons.") A parent who would repeatedly chasten an infant child would be considered a monster. God deals with us as adult sons because we have been adopted and given an adult standing in His family (see Romans 8:14-18; Galatians 4:1-7). The fact that the Father chastens us is proof that we are maturing, and it is the means by which we can mature even more.

Chastening is the evidence of the Father's love. Satan wants us to believe that the difficulties of life are proof that God does not love us, but just the opposite is true. The Father does not want us to be pampered babies; He wants us to become mature adult sons and daughters who can be trusted with the responsibilities of life.”

B. His reasons. vss. 7-11

Wiersbe helps us here to see God’s reasons for discipline in the life of His children: “All of us had a father and, if this father was faithful, he had to discipline us. If a child is left to himself, he grows up to become a selfish tyrant. The point the writer makes in (Hebrews 12:7-8) is that a father chastens only his own sons, and this is proof that they are his children. We may feel like spanking the neighbors' children (and our neighbors may feel like spanking ours), but we cannot do it. God's chastening is proof that we are indeed His children!

I have met in my ministry people who professed to be saved, but for some reason they never experienced any chastening. If they disobeyed, they seemed to get away with it. If I resisted God's will and did not experience His loving chastening, I would be afraid that I was not saved! All true children of God receive His chastening. All others who claim to be saved, but who escape chastening, are nothing but counterfeits—illegitimate children.

Why do good earthly fathers correct their kids? So that their offspring might show them reverence (respect) and obey what they command. This is why the Heavenly Father corrects us: He wants us to reverence Him and obey His will. A child who does not learn subjection to authority will never become a useful, mature adult. Any of God's children who rebel against His authority are in danger of death! “There is a sin unto death" (1 John 5:16).”

C. His results. vss. 12-13

Now we close our lesson with the results God intends to see in His children whose fortitude is exemplified in faithfully running the race! Don’t quit but remember there is a great reward. MacArthur says in 12:12, 13 “The author returns to the race metaphor begun in vv. 1–3 and incorporates language taken from Isaiah 35:3 (KJV) “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.” to describe the disciplined individual’s condition like a weary runner whose arms drop and knees wobble. When experiencing trials in his life, the believer must not allow the circumstances to get the best of him. Instead, he must endure and get his second wind so as to be renewed to continue the race.”

CLOSING

As I look back there is a poem that I pray will encourage your faith’s fortitude.

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|Don't Quit (by Anonymous) |

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|When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to |

|smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and its turns, As everyone|

|of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When they might have won, had they stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may |

|succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured |

|the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. |

|Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So |

|stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, It's when things seem worst that you must not quit! |

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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 23, 2012 Hebrews 12:18-29

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.

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