Hebrews 11 Discussion Guide

[CONNECT] Name someone you admire who had to overcome great obstacles to get where they are now.

Read Hebrews 11:20-22…

[SET UP] Everyday we have to make choices in life. If you are willing, share some of the hard choices that you’ve had to make. How did you choose?

[DIGGING DEEPER] Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all looked to the future for their blessing. Even at the point of death, not having seen the promises of God fulfilled in their lifetime, they still were expectant of God. They anticipated the day when the promised blessing would soon come to pass. We too must continue to trust God, to choose God no matter where life takes us.

Read through Isaac’s blessing on Jacob and discuss what this blessing would have meant for Jacob.

“So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed!

“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine.

May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” Genesis 27:27-29

Even with the birthright mix up, God’s promise still held value. Once a blessing was once given, it was not revocable. Even though Jacob had reversed the blessing by being deceitful, Isaac knew that God would carry out His promise anyway. Throughout Jacob’s life, he had times of great faith combined with fear and anxiety, but he chose God and waited for the blessing he had for him. God is all-knowing and all-powerful; faith understands that God will accomplish His will despite our brokenness.

How can we learn to trust God through any and all circumstances? Why is it so hard to trust God sometimes?

Joseph models a life of faith and trust. He was despised by his brothers and they sold him into slavery. Through trials and temptations, he stayed true to God. Joseph constantly chose God even when life around him didn’t look too good.

As a group, discuss the life of Joseph. How did the choices he make affect the outcome of his life?

Joseph’s last words are words of faith to the Israelites, “God will surely come to your aid.” Joseph lived a life of faith that chose God despite being tempted and tried on so many levels.

All three men had faith in and lived for God even up to their deaths. God wants you to trust him, to choose him despite your circumstances in life. Often we can get bogged down by our troubles but God wants us to choose him every time.

Is there a step of faith that God is prompting you to take right now?

Leadership Development L: Who in your group is growing as a leader? I: How can you as a leader involve your group in biblical service? F: Who is a friend you can invite to become a part of your group? E: How can we use this passage to equip us as followers of Jesus?