Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters. Today, we're going to dive right into the heart of Hebrews 11, one of my personal favorites. It's a passage that's often referred to as "The Hall of Faith," but I like to think of it as "God's Storybook." You see, in this chapter, we're not just given names and deeds, but we're introduced to real, human individuals, both obscure and obvious, who lived, breathed, struggled, and triumphed just like we do. We're talking about men and women who had hopes, fears, doubts, and dreams – folks like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and so many more.

Our focus today is to really get to know these Bible characters as human beings.

As C.S. Lewis once said, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." This, my friends, applies to those who grace the pages of our Bibles as well. These were real people, with real life experiences, who God used in extraordinary ways.

Hebrews 11:1-40 gives us a glimpse into their lives. Let’s read it together:

[Read passage]

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Father, thank you for this day and for your Word that is alive and active. As we explore Hebrews 11, open our hearts and minds to connect with these Bible characters on a deeper level. Help us see their humanity and remind us that they were real people just like us. May their stories inspire us, encourage us, and challenge us to live our faith boldly and courageously. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Let's get started, folks.

Bible Characters Were Real People

Let's take a moment to truly grasp the concept that the Bible characters were real people. This is not just a statement we make in passing or a fact we acknowledge without giving it much thought. It is a truth that should shape the way we read the Bible, understand its stories, and apply its teachings to our lives.

They were not mythical figures or fictional characters: They were men and women who lived in a particular time and place in history. They had physical bodies, they experienced the passage of time, they interacted with the world around them. They were born, they grew up, they aged, and they died. They were as real as you and I are.

They had human emotions: They felt joy and sorrow, love and hate, hope and despair. They experienced moments of triumph and moments of failure. They had dreams and aspirations, fears and doubts. They laughed, they cried, they grieved. They were not immune to the ups and downs of life, the highs and lows of human existence.

They had personal relationships: They had parents, siblings, spouses, children, friends, and enemies. They knew what it was like to feel loved and to feel lonely. They experienced the joys of companionship and the pains of betrayal. They understood the complexities of human interactions, the challenges of maintaining relationships, the rewards of love and friendship.

They had moral and spiritual struggles: They wrestled with questions of right and wrong, of faith and doubt, of obedience and rebellion. They made mistakes, they committed sins, they sought forgiveness. They had moments of spiritual insight and moments of spiritual blindness. They were not perfect saints, but flawed human beings striving to live in accordance with God's will.

They had unique personalities: They were not cookie-cutter figures, but individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. They had their own ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. They had their own ways of relating to God, of understanding His word, of responding to His call.

In all these ways: They were not abstract concepts or impersonal symbols, but flesh-and-blood individuals with their own stories, their own experiences, their own journeys of faith. They were not just characters in a book, but participants in God's unfolding story of redemption.

Let's not just read their stories, but enter into them, identify with them, and make their experiences our own.

The Obscure and Obvious

The Bible is filled with both obscure and obvious characters: The obvious ones are those we often hear about and are familiar with, such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO