97-37 Treasures of Faith - Melchizedek and Abraham (Part 1)

Have you ever wondered, “Is God really sovereign? And can I really trust Him?” If so, you’re in good company. During the first century, Jewish Christians were persecuted, afraid, and discouraged. Some abandoned the faith and returned to their former lifestyles. Others were sorely tempted to do so. Could God, through their faith, redeem their pain and give it meaning? Could this painful path actually help them to encourage others in their faith or to help draw unbelievers to the heart of God (2 Corinthians 2:15-17)?  

The book of Hebrews is a series of short sermons written for people just like us - people who are tempted to give up their faith in the face of great hardship. In this series, Dr. Betters unpacks Hebrews 11, often called the Hall of Faith. Hebrews 11 defines faith and then demonstrates what it looks like, starting with Abel, a man who, though dead, still speaks. In each message, we learn that this is not a chapter about self-made faith, but rather a litany of real-life stories of real people who demonstrated biblical faith in the mundane and messy places of life. Through digging deep into the Old Testament record, the messages immerse listeners into the in-depth stories of “Sunday School” heroes, each one an incentive to experience the same power of total dependence on our Father. 

In Hebrews 11, we are given a priceless vision of what God has already accomplished through the covenant and through the faithful men and women who trusted Him. We are also given an encouraging glimpse of what lies ahead for us because of that same covenant, a vision that gives our lives and work here on earth new meaning. Spurred on by this vision, we can persevere by faith, no matter what our circumstances may be.