Hebrews 11:8-12 Having just shown 3 examples of faith pre-flood, which demonstrate partial faith (Abel = the beginnings of faith, Enoch = The life of faith, Noah = the end/result of faith), the author now eyeballs the Hebrews (Jews) and turns their attention to the one from whom they are physically descended, and shows them once again the life of faith, but he fleshes this idea out to help his persecuted and suffering audience lift their eyes from their present circumstances, and look not to Abraham himself, but to the God whom Abraham was called by. In verse 8 we see that though Abraham had no idea where he was going, God called him from his pagan and idolatrous nation and ways, to a place, a land, he had no conceivable notion of. In verses 9-10, even upon entering this 'Promised Land', he did not settle in the land, he lived as a pilgrim, a nomad, dwelling in tents. For though he found the earthly promised land, his gaze did not settle upon this world, but looked to the next where his soul finds true rest, where his true home was, whose designer and builder was God. Verses 11-12 Brings Sarah into the equation and we see that the gift of faith granted to us by God, is truly powerful, for she would conceive, though both Abraham and Sarah were past child-bearing age and unable to have a child. Yet, God would not fail to fulfil his promise to Abraham and Sarah. And though they were as good as dead, they looked to God and believed the promise. Why? Because of the promise? Yes, but more accurately, because their faith was in the One who made the promise, Yahweh, our faithful, covenant keeping God. May it be true of us as it was of Abraham, that we walk by faith and not by sight, because of the One in whom our faith rests is faithful to His Word, and that is enough for us.

Nathan Vella ‘A Tale of Two Judges’ Luke 18:1-8 We now come to a parable that only Luke records. It deals with persistent prayer, which is not a surprising subject. It’s the theme of such prayer, however, that we must not miss - enduring hardship, persecution and injustice while the Church waits for Christ to come and bring vengeance. This is precisely what ‘the elect’ “cry out night and day” to God for.

Luke 17:20-37 Jesus gives a graphic description of His second coming, which will bring about the consummation of the kingdom of God.

Nathan Vella Luke 17:7-10, A Slice of Humble Pie Jesus continues his training of the disciples in these few verses. The subject is discipleship and the particular theme is humbly fulfilling one’s duty before God. Jesus reminds them of the nature of their relationship to God - slave/master. This is a sobering elixir to combat pride. No matter what we do for the Lord, He is never indebted to us.

Andrew Miller (DMI) Luke 5:1-11 “Because you say so“ We look at the fruit of obedience in the context of DMI’s ministry, in the context of ministry in the church in general, and in terms of our own individual walks with God. Amongst other things, we see that obedience leads to abundance, it leads to fellowship and it leads to worship.

Nehemiah 2:1-13, (ESV) 1. Approaching the king. Nehemiah was not only serving king Artexerxis, he was on God's errand. We continue to see his reliance on prayer to the God of heaven. As we consider what it is God wants us to do, it is absolutely crucial that we take up Nehemiah's example. 2. God's provision for the journey. As we set out on our journey with God we will discover that He will provide for the journey, as God did for Nehemiah. 3. Difficulties of Service. Whatever the plans God has for us, the devil will hate every bit of it. God will set our path straight. He will bring us to places we don't expect.

Luke 18:9-14 We come to one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. When it came to the kingdom of God, Jesus loved to teach in ‘twos’: two roads, two destinations, two responses… Here Jesus paints a picture of two common approaches to God. Two man come to pray, however, only one leaves saved. Themes include: Pride, humility, propitiation, justification, mercy, repentance, faith, salvation.

Luke 17:1-6 Jesus turns his focus from the religious leaders to his disciples. They need to know how they are to live as brothers and sisters, fellow citizens of the kingdom. Jesus shows them that He is calling them to be a community committed to the spiritual wellbeing of one another. Such commitment involves: leading each other in the way (not out of the way!), confronting one another over sins, being humble enough to repent and gracious enough to forgive. This will prove no easy feat, actually it might just be impossible. But God is willing to do great things though our faith in Him may seem small.

‘Divorce & Remarriage Pt.2’ Luke 16:18 Having been publicly ridiculed and even denounced by the Pharisees, Jesus counters with a telling revelation. His ‘welcoming’ of sinners has made them conclude that He disregards the Law of God. Jesus, however, unmasks them as the true Lawbreakers by turning the conversation to the subject of divorce and remarriage. This isn’t the first time Jesus addresses the subject of divorce and remarriage, but this time he uses it to turn the spotlight upon the religious leaders…

Luke 16:18 Having been publicly ridiculed and even denounced by the Pharisees, Jesus counters with a telling revelation. His ‘welcoming’ of sinners has made them conclude that He disregards the Law of God. Jesus, however, unmasks them as the true Lawbreakers by turning the conversation to the subject of divorce and remarriage. This isn’t the first time Jesus addresses the subject of divorce and remarriage, but this time he uses it to turn the spotlight upon the religious leaders…

James 2:14-26: Faith without action is a dead faith that saves no one. Let's not be "all faith and no action!"

Here we have yet another helpful example to the suffering, persecuted church of the audience of the Hebrews. Noah, a man rejected by the entirety of the world. A man who would not have even known what an ark was, perhaps not even known what a flood was, and yet is warned by God of the coming wrath of God, and by faith, takes God at His Word. Noah would persevere by faith, would preach the coming judgement, all this would take place over approximately 75 years, before even a sign of the end, and yet Noah clings to God. The same message that saves, condemns. Yet still we must proclaim the gospel, still, by the grace of God, we must cling to Christ, for Christ is our ark, he is our only means of salvation. And by trusting in Christ, we are made "an heir of righteousness that comes by faith". We are adopted in the family of God, and granted all the privileges and promises that come with being called heirs, sons and daughters of God.

1. A declining spiritual condition : The people were in great trouble and shame. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed, leaving the people vulnerable and insecure. They had abandoned God's commands and had returned to worshipping idiols. 2. The prayer for a broken life: Being in spiritual decline doesn't have to be the end. Nehemiah would show his servant heart and intercede for the people in a corporate prayer of confession. A prayer that recognises who God is, and encourages a heart felt desire to return to God in prayer. 3. Called to serve: Nehemiah is being called to serve God as others before him were. He is an example to us. If we are willing to be obedient to God, He will use those, that He has and will continue to equip. (Themes: Prayer, Serving, Repentance, Obedience)

'A Faith That Speaks In Life And Death' - Harrison Gallagher Hebrews 11:4-6 In light of the previous verses leading up to this, the author wishes to explain to us what it means, what it looks like that 'the just shall live by faith'. The first example is of two brothers (vs 4), both offering sacrifices, both coming to God in worship. Cain coming not by faith, but standing on his own merit, Abel came by faith, in faith, and it was faith that made all the difference, it was faith that made one an excellent sacrifice, and the other left sin crouching at the door. The second example is that Enoch (vs 5), a man of whom so little is said, and yet in this genealogy he stands out, not as one who died, but as one whom God took. It was by faith that God took Enoch walked with God, it was by faith that Enoch escaped death. Because what we see here (vs 6) is that it wasn't that God accepted Abel because of his sacrifice, it wasn't that Enoch escaped death because of his close walk with God, but that these thing flowed out of the gift of faith from God. Faith pleases God, because our object of faith is Jesus Christ, who is the with whom God is well pleased. So Christian, won't you believe that God is exists, that God is who He says He is in the Bible? Won't you believe that God is gracious in rewarding us with all the abundant blessings in Christ, and above all the, with the great reward of Himself. Let us to worship and walk by faith, for all our days, until we too are called home, escaping death once and for all. (Themes: Faith, worship, walking by faith, faith in Christ, our testimony by faith, Christian living, let Scripture light our path)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11