Faith Crisis
by Ron Dunn
Faith That Pleases God (pp. 57 - 67)
January 3, 2016
Session 05
The main point of this lesson is: Faith that believes God is,
even when it looks like He isn’t, and that believes it is always
worthwhile to seek God, even when it appears fruitless, pleases
God.
Focus on this goal: To help lead adults to faith that pleases
God.
Key Bible Passage: Hebrews 11:6
Before the Session
1. Enlist someone to give background information on the original
audience of the Book of Hebrews (Step 3).
2. Bring a variety of rewards, such as a trophy, certificate,
ribbon, medal, gold star, and so forth (Step 5).
During the Session
Step 1. Launch!
Open the session by asking learners to think of someone
whom they know who seems impossible to please.
Begin a story about someone who is impossible to please by
saying: Once upon a time there was a man who was very
difficult to please. When he was a boy, his mother made him a
pie, but he was not pleased. He wanted cake. So she made him a
cake.
Stop the story there and call on a volunteer to pick up the
story and then pass it along to another learner.
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Make the story as entertaining and creative as possible.
After the story, ask the rhetorical question: Do we ever think of
God as One who is impossible to please?
State: Today’s session teaches that the way to please God is
through our faith.
Step 2. Day 1 – Impossible Without Faith
Call on a volunteer to read Hebrews 11:5-6.
Challenge participants to share everything they know about
Enoch.
Very little is known about Enoch. Beyond this Hebrews passage,
the only other passages speaking of Enoch are Genesis 5:18-24
and Jude 14.
Still, learners can learn three things about Enoch from Hebrews
11:5-6 (Day One, activity 1, p. 57).
Invite them to share what they wrote in that activity.
Although Enoch did not die a physical death, tell learners to
write a grave marker epitaph for him based upon what they know
about him.
After a few minutes, invite learners to share their epitaphs.
Step 3. Day 2 – God is Real, Part 1
Call on the person enlisted earlier to give brief background
information on the original audience of Hebrews.
Ask:
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1. Why would the words of Hebrews 11:5-6 be especially
meaningful to this group of believers?
2. Why are the words of Hebrews 11:5-6 still particularly
meaningful to modern-day Christians?
Discuss how even Christians sometimes question the existence
of a loving God when they are faced with extremely daunting
circumstances.
Ask learners to share their answers to Day Two, activity 1 (p.
59).
Lead in a discussion of why it is helpful to recall heroes of the
faith when encountering difficulties today (Discussion Question,
p. 59).
In addition to Gideon (Judg. 6), challenge learners to think of
other biblical characters who stayed true to their faith even in
difficult times.
Step 4. Day 3 – God is Real, Part 2
Acknowledge that it is tempting to think God is not with us
when life is tough.
Ask the Discussion Question on page 61.
After time for response, state that there are no scriptural
promises to that effect.
If time allows, call for responses to Day Three, activity 1 (p.
61).
Quote the writer (p. 61): Loving God doesn’t guarantee a
charmed life.
State that for some, particularly believers in other countries,
loving God has quite the opposite effect.
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Ask: What can we learn from Christians in other lands who are
being persecuted, even killed, for their faith?
Step 5. Day 4 – God is a Rewarder, Part 1
Display the various rewards you brought to class and ask
learners to recall rewards they received that were especially
meaningful and why.
Ask: How does the idea of rewards fit into our Christian lives?
After brief discussion, state that Hebrews 11:6 teaches that God
rewards those who seek Him, rather than those who seek the
reward.
Say that Christians should not be seeking God’s hand, but rather
His face.
Invite learners to share what they wrote in response to Day
Four, activity 2 (p. 65).
Direct learners to circle those things in the list under Seeking
God’s face that they will commit to do in the coming week.
Step 6. Day 5 – God is a Rewarder, Part 2
Say that another hero of the faith from whom we can learn a
lesson about faith is Abraham.
Encourage learners to share information about Abraham.
Then, lead learners to focus on the description of Abraham in
Hebrews 11:8-12.
Ask: How did Abraham’s call from God actually draw Abraham
closer to God?
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Describe how, along the journey to which God called him,
Abraham discovered that God was his reward. If you have made
a similar discovery, share it at this time.
Invite learners to share similar experiences (Day Five, activity
2, p. 67).
Step 7.
Wrap-up
Restate the basic points of the session.
Ask participants to consider if their faith pleases God, and
reiterate that pleasing God is the purpose for which we were
created and the standard by which our lives will be judged.
Encourage adults to think of decisions they are facing in the
coming week and how they can make those decisions in faith and
in a way that pleases God.
Close in prayer.
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