September 1, 2019 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

“32 ¶ And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented —  38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” (Hebrews 11:32-40 NKJV)

There are so many Heroes of the faith in this passage they must be listed by how they suffered! Their sacrifice would conquer armies and nations. Rome first persecuted Christians but later it would lift up the cross as a nation.

List all the ways the Heroes of the Faith are tortured or killed on another sheet and write down what they mean.

Persecution took place in the days of the Early Church. Does persecution take place now? (If you are not sure get information from Voice of the Martyrs.)

If so, where?

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

This verse seems hard to fit in this list of the Heroes of the faith. What do you believe this means?

40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

What does this mean? What does it reveal about the Body of Christ?

Are you a Hero of Faith?