Hebrews 11:8-16 & Genesis 11-21

1. When you think about your future, what images come to mind? What emotions do you feel about the years and decades ahead of you? Discuss.
2. Read Hebrews 11:8–12. Describe the three different demonstrations of faith featured in this passage.
3. Read Genesis 12:1–9, Genesis 17:15–17, Genesis 18:11–15, and Genesis 21:1–7. From the beginning, God saw to it that His promise to Abraham would be humanly impossible. He made Sarah barren from the start, and He waited until she and Abraham were beyond child-bearing age before the promised child would be born. Notice the question posed by God in Genesis 18:14. God is magnified when He does what only He can do. What is one thing happening (or not happening) in your life where you desire to see God move in a circumstance that seems humanly impossible?
4. Read Hebrews 11:13–16. Faith is sober about our circumstances but certain God will deliver on His promises. Faith looks forward to a heavenly city, promised by God, where we will receive an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). If you are in Christ, the future realities that await you are incomprehensibly good! God has promised that He has prepared a home for you. Discuss what it would look like to reorient your faith in view of the future He has promised.
5. Spend some time in prayer together, asking for faith and obedience to live like Abraham and Sarah with whatever circumstance you are facing.