We began a brand-new series this weekend called The Race of Your Life, where we are reminded to persevere and keep going in our faith, even when life is difficult. Life brings challenge after challenge, and many times, we need to remember to keep following Jesus, especially during the storms that life brings. We must not quit because we know that there is an eternal treasure waiting for us at the end of the race.
When is a time you participated in a race? How did it go?
1. Read Hebrews 12:1-2a. Why does the writer of Hebrews call us to persevere? (Hint: look at Hebrews 11 along with Hebrews 12:1-2a.)
Hebrews 12:1-2a
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
2. How do we run “the race God has set before us” with endurance?
3. Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8. How did Paul, the author of 2 Timothy, persevere amidst his hardships and persecution, according to this passage of Scripture?
2 Timothy 4:6-8
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
4. What was the prize that Paul described for continuing to persevere and remain faithful in his faith?
1. What causes people to want to give up as they run the race of faith?
2. What does it look like today to keep our eyes on Jesus and the reward waiting for us at the end of our race?
3. What is one thing keeping you from persevering in your faith?
Divide up into groups of two or three and pray together. Specifically, pray over any areas where you and your group members are struggling to persevere. Pray that God would strengthen them and help them to keep persevering and remain faithful. Our prayers for each other are more powerful than we realize!
Hebrews 11 provides us with so many examples of Old Testament men and women who persevered in their faith amidst difficult circumstances. These people trusted God and His plan, even when they faced struggles and trials. They trusted Him even when they did not understand. Let’s take a look at one of those people now, Abraham. Abraham was the first person listed in what has become known as the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. Throughout his life, he persevered and trusted that God would be faithful to keep His promises.
We first meet Abraham when God gives him a more-than-challenging instruction: to leave everything behind and move to an unspecified location. In a remarkable act of faith and perseverance, Abraham trusted God and obeyed. Take a look at this story now.
1. Read Genesis 12:1-4.
Genesis 12:1-4
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
2. What was God calling Abraham to leave behind in this passage of Scripture?
3. What promise did God give Abraham if he obeyed God’s instruction?
4. What do we learn about faith and perseverance from Abraham’s story in this passage of Scripture?
In Genesis 15, we learn that Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were unable to have children. One day, God spoke to Abraham and made a promise to him that he and his wife would not only have a son but also as many descendants as there were stars in the night sky. While many might have been skeptical, Abraham had faith in God's promise.
1. Read Genesis 15:1-6.
Genesis 15:1-6
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” 4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
2. Summarize God’s promise to Abraham in this passage of Scripture.
3. What was the result of Abraham’s faith?
After years and years of waiting, just as God promised, Abraham and Sarah finally had a son whom they loved in their old age, Isaac. One day, God “tested Abraham’s faith” (Genesis 22:1). Abraham's response showed remarkable faith and trust in God and His promises. Over the next few minutes, read about this story in Genesis as well as what the author of Hebrews teaches us about Abraham's response of faith.
1. Read Genesis 22:1-15 and Hebrews 11:17-19. Because this Scripture reading is longer, read these passages individually and then come back together to discuss.
Genesis 22:1-15
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”).To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”15 Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven.
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
After reading these passages with stories of Abraham’s faith, reflect. Answer the questions below with your group.
1. How do you think each moment of faith impacted Abraham for the next step of faith?
2. How did Abraham model perseverance and faith?
3. What step do you need to take right now to model the same perseverance and faith that Abraham modeled?
End your time praying together. Ask God to strengthen your faith and give you the perseverance to keep going, just like Abraham. Thank Him for His faithfulness, which endures forever and ever.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
