Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Being Encouraged from Old Testament Characters

Hebrews 12v1 Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles …”

The writer of Hebrews wants to encourage us in faith. In chapter 11, he names fifteen Old Testament persons as examples of faith. They are quite a mix of characters, but in the verse above, he identifies these as witnesses to the truth and faithfulness of God. As we read the fuller Old Testament accounts, we find that it portrays both their successes and their failings in a candid way.

This Sunday we will be launching a new 5-week series to look at five key characters in the book of Genesis – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob & Joseph. We will see elements of ourselves in them and we will also ways that they point to Jesus and lay a foundation for the gospel.

On a Sunday morning, we will only touch the surface of their lives and what God is saying to us through them. I hope that you will be encouraged to explore deeper in your own time by reading the fuller passages for yourselves. To that end, I will also provide some further reflective thoughts and questions to help in understanding and applying them .

May God encourage you in faith today for all you encounter.

With love and blessing,

Roland