Slideshow image

GET TO KNOW YOU

What’s on your 3x5 card?
What would you die for?
What is worth living for?

SERMON NOTES

Title

Faith is Finding a Worthy Cause
Hebrews 11:32–40

Sermon in a Sentence

A worthy cause is worth your life—and the lives of those who came before you.

1. The Call of Jesus: Total Allegiance

Matthew 16:24 — “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 — “…take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 14:27 — “Whoever does not bear his own cross… cannot be my disciple.”
Matthew 16:25 — “Whoever would save his life will lose it…”
Luke 14:26 — “…yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

Key Point
Jesus does not call for partial commitment—He calls for total allegiance.

Mark Twain tension
“I am not troubled by the things in the Bible which I do not understand, but by the things which I do understand.”
He saw the weight of Jesus’ words—but rejected the cost.

Transition
Jesus didn’t just demand sacrifice—He demonstrated it.

2. Love That Gives Everything

1 John 3:16 — “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us…”
John 15:13 — “Greater love has no one than this…”
Philippians 2:7–8 — “…he humbled himself… to the point of death…”

Key Point
This is not legalism. This is love.

Illustration
Marriage conversation
“If you want me, I want your life.”
Response: “Deal. Where do I sign?”

Line
A love that is worthy is a love worth your life.

3. Hebrews 11: A People Living for a Kingdom

Hebrews 11:39–40 — “They did not receive what was promised… apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

Key Insight
They were looking forward to something incomplete—fulfilled in us.

Examples
Abel — righteous acceptance before God (Hebrews 11:4)
Enoch — walked with God beyond death (Hebrews 11:5)
Noah — salvation through judgment (Hebrews 11:7)
Abraham — city built by God (Hebrews 11:10)
Sarah — faith in God’s promise (Hebrews 11:11)
Abraham again — resurrection faith (Hebrews 11:19)
Patriarchs — better, heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16)
Moses — chose suffering over Egypt (Hebrews 11:26)
Rahab — faith that saves (Hebrews 11:31)
David — kingdom promise (Hebrews 11:33)
Prophets — suffered for what they wouldn’t see (Hebrews 11:38)
Samuel — established the line of the King (1 Samuel 16:13)

Mic Drop
They were aiming at a kingdom they couldn’t fully see—we are living in what they believed for.

4. The Kingdom Vision

Habakkuk 2:14 — “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD…”
Isaiah 11:6 — “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…”
Revelation 21:4 — “He will wipe away every tear…”

Matthew 6:10 — “Your kingdom come, your will be done…”

Key Point
The cause is the rule and reign of Jesus on the earth.

5. Kingdom Justice in Action

Micah 6:8 — “Do justice, love kindness…”
Hosea 6:6 — “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice…”
Isaiah 1:16–17 — “Seek justice, correct oppression…”

Clarification
Not a cultural label—this is Kingdom justice.

Examples
Gospel preached to billions
Church established
Hospitals, universities
Abolition of slavery movements
Human dignity rooted in the image of God

6. Real Cost: Then and Now

Hebrews 11:32–34 — victory through faith
Hebrews 11:36–38 — suffering through faith

“They were mocked… imprisoned… killed… of whom the world was not worthy…”

Modern reality
Coptic Christians beheaded for refusing to deny Jesus
John Allen killed bringing the gospel to an unreached people
Christians persecuted and killed in places like Sudan

Line
This is not ancient history.
The world is not worthy.

7. Personal Application

Illustration
Son deploying
Cost, duty, sacrifice

Cultural tension
Criticism of faith and service

Gratitude
Police, military, first responders

Priority structure
God
Wife
Children
Mission of the gospel
Community and country

Key Question
If you won’t speak about Jesus—you won’t die for Him.

8. Final Call

Hebrews 11:39–40

A cause worth your life is a cause worth dying for.

Closing reflection
What’s on your 3x5 card?
What are you spending your life on?

Legacy
What you build now will be carried forward by others

Final Line
We are finishing what they started.

BLOG

Faith is finding a worthy cause. Not something casual. Not something comfortable. A worthy cause is something worth your life—and not just your life, but the lives of those who came before you.

That’s why Jesus speaks the way He does.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross…” Matthew 16:24
“Whoever does not bear his own cross… cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

This isn’t legalism. This is love.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

We understand this in real life. When love is real, it costs everything. Not because you’re forced—but because it’s worth it. A love that is worthy is a love worth your life.

Hebrews 11 shows us people who lived like that. They weren’t chasing comfort. They were chasing a kingdom.

Abel wanted righteousness.
Enoch wanted to walk with God.
Noah acted in faith to save his family.
Abraham was looking for a city built by God.
Moses chose suffering because he saw something greater.

“They desire a better country… a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:16

Then comes the shocking truth:

“They did not receive what was promised… since God had provided something better for us…” Hebrews 11:39–40

They were looking forward.

Toward us.

The cause they lived for is now in our hands—the kingdom of God, the rule and reign of Jesus on the earth.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

This shows up in real action.

Feed the hungry.
Care for the hurting.
Preach the gospel.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food…” Matthew 25:35
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel…” Mark 16:15

This is Kingdom justice.

“He has told you… do justice, love kindness…” Micah 6:8

But it comes at a cost.

“They were mocked… imprisoned… killed… of whom the world was not worthy…” Hebrews 11:36–38

And it’s still happening.

Christians are still dying for their faith. Still being persecuted. Still choosing Jesus over their lives.

This is not ancient history.

So the question becomes personal.

What’s on your 3x5 card?
What are you spending your life on?

A cause worth your life is a cause worth dying for.
And if it’s worth dying for—it’s worth living for every day.