Hebrews 11.8-16: Abraham is one of the key figures in the Old Testament and his life offers a framework for the life of faith. It begins with trusting God's direction, even though the full map isn't in front of us. It involves engaging his patterns, not the world's. And it involves being part of the church's growing family as God brings to life people who were once dead. To live by faith is to look forward to that which is built by God, not man.

Hebrews 11.1-3: For Lent, we will follow the lives of the Old Testament ancients who are encourage us to live by faith in our current situation. We trust the God who makes thing visible from that which is not seen. In this we hope that this same God will bring our faith to sight, as we anticipate the future of his heavenly kingdom.

Hebrews 10.24-25: We're instructed to encourage one another "all the more as we see the Day approaching." The Day approaching is the culmination of all meaning, where the intrinsic value of God's kingdom replaces the decaying world with its permanence. The wise, who desire to invest their lives with true lasting value with discern this intrinsic value and pursue it. In the church, we do this together, for to do it alone is a very difficult road.

Hebrews 9.23-10.18: Our souls long for release from the power of guilt that weighs on our hearts. The old system, the sacrificial one, couldn't do the complete job - for it had to be done again and again. It looked forward to the true good thing that would come and resolve guilt once for all. That is through Jesus, who accomplishes at the cross a once-for-all effect. And in this, those found in him have been given perfection and freedom to live in gratitude to him and his gift.