Desire a Better Country

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Can you share a time when you felt that you were “living by faith,” even when you couldn’t see the full picture? What helped you keep going?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16.

How is faith defined in this passage? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

“Sit with that for a moment: an assurance. Can we be sure of anything these days? Faith is hard at the best of times…We live in a Doubting Thomas era – unless I see … I will not believe” (Preaching Notes for August 10).

• What do you think about this comment?

What does Hebrews 11:3 tell us about creation and faith? [It says that by faith, we understand that God created the world. It teaches us that even things we see now came from what we can't see—God’s power and word.]

In verses 8–10, Abraham obeys God without knowing where he’s going. What do you notice about his mindset or trust in God? What does this reveal about the kind of faith the scripture calls us to?

What does it mean to live as “strangers and foreigners on the earth,” as in verse 13? [This reminds us that our ultimate home is with God, and our lives should reflect heavenly values, not earthly ones.]

The people in this passage died without receiving what was promised, but they still trusted God.

• How do you evaluate your own faith journey when things don’t turn out the way you hoped?
• Imagine what it would look like for our church community to “desire a better country” — not just heaven, but a more just, loving, faithful world. What values, habits, or commitments would shape that vision?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, Like Abraham and Sarah, help us walk by faith and not by sight. Give us the courage to follow You even when the path is unclear, and may our lives reflect the hope of Your eternal promises. Amen.