Sabbath School Lesson for May 16-22, 2026
Introduction to Lesson 8, Having Faith
Memory Text: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Hebrews 11:1 is a very good definition of faith and is the only one we find in the Bible. It reveals two parts of this invisible and powerful manifestation of God’s spiritual presence in our lives.
- One aspect of our faith, “the reality of what we hope for”, speaks of our hope in the coming of the Lord, His Advent, which comes at the end of earth’s history.
- The other aspect of our faith, “the evidence of things we cannot see”, obviously includes the Creation of the world at the beginning of earth’s history.
These two events occur repeatedly in the structural pattern of the Scriptures, which begins with Creation (in Genesis) and ends with Christ’s Advent (in Revelation). Jesus, who John identified as the One who spoke the world into existence (John 1:3), is also, of course, the One who will soon come to take His saints to God’s heavenly kingdom (Revelation 22:20).
Jesus is identified in Hebrews 12:2 as the Author and Finisher of our faith, “the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). No wonder the saints are said to have the “faith of Jesus”. Faith is an all-inclusive term that helps define humanity’s relationship with God, how He created us in the beginning and will save us in the end.
This week, we will explore:
- Sunday: Just Give Me a Sign!
- Monday: Jesus Sees Our Faith
- Tuesday: Faith Is Not a Feeling
- Wednesday: Examples of Faith
- Thursday: The Faith of Jesus
Sunday: Just Give Me a Sign!
It seems absurd that the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give them a sign that He was their Messiah, after all the miracles He had performed. They also had the Old Testament Scriptures with its many predictions that Jesus had already fulfilled in His short lifetime with them.
Surprisingly, every generation has those who must have a sign before they will believe. God has listened to some of these requests and answered them, when they were honestly needed in order for someone to act on their belief. But for the most part, we must accept by faith God’s word as revealed in the Bible.
With the New Testament Scriptures now added to God’s word, the present generation is abundantly blessed with signs of what God expects of us and what we expect of Him. After Thomas announced doubt about Jesus’ resurrection, the Master commended all those who have faith without firsthand evidence (John 20:29).
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Mark 8:11, 12
- What was the motivation and spirit that caused the Pharisees to ask Jesus for a sign?
- Why did Jesus “sigh deeply” and refuse to give them a sign?
John 20:29
- What kind of faith did Jesus bless, and what’s the difference between that kind of faith and blind faith?
Monday: Jesus Sees Our Faith
Faith is something that resides deep within us, and the divine nature of God’s Son allowed Him to sense the faith of those who came to Him for various reasons. He often identified and affirmed the faith of some who came for healing, and at times rebuked others for not having enough faith, or even no faith at all.
A man whose son had seizures came to Jesus requesting help, and Jesus consoled him with the reminder that all things were possible to him who believes. The grieving father recognized at once that his faith may not be strong enough, and asked Jesus to help his unbelief. Jesus granted his request and healed his epileptic boy on the spot. This story reminds us that we can ask God for faith and know that He delights in answering that prayer.
Thankfully, Jesus knows what is in us, both good and bad, and does all He can to provide evidence that will grow our faith and make us love Him more. See John 2:23-25.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Mark 4:40
- What was the level of the disciples’ faith, after Jesus saw their fearful reaction during the storm that nearly capsized their boat?
Matthew 15:21-28
- How did this story help the disciples understand that God loves and blesses everyone, not just the Jews?
Mark 9:24
- When have you noticed that your faith was lacking and asked God to renew it?
- How has the Lord answered your desire for more faith?
Tuesday: Faith Is Not a Feeling
Faith is not a concrete thing we can touch with our hands or see with our eyes. Nor is it merely an emotion that we feel, like happy joy or deep sorrow. It’s actually a God-given sense of knowing that God is with us and loves to answer our prayers. Faith is a gift and a blessing that grows with time and through the many experiences of life.
Faith is the means by which we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), the human response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When we allow the Holy Spirit into our hearts, our belief in God is guaranteed to grow stronger and sweeter with each passing day.
God gives each of us some faith (Romans 12:3), and even when it’s as small as a mustard seed, it can grow into a full-sized, beautiful tree that provides shade and sustenance for those around us (Matthew 17:20).
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 11:6, and Luke 7:50
- What do you see as the role of faith in our salvation?
Romans 12:3
- Why does God give everyone some faith?
- What is His purpose for giving us faith, and why do some not take advantage of such a blessing?
Matthew 17:20, 13:31, 32, Romans 10:17, and Hebrews 12:1
- At what stage of growth is your faith?
- How can we more easily win the race of having faith?
Wednesday: Examples of Faith
Hebrews 11, known as the faith chapter, is a treasure trove of faith examples. It’s a summary of many stories of faith found in Scripture. We discover that each of the individuals mentioned are defined by their faith–their accomplishments are the result of having faith. Best of all, it includes the end product, or reward, of having such abundant faith.
Having a strong relationship with God requires us to have such faith. When our faith is strong, so is our connection with God. It can start, though, with just a spark of faith that increases over time and becomes a powerful tool to quench the “fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16).
When doubts arise, we can ask God for more faith. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our response determines how our faith will grow. It’s important to exercise our faith muscles, in order to make them stronger–just as all those did in the faith chapter.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Hebrews 11:3
- What makes it easy for you to accept that God is our Creator?
- What makes it hard for some people to believe in Creation as described in Genesis?
Hebrews 11:6
- Why is our faith pleasing to God?
- How do you feel when someone has faith in you, in the trustworthiness of your character?
Thursday: The Faith of Jesus
Only two identifying characteristics of God’s people are mentioned in the last-day prophecy found in Revelation 14. His saints keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12). We must be cautious, therefore, of any religious movement that projects an imbalance of either keeping the law (known as legalism) or having faith without repentance, which includes turning away from sin.
The law and the gospel of faith go hand in hand. Faith is no doubt important because Hebrews 11 reveals that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Keeping the commandments will never be enough by itself. We must look carefully then at what it means to have the faith of Jesus.
True, saving obedience to what Jesus requires is only possible when we believe that He can and does live inside our hearts. This gift of faith through the Holy Spirit is the true foundation of our relationship with God (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Revelation 14:12 and Hebrews 11:6
- What does the “faith of Jesus” mean to you, and why is it as important as obedience to the law?
Matthew 26:36-42
- How would you compare Jesus’ faith and the faith of the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion?
- In what ways can we deepen our practice of faith to look more like the faith of Jesus?
Friday: Final Thoughts
Faith is an integral part of our salvation experience:
- Justification (the process of being forgiven) is confirmed in Romans 5:1. We are “justified by faith”.
- Sanctification (the process of being made holy) is mentioned explicitly in Acts 26:18. We are “sanctified by faith”.
- And glorification (the final step which transforms us into the perfect likeness of God) is found in Galatians 3:26. We are “sons of God through faith”.
With this in mind, we can see why Bible study and prayer must be activated and sustained with faith in God’s power to save us. In order to keep our relationship with God strong, we must make having faith a priority in our spiritual journey.
Two Bible verses are valuable in reminding us of this truth about faith. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith, it is impossible to please God. And Revelation 14:12 describes the saints of God as those who keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus. Pleasing God by having faith that comes from a humble heart is equally important as our obedience to the law of God. Our very salvation depends on having such faith.
Next Week: Sin, the Gospel, and the Law
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