As part of our continued series "Hearing Good News through the Musicals we Love," this worship service and sermon focused on Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Psalm 33:13-22 and the song "I Believe" from the musical Altar Boyz.
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (Common English Bible)
Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.
By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead).
They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. All of these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them.
They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it.
But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.
Psalm 33:13-22 (The Voice)
The Eternal peers down from heaven
and watches all of humanity;
He observes every soul
from His divine residence.
He has formed every human heart, breathing life into every human spirit;
He knows the deeds of each person, inside and out.
A king is not delivered by the might of his army.
Even the strongest warrior is not saved by his own strength.
A horse is not the way to victory;
its great strength cannot rescue.
Listen, the eye of the Eternal is upon those who live in awe of Him,
those who hope in His steadfast love,
That He may save them from the darkness of the grave
and be kept alive during the lean seasons.
We live with hope in the Eternal. We wait for Him,
for He is our Divine Help and Impenetrable Shield.
Our hearts erupt with joy in Him
because we trust His holy name.
O Eternal, drench us with Your endless love,
even now as we wait for You.
Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.
By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise. He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead).
They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. All of these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them.
They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth. People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it.
But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn’t ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.
Psalm 33:13-22 (The Voice)
The Eternal peers down from heaven
and watches all of humanity;
He observes every soul
from His divine residence.
He has formed every human heart, breathing life into every human spirit;
He knows the deeds of each person, inside and out.
A king is not delivered by the might of his army.
Even the strongest warrior is not saved by his own strength.
A horse is not the way to victory;
its great strength cannot rescue.
Listen, the eye of the Eternal is upon those who live in awe of Him,
those who hope in His steadfast love,
That He may save them from the darkness of the grave
and be kept alive during the lean seasons.
We live with hope in the Eternal. We wait for Him,
for He is our Divine Help and Impenetrable Shield.
Our hearts erupt with joy in Him
because we trust His holy name.
O Eternal, drench us with Your endless love,
even now as we wait for You.
