By Faith Abel Offered To God a More Acceptable Sacrifice

Hebrews 11 is often known as the “Hall of Faith.” Throughout this chapter, we’re introduced to men and women whose stories are found throughout the Old Testament and who, in different ways, demonstrated what it means to trust God. Over and over again, these are the two words that describe how they sought to live: “by faith.”

But the mistake we often make is assuming that since these people are found in this passage, then they must be considered as some kind of “legends of the faith.” Yet as you start reading about every one of them in detail, you quickly realize that this was not the case. This passage contains some of the worst kinds of people doing some of the worst kinds of things. They were drunks, liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, and more. Though we often label them as heroes, in many cases, they were more like zeroes. So, why do we find them here? Why even point to them and their lives through Hebrews 11? What could we possibly learn about living by faith from them?

The truth is that we are all very much like them. We too are just a bunch of broken people needing to trust in Christ alone for salvation and life. Because without faith, we cannot be saved, we cannot be transformed, and we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). All of these require faith in God.

Their stories point beyond themselves to the great, faithful, and trustworthy God in whom they placed their faith. As we examine the lives of these men and women and what Scripture reveals about faith and, more specifically, their faith, we will be reminded of a simple, yet powerful and necessary truth: we can only live by faith.

Series: By Faith

Message 1: By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice

Text: Hebrews 11:4

Harvest Alliston

Patrice Charade

September 6, 2026

By faith I will offer to God…

…what he deems is acceptable (Hebrews 11:4a)