KJV Sermon Outlines

How To Please God!

Text: Hebrews 11:1-6

Introduction: This morning I would like for us to look at the formula for please almighty God. Hopefully everyone here this morning would like to please God because they love Him.

Introduction: this is one of the great chapters in the Bible. It is known as God’s Great Hall of Fame. Men and women who have believed God down through the centuries are listed as being great men and women of God. The key to greatness with God is faith; the person who truly believes God is great in the eyes of God. The key to any of us being great in the eyes of God is faith—faith in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first part of this great chapter gives us an overall study of faith. It is the description of faith.


I. Faith - V.1 What does faith mean? This is the only time the Bible ever defines faith. Time and time again, the Bible discusses faith and the great importance of faith.

A. The Bible tells us that we must have faith—we must believe God—and it tells us the great things that happen to those who do believe God.

B. The Bible also gives example after example of men and women who have and have not believed God and shows in clear terms what happened to each. But nowhere does the Bible define faith except here.

C. It is important that we clearly see just what faith means.

The word “substance” (hupostasis PWS: 3839) means the foundation, assurance, title-deed, and guarantee of things hoped for. The word “evidence” (elegchos) means conviction.

According to most commentators, this is what is meant by these two words.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Look closely at what is being said and note that faith is being described as an act, an act of the mind and heart. Our heart and mind believe something and we have assurance and conviction that it is true. This is certainly true; faith is an act of the mind and heart.

A. Our Actions - What we do proves our faith!

B. What we say

II. The Reward of Faith - V. 2

A. What is the reward of faith? God’s approval.

B. God is pleased, when we believe Him and His promises.

C. This is the point of this verse. The elders, great men of God who lived in the past, believed God and followed God.

D. They turned away from the world and its possessions and pleasures and followed God.

E. They believed God, that He had much more to offer—that His promises of an eternal land and of eternal life were true.

F. They staked their lives, all they were and had, upon that hope.

G. Their faith in God pleased God to no end.

III. It is impossible to please God without faith - V. 6

A. By faith is meant a living, active faith,

B. A faith that knows and follows God, communes and fellowships with God.

C. It does not matter what a person does; without faith he cannot please God.

D. It is impossible to please God without faith. What does this mean?

IV. Diligently Seek Him”

A. It means to seek out God; to diligently seek to find Him and to follow Him.

B. God does not reward the sleepy-eyed, complacent, half-interested, worldly-minded, pleasure seeker.

C. God rewards those who diligently seek to know and follow Him.

D. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
a. To “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:16).
b. To “ask...seek...knock” (Matthew 7:7-8).
c. To “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
d. To “pray and fast,” that is, to persevere in prayer (Matthew 17:21).

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