Faith That Inspires: Enoch

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.—Hebrews 11:5–6 (NASB95)

Today we continue our series, Faith That Inspires, drawn from the Heroes Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11. Our study today is about Enoch – a mysterious person in scripture who, though only mentioned briefly, lived an extraordinary life. So remarkable that he did not die!

Icebreaker – We have over 200 miles of hiking trails in The Woodlands, TX. Do you use them? Which part is your favorite, and why?

1. Read Genesis 5:21-24. How does Hebrews 11:5 help us make sense of the story of Enoch recorded in Genesis?
2. Read Psalm 23:4. Walking is a metaphor we use today, as biblical writers employed it. In the Psalm, David describes walking with God as resulting in courage and comfort. When was the last time you had to walk through a “valley of the shadow of death”? Was God with you? Why or why not?
3. Read Hebrews 10:35-36 and Hebrews 6:12. The writer describes our life as a journey. We learned last week that walking by faith is not self-confidence but God-confidence. In light of that truth, how would we “throw away our confidence?” 
4. Read Genesis 3:8-10. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, evening walks with God were normal! Imagine if you had a close friend who walked with you regularly in the evening. You met every day, but this friend hid from you one day because they were guilty of sinning against you. What would your reaction be when you found out? How does that help us understand God’s heart better?
5. Look again at today’s passage. How long did Enoch walk with God? Did he do that all of his life? When did he start? Walking with God for 300 years will undoubtedly build a close relationship, but if that does not describe your daily life, take heart! It is never too late to start. Enoch finished well, but he didn’t start until he was 65!
6. Read John 10:10. What does Jesus want for you?
7. Read Philippians 3:12-14. What does “pressing on” look like in your life right now?