Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph each come to the end of life — and each one looks past it.
By faith Isaac blesses Jacob and Esau over things still to come. Jacob, dying, blesses Joseph’s sons and worships. Joseph, dying, speaks of an exodus he will not live to see and leaves directions about his bones.
What does faith do when you can bless a future you won’t be here for — children and grandchildren whose lives will unfold after yours?
“By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.” — Hebrews 11:20
Join us Sunday at 10:45 AM in the Choir Rehearsal Room as Bill Wright teaches “Faith in the Face of Death” (Hebrews 11:20–22). Bring your Bible; if you don’t have one, we’ll get you one.
What does genuine faith look like when God’s instructions seem impossible to understand? Last Sunday, Jay and Rachel Mathew led our Foundations class through Abraham’s ultimate test of faith — the offering of Isaac — revealing that faith is not about knowing how God will work, but trusting that He will remain faithful to His promises.
Drawing from Hebrews 11:17–19 and Genesis 22, they highlighted three essential characteristics of our journey of faith:
- Conviction — Obey Without Complete Clarity. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when he could not understand how it would be fulfilled. Our conviction to obey God must be stronger than our desire to know the outcome.
- Perseverance — Remain Faithful Through Recurring Trials. Abraham’s journey included failures, victories, and repeated tests. As Jay reminded us, past successes don’t guarantee future victories, but past failures don’t determine our future faithfulness.
- Assurance — Live in the Victory Christ Has Already Won. Abraham believed God had power even over death. His experience foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ, giving believers confidence that our journey of faith ultimately ends in triumph.
A Memorable Illustration: Jay recalled watching the Houston Astros’ dramatic Game 5 victory in the 2017 World Series. Rewatching the game is different because he already knows the outcome. Likewise, Christians can face life’s uncertainties with confidence because we already know who wins — Jesus Christ!
Our Takeaway: Faith doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, hardship, or fear. It gives us the conviction to obey, the perseverance to continue, and the assurance to trust God’s promises.
As we continue our Faith Beyond Sight series, may we remember that our confidence rests not in our ability to understand God’s plan, but in the faithfulness of the One who holds our future.
Missed Sunday? Watch the full lesson here.
The Men’s BBQ Trail rolled into Terry Black’s BBQ on November 5, bringing another opportunity for the men of Biblical Foundations to enjoy Texas barbecue and strengthen friendships.
A highlight of this stop was a special behind-the-scenes tour led by pitmaster Mr. Brooks, who gave the group an up-close look at the smokers, briskets, and the art of preparing authentic Texas barbecue. It was a fascinating opportunity to see what goes into producing some of Houston’s favorite BBQ.
A big Texas-sized THANK YOU to our Trail Boss, Richard! His enthusiasm and continued leadership keep the BBQ Trail rolling, creating opportunities for great food, memorable experiences, and lasting friendships beyond the classroom.
Great BBQ brings us together, but fellowship is what makes the journey worthwhile!
Here’s to the next stop on the trail!
What will we leave behind when our time on earth comes to an end? In Sunday’s message, Pastor Gregg concluded our journey through Numbers by examining Moses’ final days of leadership and his remarkable example of finishing well.
Rather than focusing on what he would miss by not entering the Promised Land, Moses demonstrated selfless leadership by preparing Joshua to lead God’s people into their future.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Face Your Ending — Life Is Entrusted, Not Owned. Everything we have — our time, possessions, influence, and opportunities — is a gift from God. Recognizing that life is temporary should motivate us to live intentionally and steward His blessings wisely.
- See Past Yourself — Put Others First. Moses didn’t plead for his own future; he asked God to provide a shepherd for His people. A lasting legacy isn’t measured by what we accumulate, but by the lives we influence and the people we help grow.
- Raise Up the Next Generation — Pass the Torch. Moses commissioned Joshua, a proven and faithful leader. Likewise, we are called to mentor, disciple, encourage, and equip others to continue God’s work long after our own season of leadership ends.
The Gospel Connection: Pastor Gregg emphasized a powerful parallel: Moses, representing the Law, could bring Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, but Joshua led them in. Likewise, our good works cannot bring us into heaven. Only Jesus Christ, our Savior, can lead us into eternal life.
Life Application: Whatever our age or stage of life, we can invest in relationships, share our faith, mentor someone younger, and build a legacy rooted in Christ. Retirement doesn’t mean retiring from God’s purpose!
A Question Worth Pondering: We spend considerable effort preparing financially for the end of life, but are we preparing spiritually — and helping others do the same?
As Pastor Gregg reminded us, our greatest legacy is not the possessions we leave behind, but the people whose lives we have touched for Jesus.
“Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
Watch the full message here.
Class Christmas Party
Foundations Bible Study Class
Friday, December 4
6:30 PM
Hosted by:
Walt & Lauree Benson
Location:
18227 Widcombe Dr.Houston, TX 77084
Save The Date
Mark your calendars for our annual Foundations Class Christmas Party.
More Details To Follow
Dinner arrangements, activities, and RSVPs will be announced soon as Christmas approaches!
Come enjoy an evening of fellowship, joy, and Christmas cheer!
Brookwood Cafe fills up fast for the holiday season! Call or text Karen at 713-204-8384 to reserve your seat NOW.
Carpool departs at 10:30 AM from Karen’s for the trip to Brookshire.
We only have 10 spots reserved, so don’t delay! Let us know quickly if more need to be added.
The Chosen — Season 6, Episode 1: special early-access showing Sun Nov 8, 5:15p on The Lawn.
For the grieving: Surviving the Holidays meets Nov 10 (6:45p, Cypress campus) — gentle support heading into the holidays. Share it with someone who needs it.
Save the dates: Then Sings My Soul hymn-sing, Nov 11 (6:30p, The Loop Chapel) — free to attend. An Evening with Dr. Peter J. Williams: Can We Trust the Gospels? — Nov 13 (7p, Downtown). TOYMAKER, the new interactive Christmas musical, Dec 11–13 — tickets on sale now.
Men:Serve: Sat Nov 21, 8a–1p, all campuses — a men’s service day; a fit for the BBQ Trail crowd.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: Thu Dec 24, 1p / 3p / 5p, The Loop (Pastor Gregg) — also on TV, KHOU 11 at 8p and KPRC 2 at 10:35p. Save the date.
No class, Thanksgiving & New Year’s weekends: Sun Nov 29 (Brian McCormack) and Sun Dec 27 (Mikado Hinson) — worship 9:15a / 11a / 4p; no Life Bible Studies.
One-liner: LoopedIn! is the church’s new digital updates channel — worth a follow.
We’ve created a Foundations Class GroupMe message center as a convenient, real-time way to share prayer requests, announcements, and encouraging messages. Join or leave anytime — no pressure. Mute notifications if you prefer silence, or jump into the conversation when something grabs your heart.
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Watch this week's livestream here:
