BlogSermon on Faith: 3 Outlines from Hebrews 11, Mark 5 and Romans 4
Three complete outlines on faith with base texts and developed points, plus guidance for preaching faith in a way that is clear, biblical and practical for ordinary believers.
- Faith has an object: a good sermon on faith points less to how much we believe and more to the God we believe in.
- Three outlines ready: Hebrews 11 for faith that obeys, Mark 5 for faith that reaches out, Romans 4 for faith that rests on God's promise.
- Make it concrete: show what trusting God looks like on a Tuesday, not only on Sunday.
- Be honest about struggle: Scripture is full of people who believed and still wrestled.
A sermon on faith helps your people understand what it means to trust God, why that trust is well placed, and how it shows up in daily life. The best faith sermons do not ask people to work up more feelings; they point them to the faithful God and His promises. Below are three sermon outlines about faith from Hebrews 11, Mark 5 and Romans 4, each with a base text and developed points you can adapt this week.
Faith is one of those topics everyone in the pew has heard about, and yet many quietly wonder whether their own faith is real or strong enough. That is a good place for a pastor to start. When you preach on faith, you are speaking to the anxious believer, the tired believer, and the person who is still deciding whether to trust Christ at all.
What is faith, according to the Bible?
Hebrews gives the most quoted description: faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In plain words, faith is confident trust in what God has said, even before we see it fulfilled. It is not wishful thinking or positive thinking. It rests on the character of God and the work of Jesus Christ.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:1-3 (KJV)
Three simple ideas help most congregations grasp biblical faith:
- Faith believes what God says. It takes His word as true, even when circumstances seem to argue against it.
- Faith trusts who God is. It leans on His goodness, power and faithfulness, not on our own strength.
- Faith acts on God's word. Every person in Hebrews 11 did something because they believed: built, offered, went, chose.
Sermon on faith outline 1: Faith That Obeys (Hebrews 11)
Hebrews 11 is often called the hall of faith, and it is a natural first choice when preaching on faith. Rather than covering all forty verses, this outline focuses on a few key figures and draws a thread through them: faith hears God, moves toward Him and keeps going.
By Faith They Went
Hebrews 11:1-16- I. Faith pleases God
Without faith it is impossible to please him. The writer says we must believe that God is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Faith begins with God Himself: His existence, His nearness and His goodness toward those who come.
Hebrews 11:6 - II. Faith obeys before it sees
Noah prepared an ark for a flood no one had seen, and Abraham went out not knowing whither he went. Faith often means taking the next step God has shown you without having the whole map.
Hebrews 11:7-8 - III. Faith waits for God's timing
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. Some promises are fulfilled in our lifetime and some beyond it. Faith keeps trusting when the answer takes longer than we hoped.
Hebrews 11:13-16 - IV. Faith looks to Jesus
The chapter does not end with the heroes but with the One they pointed to. Hebrews 12 calls us to run with patience, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Our faith is started and completed by Him.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Sermon on faith outline 2: Faith That Reaches Out (Mark 5)
Mark 5 weaves two stories together: a desperate father named Jairus and a woman who had suffered for twelve years. Both come to Jesus with nothing left to try. This makes a strong short sermon on faith for congregations who feel stuck, because it shows faith as simply coming to Jesus with your need.
Just Come to Jesus
Mark 5:21-43- I. Faith comes to Jesus in desperation
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue, a man of standing, yet he fell at the feet of Jesus and begged Him to come. Faith often begins when our own resources run out and we admit we need Him.
Mark 5:22-24 - II. Faith reaches out even when it is weak
The woman thought, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. Her faith was quiet, hidden and mixed with fear, yet Jesus honored it. Weak faith in a strong Savior is still real faith.
Mark 5:25-29 - III. Faith is met personally by Jesus
Jesus stopped and asked who touched Him. He did not want her to leave as a face in the crowd. He called her Daughter and spoke peace over her. Faith is not a transaction but a relationship with a Lord who knows us.
Mark 5:30-34 - IV. Faith keeps trusting when the news gets worse
While Jesus was speaking, word came that the girl had died. Jesus said to Jairus, Be not afraid, only believe. Faith is tested when delays and bad news come, and it holds on to the word of Christ.
Mark 5:35-36
Sermon on faith outline 3: Faith That Rests on God's Promise (Romans 4)
Romans 4 is the place to go when you want your people to understand how faith relates to salvation. Paul uses Abraham to show that we are made right with God by trusting His promise, not by earning His favor. This faith sermon brings clarity to believers and is a clear gospel invitation for seekers.
Fully Persuaded
Romans 4:1-25- I. Faith receives what we cannot earn
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Paul insists this was not wages for work but a gift received by trust. That is the heart of the gospel, and it brings deep rest to tired consciences.
Romans 4:3-5 - II. Faith faces reality honestly
Abraham considered not his own body now dead, about a hundred years old. Faith does not pretend problems are small. It looks at them honestly and then looks beyond them to God.
Romans 4:18-19 - III. Faith grows by giving glory to God
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Faith grows as we fix our attention on God's power and faithfulness rather than on our own ability.
Romans 4:20-21 - IV. Faith looks to the risen Christ
Paul applies the story to us: righteousness is counted to those who believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. The object of saving faith is Jesus, delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:23-25
How do you make a sermon on faith practical?
Faith can easily stay abstract. People nod along, agree that faith matters, and go home unchanged. The difference often comes in the application. Here is a simple process you can use with any of the outlines above, whether you preach expository sermons through a book or a single message on the theme.
- 1Name the real situations
Think about what your people are actually facing: a job decision, a strained marriage, a child far from God, a season of waiting. Faith is trusting God in those exact places.
- 2Show faith as action
In every outline, faith does something. Ask your listeners what one step of obedience would look like for them this week.
- 3Use the people in the text
Abraham, Noah, Jairus and the woman in the crowd are ordinary people with real fears. Let their stories carry the application instead of piling up abstract principles.
- 4Give a picture
A clear illustration, such as sitting down on a chair you trust will hold you, helps people see that faith is about the reliability of the object, not the strength of the one sitting.
- 5Invite a response
Close with a call to trust Christ for salvation and to trust Him with one specific burden. Our guide on how to end a sermon has several ways to do this well.
What other passages work for preaching on faith?
| Passage | Angle | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 22:1-14 | Faith that surrenders what it loves | A deeper message for mature believers |
| Matthew 14:22-33 | Faith that steps out and cries for help | Youth or a congregation in a storm |
| Mark 9:17-27 | Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief | Honest doubters and strugglers |
| James 2:14-26 | Faith that works | Challenging nominal Christianity |
| Habakkuk 3:17-19 | Faith when nothing is going well | Seasons of loss or waiting |
If you want to preach several Sundays on the topic, these passages make a natural series. Plan the order, the titles and one key application per week, and you will have a month of preaching on faith ready before you start. Our page of sermon series ideas shows how to lay out a series like this.
Whatever text you choose, remind your people where faith comes from. It is not something they must manufacture alone. God gives it, and He strengthens it as His word is heard.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
Weak faith in a strong Savior is still real faith.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible passage for a sermon on faith?
Hebrews 11 is the most common choice because it defines faith and gives many examples. Romans 4, Mark 5, Mark 9:17-27, Matthew 14:22-33 and James 2 are also excellent, depending on the angle you want to take.
How do I preach on faith without sounding abstract?
Use the people in the text, name the real situations your congregation is facing, and show faith as a concrete step of trust. One clear application is better than several general ones.
What is the difference between faith and hope in a sermon?
Faith is trust in God and His word now; hope is the confident expectation of what God will do in the future. They are closely related, and Hebrews 11:1 connects them directly.
How long should a sermon on faith be?
Most Sunday sermons on faith run twenty-five to thirty-five minutes. A short sermon on faith for a midweek service or small group can be fifteen minutes with a single passage like Mark 5:25-34.
How do I speak to people who struggle with doubt?
Be honest that Scripture includes believers who wrestled, like the father who said Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Point them to the faithfulness of God rather than the strength of their own feelings.
Preach faith from the text
Pulpit Method can give you a starting outline from Hebrews 11, Mark 5 or any passage on faith, so you spend more time in prayer and less time staring at a blank page.
Prepare my sermon Works on your phone and computer
We are the team behind Pulpit Method. We are not a seminary and we do not sign as pastors. Every Bible quotation comes from the King James Version and can be checked. Editorial policy.
- Hebrews 11:1-3
- Hebrews 11:1-16
- Hebrews 11:6
- Hebrews 11:7-8
- Hebrews 11:13-16
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- Mark 5:21-43
- Mark 5:22-24
- Mark 5:25-29
- Mark 5:30-34
- Mark 5:35-36
- Romans 4:1-25
- Romans 4:3-5
- Romans 4:18-19
- Romans 4:20-21
- Romans 4:23-25
- Romans 10:17
- Ephesians 2:8-9
