Active Faith: Trusting and Living Christ's Teachings

In our journey of faith, the essence of salvation lies in truly trusting Jesus Christ. This trust goes beyond merely acknowledging His existence or the historical events of His life. It requires a deeper commitment to believe not only in Him but also to believe Him and embrace what He believed. This progression is crucial for entering the kingdom of God. It involves aligning our beliefs with His, trusting in His teachings, and allowing those beliefs to shape our actions and decisions.

To truly follow Christ, we must fix our minds upon Him, allowing His life and teachings to guide us. This means living out our faith actively, not passively. It is about making His beliefs count in our daily lives, acting on them, and letting them influence our thoughts and behaviors. This active faith is what brings us closer to the kingdom of God and transforms our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Trusting Jesus Christ involves more than acknowledging His existence; it requires believing in His teachings and aligning our beliefs with His. This deeper trust is essential for entering the kingdom of God. [00:12]
• 2. Many people believe in Christ but do not believe Him. To truly follow Him, we must embrace His teachings and let them guide our lives. This means living out our faith actively and allowing His beliefs to shape our actions. [00:30]
• 3. The progression into the kingdom of God involves not just believing in Christ but also believing what He believed. This requires a commitment to trust His teachings and let them influence our thoughts and behaviors. [00:42]
• 4. Fixing our minds upon Christ is crucial for living out our faith. By focusing on His life and teachings, we can allow them to guide us and transform our lives. This active faith brings us closer to the kingdom of God. [00:42]
• 5. Making Christ's beliefs count in our daily lives involves acting on them and letting them influence our decisions. This active faith is what transforms our lives and brings us closer to the kingdom of God. [00:42]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:12] - Trusting Jesus Christ
• [00:30] - Believing in Christ vs. Believing Christ
• [00:42] - Progression into the Kingdom
• [00:42] - Fixing Our Minds on Christ
• [00:42] - Living Out Our Faith
• [00:42] - Making Christ's Beliefs Count

1. John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me."
2. James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
3. Hebrews 12:2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

1. What does it mean to "believe in Christ" versus "believing Christ," as discussed in the sermon? [00:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the progression into the kingdom of God? [00:30]
3. According to the sermon, what role does fixing our minds on Christ play in our faith journey? [00:42]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how Christ's beliefs can influence our daily decisions? [00:42]

1. How does the concept of believing what Christ believed challenge or affirm your current understanding of faith? [00:30]
2. In what ways might actively living out one's faith differ from a passive belief in Christ? [00:42]
3. How can fixing our minds on Jesus, as mentioned in Hebrews 12:2, transform our daily lives and decisions?
4. What might it look like to let Christ's teachings shape our actions and behaviors in practical terms? [00:42]

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How might it have been different if you had fully embraced and acted on Christ's teachings? [00:42]
2. Identify one belief of Christ that you find challenging to align with. What steps can you take this week to better align your actions with this belief? [00:30]
3. Consider a situation where you tend to act passively in your faith. What is one specific action you can take to live out your faith more actively in that context? [00:42]
4. Is there a particular teaching of Jesus that you struggle to trust? How can you work on trusting and applying this teaching in your life? [00:12]
5. Think of a time when you felt distant from God. How might fixing your mind on Christ have changed that experience? [00:42]
6. Choose one area of your life where you want to see transformation. How can you let Christ's beliefs guide your actions in that area this week? [00:42]
7. What is one practical way you can remind yourself daily to focus on Jesus and His teachings? [00:42]