Active Waiting: Preparing, Practicing, and Performing Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! Today, we conclude our series "Come and See," focusing on evangelism and the simple act of inviting others to experience Jesus. Our theme today is "Waiting on Jesus," inspired by the last verse of Psalm 27: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." Waiting on Jesus is not a passive act but an active, engaging state of being. We must be ready for His return, and this readiness involves three key actions: preparing, practicing, and performing.
First, we must prepare. Jesus instructs us in Luke 12:35 to "gird your loins and light your lamps." This means being ready for action, much like the Israelites during the Passover. Preparation involves practical steps like having a will, praying for non-churchgoers, and inviting them to church. It's about being spiritually and practically ready for when God calls us to act.
Second, we must practice. Lighting our lamps, as Jesus says, requires practice. Just as David practiced with his slingshot before facing Goliath, we must practice our faith. This involves small, consistent actions like praying daily and inviting friends to church. Practicing our faith makes it easier to rely on it in challenging situations.
Finally, we must perform. Jesus tells us to be like servants waiting for their master, ready to open the door immediately when he knocks. This means living out our faith actively and visibly. We are called to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. And even if we make mistakes, we are forgiven, giving us the freedom to live out the gospel boldly.
In conclusion, waiting on Jesus is an active process of preparing, practicing, and performing. We are not just idly waiting but actively engaging in our faith, ready to point others to Jesus and show them the greatness of God through our actions.
### Key Takeaways
1. Active Waiting: Waiting on Jesus is not a passive state but an active engagement. We are called to be ready and prepared for His return, much like the Israelites during the Passover. This involves practical steps like having a will and praying for non-churchgoers. [04:35]
2. Preparation: Jesus instructs us to "gird our loins," meaning we must be ready for action. This preparation is both spiritual and practical, ensuring we are ready to act when God calls us. It's about being spiritually vigilant and practically prepared. [06:55]
3. Practice Makes Perfect: Just as David practiced with his slingshot before facing Goliath, we must practice our faith. This involves small, consistent actions like praying daily and inviting friends to church. Practicing our faith makes it easier to rely on it in challenging situations. [10:12]
4. Performing Our Faith: Jesus calls us to be like servants ready to open the door immediately when their master knocks. This means living out our faith actively and visibly. We are called to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, and even if we make mistakes, we are forgiven. [16:10]
5. God's Greatness: Our actions should point to the greatness of God, not ourselves. We are merely vessels through which God works. By inviting others to "come and see," we show them the amazing things God is doing in our lives and our community. [19:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Introduction to Evangelism
[02:05] - Upcoming Sermon Series
[03:22] - The Concept of Waiting
[04:35] - Active Waiting on Jesus
[05:47] - Three Steps: Prepare, Practice, Perform
[06:55] - Preparing: Gird Your Loins
[08:01] - Biblical Examples of Preparation
[09:02] - Practical Preparation in Our Lives
[10:12] - Practicing: Light Your Lamps
[11:15] - David's Practice with the Slingshot
[12:27] - Small Steps in Practicing Faith
[13:24] - Inviting Others to Church
[14:48] - Performing: Be Ready to Act
[16:10] - Walking the Walk of Faith
[17:49] - The Freedom of Forgiveness
[19:35] - Pointing to God's Greatness
[20:45] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord."
2. Luke 12:35 - "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning."
3. 1 Samuel 17:34-35 - "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 27:14 encourage us to do while waiting for the Lord? How does this align with the sermon’s message about active waiting? [04:35]
2. In Luke 12:35, what two actions does Jesus instruct us to take while waiting for His return? [05:47]
3. How did David’s practice with his slingshot prepare him for facing Goliath, according to 1 Samuel 17:34-35? [11:15]
4. What practical steps did the sermon suggest for preparing ourselves spiritually and practically for God’s call? [09:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "girding your loins" from Luke 12:35 translate to our modern-day lives? What does it mean to be spiritually and practically prepared? [06:55]
2. Why is practicing our faith, as illustrated by David’s preparation with his slingshot, important for facing life’s challenges? [11:15]
3. How can the act of inviting others to church be seen as both a practice and a performance of our faith? [13:24]
4. What does it mean to live out our faith actively and visibly, as described in the sermon? How does this relate to the idea of being ready to open the door when the master knocks? [16:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel unprepared for God’s call? What practical steps can you take this week to "gird your loins" and be ready? [09:02]
2. Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate small, consistent actions to practice your faith, such as daily prayer or inviting a friend to church? [10:12]
3. Identify a specific situation where you can actively perform your faith this week. How can you be like the servants ready to open the door immediately when their master knocks? [16:10]
4. Consider someone in your life who does not attend church. How can you prepare and practice inviting them to "come and see" what God is doing in your community? [13:24]
5. Reflect on a time when you made a mistake while trying to live out your faith. How does the sermon’s message about forgiveness and freedom in the gospel encourage you to keep trying? [17:49]
6. How can your actions this week point to the greatness of God rather than yourself? Think of one specific way you can show others the amazing things God is doing in your life. [19:35]
7. What is one practical step you can take to be spiritually vigilant and practically prepared for when God calls you to act? How can you implement this step in your daily life? [06:55]
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
Day 1: Active Engagement in Waiting
Waiting on Jesus is not a passive state but an active engagement. We are called to be ready and prepared for His return, much like the Israelites during the Passover. This involves practical steps like having a will and praying for non-churchgoers. [04:35]
Waiting on Jesus is often misunderstood as a passive act, but it is far from it. It requires active engagement and readiness. Just as the Israelites were instructed to be ready during the Passover, we too must be prepared for Jesus' return. This preparation involves both spiritual and practical steps. Spiritually, it means being vigilant in prayer, especially for those who do not yet know Christ. Practically, it involves taking steps like having a will and making sure our affairs are in order. This dual approach ensures that we are always ready to act when God calls us.
The act of waiting on Jesus is a dynamic process that keeps us spiritually alert and practically prepared. It is about living in a state of readiness, where our hearts and minds are attuned to God's will. By actively engaging in this form of waiting, we not only prepare ourselves but also create opportunities to invite others to experience Jesus. This active waiting is a testament to our faith and a powerful witness to those around us.
Psalm 27:14 (ESV): "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to be more prepared for Jesus' return? How can you actively engage in waiting on Him?
Day 2: Spiritual and Practical Preparation
Jesus instructs us to "gird our loins," meaning we must be ready for action. This preparation is both spiritual and practical, ensuring we are ready to act when God calls us. It's about being spiritually vigilant and practically prepared. [06:55]
In Luke 12:35, Jesus tells us to "gird our loins and light our lamps," a call to be ready for action. This preparation is not just about spiritual readiness but also practical preparedness. Spiritually, it means being vigilant in our faith, constantly seeking God's guidance through prayer and scripture. Practically, it involves taking tangible steps to ensure we are ready to act when God calls us. This could mean setting our affairs in order, making plans for the future, and being ready to respond to God's call at a moment's notice.
Being prepared in both spiritual and practical ways allows us to be effective in our faith journey. It ensures that we are not caught off guard and can respond promptly to God's call. This dual preparation is a testament to our commitment to living out our faith actively and responsibly. It shows that we are serious about our walk with God and are ready to take action whenever He calls.
Luke 12:35 (ESV): "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning."
Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take to ensure you are ready to act when God calls you? How can you be more spiritually vigilant in your daily life?
Day 3: Consistent Practice of Faith
Just as David practiced with his slingshot before facing Goliath, we must practice our faith. This involves small, consistent actions like praying daily and inviting friends to church. Practicing our faith makes it easier to rely on it in challenging situations. [10:12]
Practicing our faith is crucial for spiritual growth and readiness. Just as David practiced with his slingshot before facing Goliath, we too must engage in consistent, small actions that strengthen our faith. This could involve daily prayer, reading scripture, and inviting friends to church. These small, consistent actions build a strong foundation of faith that we can rely on in challenging situations. By practicing our faith regularly, we become more attuned to God's presence and guidance in our lives.
The act of practicing faith is not just about routine but about building a relationship with God. It is through these small, consistent actions that we grow closer to Him and become more confident in our faith. This practice prepares us for the bigger challenges we may face, ensuring that we are spiritually equipped to handle them. It also serves as a witness to others, showing them the importance of a consistent faith life.
1 Samuel 17:34-36 (ESV): "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.'"
Reflection: What small, consistent actions can you incorporate into your daily routine to strengthen your faith? How can you practice your faith in a way that prepares you for life's challenges?
Day 4: Living Out Our Faith Actively
Jesus calls us to be like servants ready to open the door immediately when their master knocks. This means living out our faith actively and visibly. We are called to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, and even if we make mistakes, we are forgiven. [16:10]
Living out our faith actively means being ready to respond to God's call at any moment. Jesus likens this readiness to servants who are prepared to open the door immediately when their master knocks. This requires us to live our faith visibly and actively, not just in words but in actions. It means being a living testimony of God's love and grace, showing others through our actions what it means to follow Christ. Even when we make mistakes, we are forgiven, which gives us the freedom to live out the gospel boldly and without fear.
Active faith is about more than just belief; it is about action. It involves stepping out in faith, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging. By living out our faith actively, we become a beacon of God's love and grace to those around us. This active faith is a powerful witness and can inspire others to seek a relationship with Jesus. It is through our actions that we truly demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel.
Luke 12:36-37 (ESV): "And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes."
Reflection: How can you live out your faith more actively and visibly in your daily life? What steps can you take to ensure you are ready to respond to God's call at any moment?
Day 5: Pointing to God's Greatness
Our actions should point to the greatness of God, not ourselves. We are merely vessels through which God works. By inviting others to "come and see," we show them the amazing things God is doing in our lives and our community. [19:35]
Our actions as believers should always point to the greatness of God, not ourselves. We are merely vessels through which God works, and our lives should reflect His glory. By inviting others to "come and see," we offer them a glimpse of the amazing things God is doing in our lives and our community. This invitation is not about showcasing our own achievements but about highlighting God's work and His transformative power. It is through our actions and testimonies that others can see the greatness of God and be drawn to Him.
Pointing to God's greatness requires humility and a focus on His work rather than our own. It means recognizing that we are instruments in His hands, and our purpose is to glorify Him. By living in a way that reflects God's greatness, we become a powerful witness to those around us. Our lives become a testament to His love, grace, and power, drawing others to seek a relationship with Him.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: How can your actions today point to the greatness of God rather than yourself? Who can you invite to "come and see" the amazing things God is doing in your life and community?
Quotes
1. "We talk about waiting on Jesus. A lot of times we think of waiting as this passive, passive state of being. I'm waiting. I'm waiting. I think we're going to discover here, Jesus is going to tell us is that it's quite the opposite. It's a very active, it's a very engaging state of being. We are actively waiting on Jesus. We want to be ready when Jesus returns. And that's not just sitting around and twiddling around. That's not just sitting around and twiddling our thumbs until he gets here. We want to be ready." [04:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So three steps to being ready when Jesus comes back, right, while we're waiting on Jesus. Number one, prepare. What should we be doing while we're waiting? We should be preparing, not just sitting around. Number two, practice. There are things we can practice while we are waiting. And number three, perform. So prepare, practice, perform. All right?" [05:47] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When God says go, we need to be ready. We need to be prepared. Now we think about preparing stuff. We usually do a pretty good job. Ever since I was a little kid, I would lay out my clothes for the next school day right the night before. So when I get up in the morning and I can't open my eyes, I'm stumbling around. I'll have to make sure my socks are going to match. I have clothes that are clean. And parents of young children, you remember when you had little kids? This was a necessity. If you didn't lay out their clothes, you didn't have their lunch kind of packed and ready to go out of the fridge, you were not going to make it on time. Never going to happen." [08:01] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What about our lives while we're waiting? Do we have the same understanding that we need to be getting ready and preparing for something while we wait? You don't have to raise your hand if you don't want to, I guess. But how many of you have a will, last will and testament? All right. Well, what about us that don't? Are we going to live forever? Are we not going to be prepared for that event? Don't raise your hand for this. How many of you have been praying for and will pray for a non-church person to come worship with us next Sunday? What about the rest of us? Are those family, friends, neighbors in church, are they not going to die? Are they never going to face their God? What are we doing? What are we doing while we wait for the Lord? We need to be preparing." [09:02] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "It's the same with our faith, too. The first time that we pick up our own faith and put it into practice, we're going to practice and use it, not watching other people use their faith and leaning on them. The first time we're in a situation where we have to rely on our faith, it takes practice. It's clumsy. It's complicated. It's complex. But the more you practice it, the easier it is to pick it up and light the flame of faith ourselves. So, Jesus, you want to be ready? He says, prepare. He says, practice. Light your lamps." [10:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "A great example is the young David, before he was King David in 1 Samuel 17. Everybody remembers that David slew the giant. David slew Goliath. Remember that? But everybody seems to forget that that wasn't the first time David picked up a slingshot. David says to King Saul, he says, hey, I used to keep sheep for my father, and whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it. And struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth. And if it wasn't going after the lambs and it came after me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. He practiced this. And we have things that we can practice, walking with Jesus, sharing our faith, sharing Jesus with other people." [11:15] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If you are a seasoned evangelist, you know what to do. If you have a mature faith that just you naturally overflow in talking about the Lord and what he does in your life, you know what to do. If you're a rookie, if you're an amateur at this, I'll give you a couple of easy, small ways to start. Number one, pray. Pray every day. Pray every day for your friend. Pray every day for your loved one, neighbor. Pray every day for our church and our school, the work that God is doing through us to make a difference. And then number two, invite. Just simple. Invite one or two or maybe 25 people to come and see." [13:24] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We have an idea of heroes in our world. I think if someone is a hero, maybe they are. person who do great things that show themselves to be great people but the biblical heroes Abraham and Sarah and on and on and on they were great people who did great things who showed that God is great so we don't judge our just pick on our congregation right you don't come go home today and say oh the music is great preacher was great or Pastor Jeremy was great or the ushers were great or the food and coffee was great we say this is great what God is doing this is nothing but God working through us the many ministries where we serve other people here and in our community here in Cambodia even God is is great. Come and see this amazing thing that God is doing with our church family." [19:35] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required. Has God blessed you? Has God lifted you up and placed you on solid ground? Has God pointed your life in the right direction? Has God blessed your family, your neighborhood, your country? Much will be required. We're not just idly waiting. It's not a passive thing where we sit back and we twiddle our thumbs. We want to be ready when the trumpet sounds. We want to be ready. When the Holy Spirit ignites a little spark of faith in that brother or that neighbor or that co-worker, and we are ready. We are practiced. We're prepared. We are ready to perform and help them to see Jesus." [19:35] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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