Articulating Faith: The Journey from Agreement to Obedience

Passion is contagious. When we truly love something, it naturally spills out of us—we talk about it, share it, and want others to experience it too. Whether it’s music, sports, or any other interest, the things we dwell in become the things we tell. This is just as true—if not more so—when it comes to our faith. The heart of Christian living is not just agreement with the truths of Jesus, but a deep, ongoing dwelling in His presence, His Word, and His people, so that our faith becomes something we can articulate with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

The call to apologetics is not about having all the answers or being able to win every argument. It’s about being able to give a reason for the hope that is within us, as 1 Peter 3:15 commands. This doesn’t require a theological dissertation, but it does require a faith that is real, lived-in, and able to be expressed. There is a world of difference between an articulated faith—a faith that can be spoken of easily and confidently because it has been dwelled in—and an unarticulated faith, which is easily swayed, easily forgotten, and easily dismissed by others.

Where we dwell reveals what we truly value. If we ascribe value to God and His gospel, we will spend time with Him, and our ability to speak about our faith will grow. If we do not, our faith will remain unarticulated, weak, and of little help to ourselves or others. The journey from unarticulated to articulated faith is a lifelong process, but it begins with the gospel—the story of Jesus, not our own story. The Roman Road, a series of verses from Romans, provides a clear, powerful way to internalize and share the gospel. When we preach the gospel to ourselves daily, it becomes etched on our hearts, and we are then able to share it with others authentically and powerfully.

Obedience, not mere agreement, is what God desires. Agreement is the starting point, but obedience is the journey. As we dwell in God’s presence and let His Word shape us, we become people who can confidently and passionately tell others about the hope we have in Christ. Our lives then become a testimony, not just of what we believe, but of the One in whom we believe.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Where you dwell is what you tell. The things we spend our voluntary time on become the things we talk about most passionately and confidently. If we want to be able to speak about our faith with clarity, we must dwell in the presence of God, in His Word, and among His people. Our ability to articulate our faith is a direct reflection of where we have chosen to invest our hearts and minds. [36:32]
• 2. Articulated faith is a process, not a destination. No one arrives at a perfectly articulated faith overnight; it is a journey of continual growth. Each day spent with God, learning and internalizing His truth, makes us more able to express our faith to others. The goal is not perfection, but progress—becoming more articulate today than we were yesterday. [35:16]
• 3. The gospel is not your story—it’s Jesus’s story. Our testimony is important, but the power lies in the gospel itself, the story of what Jesus has done. Using God’s Word, such as the Roman Road, grounds our faith in truth and gives us a clear, authoritative way to share the hope we have. When we let the gospel saturate our hearts, it naturally overflows to others. [44:22]
• 4. Preach the gospel to yourself first. The person you will share the gospel with most often is yourself. By daily reminding ourselves of who Jesus is and what He has done, we anchor our identity and hope in Him. This daily proclamation shapes our actions, our attitudes, and our ability to share Christ with others authentically. [48:28]
• 5. Obedience is the mark of articulated faith. God is not looking for mere agreement with His truth, but for lives marked by obedience. Agreement is the first step, but obedience is the journey that leads to a faith that is lived, spoken, and shared. As we obey, we become people who can give a reason for our hope, and who invite others to experience the same joy in Christ. [50:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:16] - The World of Metal and Passion
• [30:50] - Introduction to Apologetics
• [33:10] - Why Apologetics Matters to God
• [35:16] - Faith Articulated vs. Unarticulated
• [36:32] - Where You Dwell Is What You Tell
• [38:31] - The Dangers of Unarticulated Faith
• [39:34] - Examining Your Own Faith
• [41:02] - Where Is Your Treasure?
• [44:22] - The Roman Road: The Gospel Story
• [48:28] - Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
• [49:40] - The Lifelong Process of Articulated Faith
• [50:59] - Obedience vs. Agreement
• [54:44] - Dwelling in God’s Presence
• [61:39] - Baptism and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) — > "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

2. Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
> "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

3. Romans Road (selected verses)
- Romans 3:23 – "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 6:23 – "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Romans 5:8 – "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
- Romans 10:9 – "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 8:1 – "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
- Romans 8:38-39 – "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Peter 3:15, what are believers called to be ready for, and how are they supposed to do it?
2. In Matthew 6:21, what connection does Jesus make between our treasure and our heart?
3. The sermon described two types of faith: articulated and unarticulated. What are the main differences between these two, according to the message? [[35:16]]
4. What is the Roman Road, and why did the pastor emphasize using it to share the gospel? [[44:22]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Peter say we should be ready to give a reason for our hope, and why is gentleness and respect important in that process?
2. The sermon said, “Where you dwell is what you tell.” How does this idea help us understand what we truly value in our lives? [[36:32]]
3. The pastor said that agreement with God is just the starting point, but obedience is the journey. What does it look like to move from just agreeing with God to actually obeying Him? [[50:59]]
4. Why is it important to preach the gospel to ourselves first, before sharing it with others? [[48:28]]

Application Questions

1. Think about your own life: What are the things you “dwell” in most? How do these things show up in your conversations with others? Are you as comfortable talking about your faith as you are about your favorite hobbies or interests? Why or why not? [[36:32]]
2. The sermon said that an unarticulated faith is easily swayed, forgotten, or dismissed. Have you ever felt like your faith was hard to explain or share? What do you think caused that, and what could help you grow in this area? [[39:34]]
3. The Roman Road is a simple way to share the gospel using Scripture. Have you ever tried to memorize or use these verses? What would it look like for you to start preaching the gospel to yourself daily, as the pastor suggested? [[44:22]] [[48:28]]
4. The message challenged us to move from just agreeing with God to obeying Him. Is there an area in your life where you know what God wants, but you haven’t taken the step to obey? What’s holding you back, and what’s one step you could take this week? [[50:59]]
5. The pastor said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If someone looked at your calendar or your bank statement, what would they say your treasure is? Is there anything you want to change about where you invest your time and resources? [[41:02]]
6. Who is someone in your life that you would like to share your faith with, but you feel unprepared or nervous? What is one thing you could do this week to become more ready to share the hope you have in Christ? [[35:16]]
7. The sermon talked about the importance of being in God’s presence, His Word, and with His people. Which of these do you find easiest, and which is hardest for you? What’s one practical way you could “dwell” more deeply in God this month? [[36:32]]