Authenticity in Faith: Living Out True Belief

Summary

### Summary

Welcome, Transformation Church family! Today, we concluded our "Summer on the Mount" series by diving into the final part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, focusing on the theme of authenticity in our faith. We began with a light-hearted discussion about online shopping deals, which served as a metaphor for the main message: the importance of genuine faith over superficial appearances. Just as we can be deceived by labels on products, we can also be misled by people who claim to be Christians but do not live out their faith authentically.

Jesus warned us about false prophets and believers, emphasizing that we can identify them by their fruits—their actions and behaviors. This isn't a new problem; it has been an issue since the times of the prophets like Jeremiah and even in the early church. Jesus' teachings in Matthew 7:15-23 provide a clear standard for discerning true believers from false ones. He uses the analogy of trees and their fruits to illustrate that good trees produce good fruit, while bad trees produce bad fruit. This principle applies to our lives as well: our actions should align with our professed faith.

We explored three key tests to determine the authenticity of our faith and the faith of others: the fruit test, the root test, and the heart test. The fruit test involves examining the visible actions and behaviors of a person. The root test goes deeper, looking at the underlying causes and influences that shape those actions. Finally, the heart test examines the core motivations and attitudes that drive a person's life.

We must be cautious not to judge others without first examining ourselves. Authentic faith requires a deep, personal relationship with God, grounded in His Word and reflected in our daily lives. We must strive to live out the teachings of Jesus, showing love, grace, and humility in all that we do. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of superficial faith and truly embody the transformative power of the Gospel.

### Key Takeaways

1. Authenticity in Faith: True faith is not just about labels or outward appearances but is demonstrated through consistent, Christ-like actions. We must examine our lives to ensure that our actions align with our professed beliefs. Authentic faith is rooted in a deep relationship with God and is reflected in our daily behaviors. [06:15]

2. Testing the Fruits: Jesus teaches us to identify true believers by their fruits—their actions and behaviors. Good fruits come from a life grounded in God's Word and His principles. We must be diligent in studying the Bible to develop discernment and accurately assess the fruits of our own lives and those around us. [15:45]

3. Examining the Roots: Bad fruits often indicate deeper issues at the root level. We must look beyond surface behaviors to understand the underlying causes. This involves assessing the influences and environments that shape our lives and making necessary changes to ensure we are rooted in healthy, godly soil. [22:20]

4. Purity of Heart: The condition of our heart is crucial in determining the authenticity of our faith. Our attitudes, ambitions, and agendas must align with Christ's teachings. A pure heart, free from selfish motives and pride, will naturally produce good fruits and reflect the character of Jesus. [29:18]

5. Self-Examination and Accountability: Before judging others, we must first examine ourselves. Seeking feedback from trusted, godly individuals can help us identify blind spots and areas for growth. Authentic faith requires ongoing self-assessment and a willingness to make necessary changes to align our lives with God's standards. [39:16]

### YouTube Chapters

1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:12] - Introduction and Online Shopping Metaphor
3. [04:57] - The Problem of Superficial Faith
4. [06:15] - Historical Context of False Prophets
5. [07:25] - Overview of the Sermon on the Mount
6. [08:38] - The Test of a True Believer
7. [10:06] - Jesus' Warning About False Prophets
8. [11:41] - The Standard of Authenticity
9. [13:08] - Testing the Fruits
10. [15:45] - The Importance of Biblical Knowledge
11. [17:17] - Personal Story: Orange Groves and Standards
12. [19:40] - The Role of Consistency in Authentic Faith
13. [21:08] - Practical Steps for Testing Fruits
14. [22:20] - Testing the Roots
15. [23:35] - The Importance of Good Soil and Time
16. [24:52] - The Role of Experience and Testing
17. [26:21] - Consistency in Producing Good Fruits
18. [27:34] - Removing Bad Influences
19. [29:18] - Testing the Heart
20. [30:34] - Filters of a Pure Heart: Attitude, Ambition, Agenda
21. [32:07] - The Impact of Contaminated Water
22. [33:29] - Jesus' Warning About False Believers
23. [34:56] - The Importance of Self-Examination
24. [36:30] - Knowing Jesus and Living Authentically
25. [37:48] - Questions for Self-Reflection
26. [39:16] - Personal Story: Counseling and Self-Assessment
27. [40:35] - Call to Action and Conclusion
28. [42:16] - Invitation to Accept Jesus

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 7:15-23 - "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’"

### Observation Questions
1. What metaphor does Jesus use in Matthew 7:15-23 to describe false prophets and believers? How does this metaphor help us understand the concept of authenticity in faith?
2. According to the sermon, what are the three tests to determine the authenticity of our faith? ([08:38])
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the fruits of a person's life and their professed faith? ([10:06])
4. What does the sermon suggest is the importance of self-examination before judging others? ([14:29])

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the analogy of trees and their fruits in Matthew 7:15-23 help us discern true believers from false ones? What does this imply about the nature of authentic faith?
2. The sermon mentions the "fruit test," "root test," and "heart test." How do these tests collectively help in assessing the authenticity of one's faith? ([08:38])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that superficial faith can be identified and addressed within the church community? ([04:57])
4. How does the concept of "good soil" and "time" relate to the development of authentic faith according to the sermon? ([23:35])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Do your actions consistently align with your professed faith? What specific areas need improvement to produce "good fruit"? ([10:06])
2. Think about the influences in your life. Are there any relationships or environments that might be contributing to "bad roots"? How can you address these influences to ensure you are rooted in healthy, godly soil? ([23:35])
3. How can you cultivate a pure heart that aligns with Christ's teachings? Identify one specific attitude, ambition, or agenda that you need to change to reflect a pure heart. ([30:34])
4. Before judging others, how can you practice self-examination and seek feedback from trusted, godly individuals? What steps will you take this week to assess and improve your own faith authenticity? ([14:29])
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing God's Word to develop discernment. What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Bible and apply its teachings to your daily life? ([15:45])
6. Identify one person in your life who may be struggling with superficial faith. How can you lovingly and humbly help them grow in their relationship with God and produce good fruit? ([36:30])
7. Reflect on the concept of "contaminated water" in the sermon. Are there any negative influences or attitudes in your life that might be contaminating your spiritual growth? How can you purify these influences to ensure healthy spiritual development? ([33:29])

Devotional

Day 1: Authenticity in Faith
True faith is not just about labels or outward appearances but is demonstrated through consistent, Christ-like actions. We must examine our lives to ensure that our actions align with our professed beliefs. Authentic faith is rooted in a deep relationship with God and is reflected in our daily behaviors. [06:15]

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your daily actions reflect your professed faith in Christ? Identify one specific area where you can improve and commit to making a change today.

Day 2: Testing the Fruits
Jesus teaches us to identify true believers by their fruits—their actions and behaviors. Good fruits come from a life grounded in God's Word and His principles. We must be diligent in studying the Bible to develop discernment and accurately assess the fruits of our own lives and those around us. [15:45]

"Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit." (Matthew 7:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions or behaviors in your life demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit? How can you cultivate more of these good fruits in your daily walk with God?

Day 3: Examining the Roots
Bad fruits often indicate deeper issues at the root level. We must look beyond surface behaviors to understand the underlying causes. This involves assessing the influences and environments that shape our lives and making necessary changes to ensure we are rooted in healthy, godly soil. [22:20]

"Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What are the underlying influences in your life that may be producing bad fruits? Identify one negative influence and take a step to remove or change it today.

Day 4: Purity of Heart
The condition of our heart is crucial in determining the authenticity of our faith. Our attitudes, ambitions, and agendas must align with Christ's teachings. A pure heart, free from selfish motives and pride, will naturally produce good fruits and reflect the character of Jesus. [29:18]

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Examine your heart's motives and attitudes. Are there any selfish ambitions or prideful thoughts that need to be surrendered to God? How can you cultivate a purer heart today?

Day 5: Self-Examination and Accountability
Before judging others, we must first examine ourselves. Seeking feedback from trusted, godly individuals can help us identify blind spots and areas for growth. Authentic faith requires ongoing self-assessment and a willingness to make necessary changes to align our lives with God's standards. [39:16]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Who are the trusted, godly individuals in your life that can help you with self-examination? Reach out to one of them today and ask for their honest feedback on your spiritual walk.

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Isn't it crazy how these websites like Wish and Teemu and stuff gain all this steam and people go in there and they put their credit card information in and they just fill their cart with like $200 worth of stuff, which gets them like 6,000 items. You know what I mean? And they look at the label and they're like, oh, it says it's real. So I'm going to take it at face value that it's real." [04:57] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "How often does that happen in church where somebody's like you work with at your job? They're like, yeah, man, I'm a Christian, bro. I go to North, South, Central, West, First, Second Baptist Church. You're like, oh man, I'm sure it's a great church, bro. But then we get disappointed because what they put on is a label of authenticity they don't show in the way they live." [05:30] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We live in the most biblically ignorant society in history. We've neglected the word of God, the Bible to become a podcast fed generation and get someone else's revelation instead of sitting at the feet of Jesus and say, Lord, what are you speaking to me? It's like we've disrespected and under misunderstood that Jesus has a word for you personally, but instead we get lazy and receive one corporately." [16:45] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Knowing Jesus is serving him and his children without any agenda or personal gain in mind. Knowing Jesus is desiring, spending time with him and his word for the sake of becoming like him, not becoming educated. Knowing Jesus is flowing rivers of living water from a pure heart that provides a drink to the thirsty all around you. That's knowing Jesus." [36:30] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What could happen in this nation? If we laid aside this definition of Christians of being Sunday saints, but Monday sinners, what could happen if a real revolution of real actually hit our nation? Can it start in Tallahassee, Florida today? Can it start in Transformation Church today? Come on, can it start today here for you and for I to first assess our fruits and then assess the ones around us?" [41:50] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The fruits of a true followers lips match the fruits of their life. So when they say a thing, they actually do a thing, but it doesn't stop there. The fruits of a true followers life match the fruits of God's word. So with the core of somebody who's producing good fruit to be tested and found true, there's a foundation of understanding that there has to be up against the alignment of what God's word says is true and righteous." [15:45] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Consistently good fruits only come from consistently strong roots. Don't be jaded by the fair weather fruits of an ungrounded person. Because from time to time, people who don't have good roots can bring up good fruit. Look at the consistency of that person's life. Zoom out and zoom into yourself. If you wonder why in certain areas of your life you've trusted yourself to be stronger than you thought you were, ask yourself, how long have I been rooted in what God says about this area of my life?" [26:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Could it be that the river that's flowing from you and watering the soil with the roots below you that are creating the fruits that are frustrating you was contaminated before it touched the dirt? Contaminated with a bad agenda, contaminated with a false ambition, contaminated with a sorry attitude, a terrible attitude. Could it be that we're sitting and cursing fruits that we're watering with contaminated water?" [33:29] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Am I being influenced by believers who've not passed the fruit test in their life? And if they pass an initial fruit test, how are their roots? And if their roots are okay, what is their heart? What's their attitude, their ambition, their agenda, and being so involved in my life?" [37:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I encourage everybody in this room to do that this week for yourself first, before you go making the inventory list of people in your life that need to be addressed. But when you do that, you have to lay before you, hey, I'm now aware of this, but awareness is not the end. Action is the beginning. We got to act. We got to get better. We got to be stronger." [40:35] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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