Asking for a Friend (What is the difference between believing in God and having faith?)

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Hands at the Foot of the Cross

A rich man ran to Jesus and knelt. He called Him “Good Teacher” and recited every commandment he’d kept since youth. Jesus looked at him with love and said, “Sell everything. Give to the poor. Follow Me.” The man walked away clutching his wealth, believing truth but refusing surrender. [41:09]

Jesus didn’t ask for admiration—He demanded allegiance. The man’s belief stopped at agreement, never reaching trust. He wanted salvation without sacrifice, eternity without obedience. Jesus’ love compelled radical surrender, but the cost felt too high.

What do you clutch tighter than Christ? Identify one area—finances, relationships, comfort—where you say “I believe” but resist release. How would sitting in that chair of surrender today reshape your walk with Him?

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”
(Mark 10:21, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one thing you’ve withheld from Christ. Ask Him to replace your grip with open-handed trust.

Challenge: Write down the withheld area on paper. Physically place your hands palms-up for 60 seconds while praying, “Take it all.”

Day 2: When Belief Meets the Chair’s Frame

Jesus told the rich man, “Sell everything.” The command tested whether his belief would become faith—whether he’d stand near the chair or sit in it. Like shingles on a shaky ladder, we often carry burdens God never asked us to hold. [44:54]

Faith transfers weight from our shoulders to Christ’s cross. The chair holds what we cannot—if we stop hovering. Jesus’ invitation isn’t to admire His strength but to rest in it. Demons know the chair exists; saints let it bear their full weight.

Where are you still “carrying shingles” instead of sitting? Choose one anxiety or control issue. Literally pull up a chair today—sit, stand, sit again—while declaring, “I trade my strength for Yours.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for specific burdens He’s carried. Ask Him to reveal any you’ve reclaimed.

Challenge: Set a phone alarm labeled “Sit Down.” At each alert, pause and whisper, “I rest in You.”

Day 3: Gym Membership Christianity

A man studies fitness—reads books, buys gear, quotes routines—but never lifts a weight. His knowledge changes nothing. Jesus told the rich man, “Follow Me,” not “Memorize Me.” Information without action breeds stagnant belief. [57:12]

Faith is the gym where belief builds muscle. It’s not agreeing Jesus rose—it’s living like death lost its sting. The rich man’s error wasn’t ignorance but inaction. He knew the commandments but refused the command.

What spiritual “equipment” have you collected without using? Open your Bible app—read one highlighted verse, then do what it says today. How might obedience reshape that truth from theory to testimony?

“Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.”
(James 1:22, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to turn one scriptural truth you’ve intellectualized into actionable steps this week.

Challenge: Text a friend: “I’m practicing [specific verse] today. Ask me tonight how it went.”

Day 4: Ladders and Trust Falls

Peter stepped onto stormy waves, trading boat safety for Jesus’ call. For three steps, faith walked. Then fear sank him. Jesus grabbed his hand, asking, “Why did you doubt?” Like that ladder climb, faith falters when we focus on winds, not Him. [01:00:26]

Trust falls require falling. Peter’s failure wasn’t stepping out—it was stopping. The rich man never even got wet. Jesus rewards risk-taking faith, not perfect performance. His grip holds whether we’re climbing or crashing.

What “storm” have you avoided entering because you fear sinking? Write one fear keeping you in the boat. Pray, “I’ll step if You say ‘Come’”—then watch for His nudge.

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’”
(Matthew 14:31, NIV)

Prayer: Name a specific doubt. Ask for courage to step toward it, not away.

Challenge: Place a water glass where you’ll see it. Each sip, pray, “Help me walk on waves, not just admire them.”

Day 5: Myriads Crying “Worthy”

John saw countless angels encircling God’s throne, shouting, “Worthy is the Lamb!” Every creature joined—heaven, earth, under the earth. The rich man’s story ends with silence; Revelation’s climax is deafening praise. Faith transforms solitary loss into eternal gain. [30:50]

Surrender unlocks participation in this song. The rich man kept his coins but missed the chorus. When we empty our hands, we free them to lift in worship. True faith doesn’t calculate cost—it sees Christ’s worth.

What “coin” still muffles your praise? Choose one area to release with this prayer: “Your worthiness > my wealth.” How might surrender amplify your voice in heaven’s anthem?

“Then I heard every creature in heaven… singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!’”
(Revelation 5:13, NIV)

Prayer: Worship Jesus for three specific traits making Him worthy of your full surrender.

Challenge: Sing one full worship song aloud today. Text someone, “He’s worthy—listen to what He did for me…”

Sermon Summary

Worship opens with a posture of awe as the congregation proclaims Jesus worthy, remembering his blood and the reconciliation made possible through the cross. Attention shifts to practical church life with giving, connection through a new app, and invitations to serve on a bridge team that helps people move from first-time guests to engaged members. The heart of the talk asks a pointed question: what separates mere belief that God exists from living faith that trusts and follows Jesus? Using a chair analogy, belief is described as standing near the chair or admiring it, while faith is the decision to sit and rest, handing over control and relying on God even without full proof.

Scripture grounds the distinction. The rich young ruler who ran to Jesus and kept the commandments exemplifies belief without surrender: he respected Jesus but would not give up the possessions that controlled him. The teaching contrasts two Greek words, one for intellectual acceptance and one for trust that becomes action. Trust shows itself as a verb when it changes behavior; otherwise it remains safe and theoretical. Hebrews and Proverbs inform the call to live daily dependence on God, to take up the cross, and to walk in obedience rather than merely agree with truth.

Faith proves costly and transformative. It demands surrender of comforts and control, not as asceticism for its own sake but as the means by which God reshapes desires and produces new heart and spirit. Practical steps move belief into practice: identify the area still carried alone, choose daily dependence rather than occasional assent, and obey the specific promptings God brings—even when costly. The promise is that when faith becomes active, peace replaces fear, surrender replaces control, and direction replaces confusion.

An invitation closes with a simple, decisive posture: sit in Jesus. The act of laying life down is framed not as defeat but as the pathway to being held when strength runs out. Prayer and an offer of ministry follow for those ready to move from standing near the chair to fully resting in the One who holds them.

Key Takeaways

1. Belief is not saving faith Belief can acknowledge facts without changing the heart. True saving trust moves beyond intellectual assent to reliance on Christ for life and direction. Agreement with doctrine does not equal surrender to God. If knowledge does not lead to obedience, the life has not yet been transformed. [41:40]
2. True faith requires costly surrender Faith asks for a tangible relinquishing of what controls the heart. Surrender often looks like letting go of good things that have become idols so God can reshape priorities. The cost proves the reality of commitment; what is freely kept reveals what is truly trusted. Choosing loss for Jesus tests and deepens dependence. [58:53]
3. Trust must function as a verb Trust as a noun can be comfortable and safe; trust as action demands movement. Turning trust into daily practices shows whether belief is theoretical or lived. Walking with God means relying on him step by step, not reserving control as a backup plan. Faith that acts reshapes choices and rhythms of life. [47:06]
4. Faith produces real life change When faith takes hold, behavior and emotions follow: peace often replaces fear and clarity replaces confusion. Transformation does not always happen instantly, but active trust reorders desires, habits, and relationships over time. If life shows no change, examine where surrender has not occurred. Faith that moves will make new heart and new spirit evident. [57:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:48] - Worship and Praise
[30:02] - Revelation 5 Reflection
[31:52] - Offering and Prayer
[36:05] - App and Connect Announcements
[37:45] - Series Introduction
[39:09] - Defining the Key Question
[40:26] - Scripture Reading Matthew 10
[41:40] - Belief versus Salvation
[46:09] - Belief and Faith Defined
[52:15] - Rich Young Ruler Case Study
[55:31] - Faith Is Transformational
[62:43] - Follow Me and Daily Faith
[69:31] - Invitation and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 10:17-22 (ESV)
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Observation Questions

In Mark 10:17-22, what did the rich young ruler do (actions) to show he respected Jesus, and what did he refuse to do despite his belief?
The chair analogy contrasts standing near a chair (belief) versus sitting in it (faith). What practical difference does this analogy highlight about how we relate to God? [39:09]
According to Hebrews 11:1, how does faith relate to things that are “not seen”? How does this differ from merely agreeing with facts about God?
The sermon described belief as “informational” and faith as “transformational.” What example was given to illustrate this contrast? [56:38]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the rich young ruler walked away sorrowful even though he had followed the commandments? What did his possessions represent beyond material wealth?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says to “trust in the Lord” and “not lean on your own understanding.” How might “leaning on our own understanding” look in daily decisions, even for someone who believes God exists?
The sermon argued that “belief is safe, but faith is costly.” How does the story of the rich young ruler demonstrate this cost? What might “costly surrender” look like in modern life? [58:53]
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “assurance” and “conviction.” How does this definition challenge the idea of faith as a passive agreement with doctrine?

Application Questions

Identify one area of your life where you’ve been “standing near the chair” (agreeing with God in principle) but haven’t fully surrendered control. What would it look like to “sit down” in trust this week? [44:54]
The gym membership analogy compared being informed about fitness to actually exercising. What spiritual “muscle” have you neglected to exercise despite knowing truth? How can you take one step to act on that truth today? [57:37]
Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him. What is one thing God has prompted you to release (e.g., a habit, relationship, or fear) to follow Him more freely? What makes this difficult?
The sermon challenged listeners to begin each day with, “Lord, I trust you with my today before I even try to control it.” How could this prayer shift your approach to a current stress or decision? [08:20]
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls for acknowledging God “in all your ways.” What practical decision (e.g., finances, parenting, or work) have you been handling independently? How can you invite God into that process this week?
The rich young ruler’s story shows that good behavior isn’t enough. Where have you relied on “doing the right things” instead of surrendering your heart to God? How can you move from rule-following to relational trust?
The chair analogy ends with resting in God’s strength. What burden are you still carrying alone that you need to lay down? Write it down and pray over it as a step of active faith. [01:10:05]

Sermon Clips

28s

#BeliefIsNotSalvation

“Now listen. There's nothing we can do to get eternal life other than to have faith. But there's a difference between believing that god exists and having faith that Jesus went to the cross for us and having faith of the salvation of Jesus. So I wanna say something this morning, and I don't want you to miss this because this is really where our message all comes from. Believing in God alone is not salvation. Belief alone is not saving. You can believe all the right things about God.”

28s

#AgreementWithoutSurrender

“Belief alone is not faith. And this is where we have to be honest because I believe there's a version of Christianity out there that tells us it's enough. To just just know that god is love and we can create our own truth and we create our own whatever. And listen, that's agreement without surrender. That's knowledge without obedience and that's not living according to the scripture that god's given us. Simply believing in god is not faith.”

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Asking for a Friend (What is the difference between believing in God and having faith?)

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Hands at the Foot of the Cross

Day 2: When Belief Meets the Chair’s Frame

Day 3: Gym Membership Christianity

Day 4: Ladders and Trust Falls

Day 5: Myriads Crying “Worthy”

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Asking for a Friend (What is the difference between believing in God and having faith?)

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