Building a Spiritual Toolbox for Lasting Faith

Today, I brought along my carpenter’s bag as a reminder that just as every tradesperson needs the right tools to do their job well, so too do we need a spiritual toolbox to build strong, lasting lives of faith. Over the years, I’ve watched generations of believers, and I’ve noticed that those who grow deep and healthy in their walk with God are intentional about what they keep in their spiritual toolbox. We expect a carpenter, a plumber, or even a doctor to show up with the right tools—why would it be any different for us as followers of Jesus?

One of the most important “tools” we need is the presence of loving, truthful people in our lives. These are the friends, mentors, and encouragers who help us open the “jars” we can’t open ourselves, who invest in us, and who love us into being. Like Fred Rogers once said, none of us are self-made; we are shaped by those who have poured into us, and it’s good to pause and give thanks for them.

But there’s another tool that’s just as essential: experience. Growth doesn’t happen by accident. Just as apprenticeships, internships, and residencies are necessary in every profession, so too is hands-on experience necessary for spiritual maturity. We don’t become competent in faith by simply reading about it or attending church; we grow by living it out, by making mistakes, by learning, and by persevering through the wobbly moments of life.

Moses’ life is a powerful example. God didn’t just call him to lead Israel out of Egypt; He spent years preparing Moses through education, hardship, and leadership challenges. God is far more interested in what He does in us through these experiences than just what He does through us. Our spiritual muscles are built not by avoiding difficulty, but by embracing the process of growth, even when it’s messy or painful.

It’s not enough to simply have experiences—what matters is gaining experience, learning from it, and letting it shape us into people who know God more deeply and serve others more faithfully. Whether you’re just starting out or have been walking with Jesus for decades, don’t get stuck or discouraged. Embrace the season you’re in, let God grow you, and trust that every experience—joyful or painful—is a tool in His hands to make you more like Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Cherish the People Who Shape You None of us are self-made; we are the product of those who have loved, encouraged, and invested in us. Taking time to remember and give thanks for these people not only honors them but also reminds us of God’s goodness expressed through community. Their presence in our lives is a vital tool for spiritual growth, and we should intentionally keep such relationships close at hand. [76:47]
• 2. Experience Is the Pathway to Competence Just as every profession requires hands-on training, spiritual maturity comes through lived experience, not just knowledge. God uses the ups and downs of life to build our spiritual muscles, teaching us lessons that can’t be learned any other way. Embracing the process, even when it’s uncomfortable, is essential for real growth. [78:46]
• 3. God Prepares Us Through Every Season The story of Moses shows that God is always at work, using every stage of our lives—education, hardship, leadership, and even failure—to prepare us for His purposes. What matters most is not just what God does through us, but what He does in us as we grow and mature. Our experiences, both good and bad, are part of God’s training ground. [85:38]
• 4. Don’t Settle for Mere Experiences—Gain Experience There’s a difference between having an experience and gaining experience. It’s easy to attend church, read the Bible, or participate in worship, but true growth comes when we learn how to connect with God, apply His Word, and serve His people. Seek to move beyond surface-level encounters and let every opportunity deepen your walk with Christ. [95:02]
• 5. Embrace the Process, Even When It’s Messy Growth is often wobbly, like a toddler learning to walk, and it includes both joyous and painful moments. Don’t let setbacks, mistakes, or difficult seasons cause you to stall out. Instead, invite God to use every circumstance to grow you, trusting that He is shaping you into someone who reflects His character more fully.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [66:00] - The Carpenter’s Toolbox: An Object Lesson
• [67:29] - Everyone Needs a Toolbox
• [68:41] - The Doctor’s Tackle Box
• [69:47] - What’s in a Christian’s Toolbox?
• [70:43] - The Power of Loving, Truthful People
• [73:05] - The Jam Jar Story and Unexpected Gifts
• [74:23] - Fred Rogers and the Power of Influence
• [77:28] - The Value of Gaining Experience
• [79:53] - Lessons from Inexperience
• [84:06] - Moses: A Life Shaped by Experience
• [85:38] - God’s Training Ground for Moses
• [89:08] - Learning Through Mistakes and Laughter
• [92:23] - Wobbly Moments Build Strength
• [95:02] - The Difference Between Experience and Gaining Experience
• [96:01] - Encouragement to Embrace Growth
• [99:44] - Invitation to Faith and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Exodus 3:10-12 (ESV) — > “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Acts 7:20-22 (ESV) — > “At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Exodus 3:10-12, what was Moses’ initial reaction to God’s call, and how did God respond to his concerns?
2. In Acts 7:20-22, what kinds of experiences and training did Moses receive before God called him to lead Israel?
3. The sermon mentioned that “none of us are self-made; we are shaped by those who have poured into us.” What examples did the pastor give to illustrate this point? [01:14:23]
4. What is the difference between “having an experience” and “gaining experience,” as explained in the sermon? [01:35:02]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God allowed Moses to go through so many different seasons—education in Egypt, hardship in Midian, and leadership in the wilderness—before using him to lead Israel? [01:25:38]
2. The pastor said, “God is far more interested in what He does in us through these experiences than just what He does through us.” What does this mean for how we view our own life challenges? [01:27:38]
3. How does having loving, truthful people in our lives act as a “tool” for spiritual growth? Can you think of a time when someone helped you “open a jar you couldn’t open yourself”? [01:16:47]
4. The sermon draws a line between simply attending church or reading the Bible and actually learning to connect with God and serve others. Why is this distinction important for spiritual maturity? [01:35:02]

Application Questions

1. The pastor encouraged everyone to “pause and give thanks” for the people who have shaped us. Who is one person who has invested in your spiritual journey, and how can you intentionally thank or encourage them this week? [01:14:23]
2. Think about your current “spiritual toolbox.” Are there any relationships or mentors you need to seek out or invest in more deeply? What’s one step you could take to do that? [01:16:47]
3. The sermon talked about embracing the process of growth, even when it’s messy or painful. Is there a difficult experience you’re going through right now that you can ask God to use for your growth? What would it look like to “embrace” it rather than avoid it? [01:38:44]
4. The difference between “having an experience” and “gaining experience” was highlighted. Is there a spiritual practice (like prayer, Bible reading, or serving) where you’ve been going through the motions? How could you move from just “having the experience” to “gaining experience” and growing deeper? [01:35:02]
5. Moses doubted his ability and lacked experience, but God still called and equipped him. Is there an area where you feel unqualified or inexperienced? How might God be preparing you through your current season? [01:24:58]
6. The pastor used the image of a toddler learning to walk—wobbly but necessary for growth. Can you share a “wobbly” moment in your faith journey? How did God use it to strengthen you? [01:32:23]
7. The sermon said, “Don’t get stuck or discouraged. Embrace the season you’re in, let God grow you, and trust that every experience—joyful or painful—is a tool in His hands.” What’s one practical way you can remind yourself of this truth when you face setbacks? [01:38:44]