Building Faith on the Foundation of Grace
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the second week of our series, "Weathering the Storm," focusing on the importance of building a strong foundation in our faith. We revisited the parable of the wise and foolish builders from the Gospel of Luke, emphasizing that a solid foundation in Christ is essential for withstanding life's inevitable storms. Jesus' teachings are not just to be heard but to be acted upon. This principle is illustrated through the story of Noah, who built the ark by faith, even though he had never seen rain. His actions were driven by the grace he received from God, not by a desire to earn it.
We explored the concept that faith is both hearing and doing. Hearing God's word builds our faith, but it is through our actions that our faith is proven. This is a challenging message, especially for those who may be comfortable in their knowledge of scripture but are not actively living it out. We are reminded that true depth in our Christian walk is not measured by how much we know but by how much we do with what we know.
Moreover, we discussed the importance of grace. Grace is the unearned favor of God, and it precedes our faith. We do not build our lives to earn God's grace; we build from a place of having already received it. This perspective shifts our motivation from trying to earn God's favor to responding to His love and grace with our actions.
In conclusion, we are called to examine whether we are building our lives for God's grace or from God's grace. This reflection is crucial as it determines the authenticity and strength of our faith. Let us commit to hearing and doing God's word, building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, and living out our faith from the grace we have received.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Requires Action: Faith is not just about hearing God's word but also about doing it. Jesus emphasized that those who hear His teachings and put them into practice are like wise builders who lay a strong foundation. This principle challenges us to move beyond mere knowledge and to live out our faith in tangible ways. [29:57]
2. Grace Precedes Faith: We do not earn God's grace through our actions; rather, we act because we have already received His grace. This foundational truth shifts our motivation from trying to earn God's favor to responding to His love. Noah built the ark not to gain God's grace but because he had already found grace in God's eyes. [56:09]
3. Hearing Produces Faith: Faith comes by hearing the word of God. When we immerse ourselves in scripture and surround ourselves with the good news, our faith is strengthened. This principle underscores the importance of regular engagement with God's word and being part of a faith community. [37:32]
4. Doing Proves Faith: Our actions are the evidence of our faith. James reminds us that faith without works is dead. This means that true faith will always manifest in our actions, whether it's serving others, loving our neighbors, or living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [46:08]
5. Building from Grace: Our efforts to live a godly life should stem from the grace we have received, not from a desire to earn it. This perspective helps us to build our lives on a solid foundation, knowing that we are already accepted and loved by God. It transforms our actions into acts of gratitude and worship. [59:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:04] - Introduction to Vail Church
[27:20] - Investing in the Next Generation
[28:02] - Importance of Parental Involvement
[29:01] - Recap of Week One
[29:57] - Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
[30:41] - Prayer for Guidance
[31:02] - Office Chair Analogy
[32:34] - Assembling Faith
[33:48] - Definition of Faith
[35:14] - Case Study: Noah
[37:32] - Hearing Produces Faith
[41:13] - Responsibility of Hearing God's Voice
[43:45] - Doing Proves Faith
[46:08] - Faith Without Works is Dead
[50:07] - Rooted Program
[53:08] - Grace Precedes Faith
[56:09] - Noah's Motivation
[59:17] - Building from Grace
[01:04:03] - Invitation to Accept Christ
[01:07:32] - Baptism Weekend
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 6:46-49 - "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
3. Hebrews 11:7 - "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus compare to a person who hears His words and puts them into practice in Luke 6:46-49?
2. According to Hebrews 11:1, how is faith described?
3. What motivated Noah to build the ark according to Hebrews 11:7?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of not just hearing His words but also acting on them? ([29:57])
2. How does the description of faith in Hebrews 11:1 relate to the actions of Noah in Hebrews 11:7? ([35:14])
3. What does it mean to build our lives from God's grace rather than for God's grace? ([59:17])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you heard God's word but struggled to put it into practice. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them? ([29:57])
2. How can you ensure that your daily actions reflect your faith, similar to how Noah acted on God's instructions despite not seeing immediate evidence? ([35:14])
3. In what ways can you immerse yourself more in God's word to strengthen your faith? Consider practical steps like joining a Bible study group or setting aside daily reading time. ([37:32])
4. Think about an area in your life where you might be trying to earn God's grace through your actions. How can you shift your perspective to act from a place of already having received His grace? ([59:17])
5. Identify one specific action you can take this week to live out your faith more tangibly, such as serving others or sharing your testimony. How will you hold yourself accountable to this action? ([46:08])
6. How can you create an environment in your home or community that promotes hearing and doing God's word? What changes might you need to make to foster this environment? ([41:13])
7. Reflect on the concept of building a strong foundation in your faith. What practical steps can you take to dig deeper and strengthen your foundation in Christ? ([48:56])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in Action
Faith is not just about hearing God's word but also about doing it. Jesus emphasized that those who hear His teachings and put them into practice are like wise builders who lay a strong foundation. This principle challenges us to move beyond mere knowledge and to live out our faith in tangible ways. The parable of the wise and foolish builders from the Gospel of Luke illustrates this perfectly. The wise builder, who hears and acts on Jesus' words, builds his house on a rock, ensuring it stands firm against storms. In contrast, the foolish builder, who hears but does not act, builds on sand, leading to inevitable collapse. This calls us to examine our lives and ensure that our faith is evidenced by our actions. [29:57]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: Think of one specific teaching of Jesus that you have heard but not yet acted upon. What practical steps can you take today to start living out that teaching?
Day 2: Grace as the Foundation
We do not earn God's grace through our actions; rather, we act because we have already received His grace. This foundational truth shifts our motivation from trying to earn God's favor to responding to His love. Noah built the ark not to gain God's grace but because he had already found grace in God's eyes. This perspective helps us understand that our efforts to live a godly life should stem from the grace we have received, not from a desire to earn it. It transforms our actions into acts of gratitude and worship. [56:09]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt you had to earn God's favor. How does understanding that you already have His grace change your approach to living out your faith?
Day 3: Hearing God's Word
Faith comes by hearing the word of God. When we immerse ourselves in scripture and surround ourselves with the good news, our faith is strengthened. This principle underscores the importance of regular engagement with God's word and being part of a faith community. Hearing God's word is the first step in building a strong foundation in our faith. It is through hearing that we come to know God's promises and His will for our lives. [37:32]
Romans 10:17 (ESV): "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Reflection: How often do you engage with God's word? What changes can you make to ensure you are regularly hearing and meditating on scripture?
Day 4: Evidence of Faith
Our actions are the evidence of our faith. James reminds us that faith without works is dead. This means that true faith will always manifest in our actions, whether it's serving others, loving our neighbors, or living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. Our actions are a testament to the faith we profess. They show the world that our faith is alive and active. [46:08]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where your actions do not align with your professed faith. What steps can you take to bring your actions in line with your faith?
Day 5: Building from Grace
Our efforts to live a godly life should stem from the grace we have received, not from a desire to earn it. This perspective helps us to build our lives on a solid foundation, knowing that we are already accepted and loved by God. It transforms our actions into acts of gratitude and worship. When we build from grace, we are motivated by love and thankfulness, not by fear or obligation. This creates a more authentic and resilient faith. [59:17]
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are already accepted and loved by God change your motivation for living a godly life? What actions can you take today to live out this truth?
Quotes
1. "If we want to prepare for a storm tomorrow, we better start today, right? Jesus was trying to help us stay ready so we wouldn't have to get ready. It's more difficult to build a shelter in the middle of a storm, in the chaos of a storm, than get ready before the storm hits. And so we talked about God's powerful, indestructible word that we can build our life upon." [29:01] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When it comes to faith, we want it to be an already assembled faith, and that's just not the way it is. See, Jesus gives us the instructions, and we got the building material, but we're gonna have to be the ones who assemble it. We're gonna have to be the ones who do the work. Yes, it's powerful. Yes, it's good, but we don't already have an assembled faith. God's teaching us how we can assemble this faith to prepare for life's storms and what that looks like today." [32:34] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith is evidence today of what we believe about tomorrow. That's what it means to live a life of faith. It's to build today. Why we believe tomorrow, even though we may not be able to see it. We may not see the storm, but Jesus told us it will be there. We may not see what's going on, but we're going to be faithful today." [33:48] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Faith comes from hearing. That is hearing the good news about Christ. Faith is developed through our ears. Faith is developed by what's coming in. So our ears can be tuned to good news and produce faith in our life, or we can keep tuning our ears to bad news and produce fear in our life. And I'm telling you, in 2024, now more than ever, we have an opportunity where we can keep tuning our ears to things that are not good news." [38:48] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you open that word up, it brings faith into our life. That's why I say, I just haven't heard the voice of God right next to you. I'm so adamant about church attendance. When we come to spaces like this, you have a moment where you can begin to hear God's voice and his word, and it begins to paint a future you didn't know even existed. For those who are bound, he can begin to paint a picture of freedom. For those who are hopeless, he can paint a picture of hope." [40:05] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Hearing produces faith, but listen, doing proves faith. He thought that was a tough point. We're going somewhere today, y'all. We're going somewhere today, y'all. Hearing produces faith, but it's the doing that proves faith. This was the wrestle with Jesus, right? This is what he was communicating when he was talking on the Sermon on the Mount. He was looking at the audience of the Pharisees and the church people and everyone listening." [43:45] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Going deeper as a Christian isn't based on what we know. It's based on what we do with what we know. It's not just getting more knowledge. It's not just getting more word. That's important. But listen, there are too many Christians who are educated beyond their obedience. I know a lot, but we don't do a lot with it. This is the part, remember, if you're not a Christian yet, you can lean in because this is going to get a little, all right, here we go." [51:09] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We are not saved by good works. We have been saved for good works. So when we listen to the teachings of Jesus, we're not calling him master because he's a dictator. We're calling him master because he's our savior. And we would gladly build our life because of what he has done for us. Man, don't get it twisted." [01:01:58] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Am I building for God's grace or am I building from God's grace? I want you to chew on this this week. Am I doing my reading time for God's grace or am I doing it from God's grace? Am I serving at Vail for God's grace or am I serving from God's grace because he's been good to me? Am I forgiving others for God's grace or am I forgiving from God's grace?" [01:03:35] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If you're here today, and you don't know Christ, it's time to get in the ark. I'm sure they ridiculed Noah too. Why are you building a giant boat? A storm's coming? Hey, it's coming. And you have a choice today to receive this gift of faith. Just get in the ark. How do I do that? Declare Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. You can do that right now." [01:04:03] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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