Building Faith: The Call to Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Authentic Faith is Lived Out in Obedience

True discipleship is not merely about acknowledging Jesus as Lord with our words; it is about living a life that reflects obedience and moral integrity. Authentic faith requires that our actions align with our professed beliefs, demonstrating a genuine commitment to follow Jesus. This means that our daily lives should be a testament to our faith, showing love, kindness, and forgiveness in all we do. Jesus challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith, urging us to ensure that our profession of faith is matched by a life that bears the fruit of repentance and obedience. [11:02]

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: Identify one area in your life where your actions do not align with your professed beliefs. What steps can you take today to bring your actions in line with your faith?

Day 2: Building on the Solid Foundation of Christ

The parable of the two builders illustrates the necessity of building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ. When the storms of life come, only those anchored in Him will stand firm. This foundation is not built through mere words or religious acts but through a life of obedience to God's word. Jesus warns that relying on anything other than Him will lead to collapse when challenges arise. Our faith must be deeply rooted in Christ, ensuring stability and strength in the face of life's trials. [23:09]

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (ESV): "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done."

Reflection: Consider a recent challenge you faced. How did your foundation in Christ help you navigate it? If it didn't, what can you do to strengthen your foundation in Him?

Day 3: Embracing a Radical Reversal of Values

Following Jesus involves a radical reversal of values, where we prize what the world deems pitiable and question what it considers desirable. This transformation is marked by an exceptional love, kindness, and forgiveness that mirrors the character of God. As disciples, we are called to live counter-culturally, valuing humility, service, and selflessness over worldly success and recognition. This shift in values is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives. [05:07]

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Reflection: Reflect on an area where your values align more with the world than with Christ. What changes can you make to embrace the values of the Kingdom of God?

Day 4: The Danger of Relying on External Indicators

Jesus warns against relying on external religious activities or giftedness as indicators of true faith. The real test of our faith is in the quiet, consistent obedience to God's word. It is easy to be deceived by outward appearances of spirituality, but true faith is revealed in the daily, unseen acts of obedience and devotion to God. Our relationship with God should be characterized by sincerity and depth, not just public displays of piety. [18:06]

Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV): "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."

Reflection: Think about your spiritual practices. Are there any that you do more for external validation than for genuine devotion? How can you refocus these practices to deepen your relationship with God?

Day 5: The Eternal Significance of Our Choices

The manner in which we hear and obey Jesus' word has significance for all of eternity. Our response to His lordship determines our eternal destiny, emphasizing the crucial nature of this decision. It is not enough to simply hear His words; we must act on them, allowing His teachings to transform our lives. This eternal perspective should motivate us to live with intentionality and purpose, knowing that our choices have lasting consequences. [38:09]

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (ESV): "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did your understanding of its eternal significance influence your choice? What can you do to ensure your future decisions align with God's eternal perspective?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection on Luke 6:46-49, we delve into the profound question Jesus poses: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" This inquiry challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith, urging us to align our actions with our professed beliefs. Jesus uses the metaphor of two builders to illustrate the importance of a solid foundation. One builder constructs his house on rock, ensuring stability when storms arise, while the other builds on sand, leading to inevitable collapse. This parable serves as a stark reminder that mere verbal acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord is insufficient without corresponding obedience and transformation in our lives.

The essence of true discipleship lies in the integration of faith and action. Jesus emphasizes that genuine faith is not just about saying the right words or performing religious acts but is demonstrated through a life of obedience and moral integrity. The call to follow Jesus is a call to a radical reversal of values, where we prize what the world deems pitiable and question what it considers desirable. This transformation is marked by an exceptional love, kindness, and forgiveness that mirrors the character of God.

Furthermore, Jesus warns against the danger of relying on external religious activities or giftedness as indicators of true faith. The real test of our faith is not in the dramatic or public displays of spirituality but in the quiet, consistent obedience to God's word. The storms of life will reveal the true foundation of our faith, and only those anchored in Christ will stand firm.

As we reflect on this teaching, we are reminded that the journey of faith is not about perfection but about a sincere commitment to follow Jesus, allowing His lordship to shape every aspect of our lives. It is a call to examine our hearts, to ensure that our profession of faith is matched by a life that bears the fruit of repentance and obedience.

Key Takeaways

1. Authentic Faith Requires Obedience: True discipleship is not just about verbal acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord but is demonstrated through a life of obedience and moral integrity. Our actions must align with our professed beliefs, reflecting a genuine commitment to follow Jesus. [11:02]
2. The Importance of a Solid Foundation: The parable of the two builders highlights the necessity of building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ. When the storms of life come, only those anchored in Him will stand firm. [23:09]
3. A Reversal of Values: Following Jesus involves a radical reversal of values, where we prize what the world deems pitiable and question what it considers desirable. This transformation is marked by an exceptional love, kindness, and forgiveness that mirrors the character of God. [05:07]
4. Beware of Relying on External Indicators: Jesus warns against relying on external religious activities or giftedness as indicators of true faith. The real test of our faith is in the quiet, consistent obedience to God's word. [18:06]
5. The Eternal Significance of Our Choices: The manner in which we hear and obey Jesus' word has significance for all of eternity. Our response to His lordship determines our eternal destiny, emphasizing the crucial nature of this decision. [38:09]
** [38:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction and Scripture Reading
[01:40] - The Foolishness of Hearing Without Obeying
[02:37] - Jesus' Audience and Their Expectations
[04:22] - Characteristics of True Discipleship
[07:28] - The Importance of Genuine Obedience
[09:03] - The Crossroads of Eternity
[11:02] - The Question of Lordship
[12:33] - The Danger of Empty Professions
[15:09] - The Necessity of Verbal Profession
[19:01] - The Deception of External Indicators
[22:59] - The Illustration of the Two Builders
[27:10] - The Danger of Superficial Faith
[32:07] - The Purpose of Life's Storms
[37:13] - The Call to Obedience and Faith
[40:16] - Conclusion and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 6:46-49

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Observation Questions:

What question does Jesus pose in Luke 6:46, and why is it significant in the context of the sermon? [11:02]
How does Jesus describe the two builders in the parable, and what distinguishes their actions? [01:15]
According to the sermon, what are the characteristics of those who can justifiably declare the lordship of Jesus? [05:07]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between verbal profession and moral obedience? [12:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the parable of the two builders illustrate the importance of a solid foundation in one's faith? What does this foundation represent? [23:09]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that external religious activities can be misleading indicators of true faith? [18:06]
How does the sermon describe the "reversal of values" that comes with following Jesus, and why is this significant for believers? [05:07]
What does the sermon imply about the eternal significance of our choices in response to Jesus' teachings? [38:09]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where your actions do not align with your professed beliefs? How can you work towards greater alignment this week? [11:02]
Consider the foundation of your faith. What practical steps can you take to ensure it is built on the solid rock of Christ, especially when facing life's storms? [23:09]
How can you actively embrace the "reversal of values" that Jesus calls for, particularly in areas where societal norms conflict with biblical teachings? [05:07]
Are there external religious activities or gifts you rely on as indicators of your faith? How can you shift your focus to quiet, consistent obedience to God's word? [18:06]
Think about a recent decision or action. How did it reflect (or not reflect) the eternal significance of following Jesus' teachings? What might you do differently next time? [38:09]
Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with obedience to Jesus' teachings. What is one tangible step you can take this week to address this struggle? [12:06]
How can you cultivate an exceptional love, kindness, and forgiveness in your daily interactions that mirror the character of God? [07:14]

Sermon Clips

It is as foolish and dangerous to hear the teaching of Jesus without obeying it as it is to build a house minus foundations. For a number of weeks now we have been searched by the instruction of Jesus contained for us in this sermon which Luke records for us from the beginning of the 20th verse of the chapter. [00:02:12]

He wanted them to be in no doubt whatsoever what it meant not simply to say that Jesus is Lord, but also to make much of that in their lifestyle too. And so in the course of the sermon, he has provided a number of characteristics that will be emblematic of those who are able with integrity to declare the lordship of Jesus Christ. [00:04:40]

To bow beneath his lordship is as we have seen to embrace the reversal of values which are prominent in our culture. It is to prize what the world thinks pitiable and to question what the world deems desirable. In other words, there will be a sense of dissonance in the child of God with so much that flushes over that individual out of the culture of our day. [00:05:16]

The love that you will manifest is the love of my Father who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, and therefore those who declare my lordship and know it to be true will be those who are the very embodiment of an increased understanding of kindness and forgiveness at the same time. [00:07:05]

The contrast you will notice is between our lips and our lives. It is between saying and doing. It has been between the individual who is able to call him Lord and yet at the same time does not do what a profession of lordship demands. It is whether a verbal profession is accompanied by moral obedience. [00:11:44]

The real test of those who name the name of the Lord, says Paul, and let us not evade for one instant the chilling demand of this, the real evidence of those who name the name of the Lord is what? That they depart from iniquity. That's the evidence. [00:21:32]

The issue is whether we do it. How then will it become apparent whether there are foundations or not in our lives? See this is a peculiar challenge again to an environment such as this, where conservative evangelicalism makes much of the importance of a verbal profession of faith that trots people through the waters of baptism justifiably so. [00:28:47]

Jesus makes it clear that only those who obey him, expressing their faith by their works, only those have truly heard the gospel. It is as Luther said, faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. John picking up on the words of Jesus writing his first letter says, if we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we're just telling lies. [00:37:20]

The manner in which we hear and obey his word has significance for all of eternity. The whole sermon is a challenge, it's a warning, it's an invitation. There are two kinds of builders, one's a wise chap, the other one's foolish. This matter is more important than who you're going to marry, where you're going to live, who you're going to spend your life with. [00:38:09]

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll, and it's fastened to the rock which cannot move, it's grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love. You see what Jesus is not saying here is this, he is not saying I kind of get you started, and then you keep yourself going and you can be assured as long as you're a wonderfully obedient person. [00:48:05]

The ground of our assurance this morning, even with our wanderings and our bumblings and our stumblings, is the fact of God's unmerited grace to us in Christ. If someone says to you do you know that you're going to heaven, in Christ you can say yes, not I hope so, yes why because of Christ. [00:50:20]

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, plus nothing. All that we bring to Christ is the sin from which we need to be forgiven. So then what is the emphasis of Jesus here simply this, Jesus makes it clear that only those who obey him, expressing their faith by their works, only those have truly heard the gospel. [00:36:39]

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Building Faith: The Call to Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Authentic Faith is Lived Out in Obedience

Day 2: Building on the Solid Foundation of Christ

Day 3: Embracing a Radical Reversal of Values

Day 4: The Danger of Relying on External Indicators

Day 5: The Eternal Significance of Our Choices

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Building Faith: The Call to Obedience

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