Building Faith: Weathering Life's Storms Together
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the importance of building a strong foundation in our faith, particularly in the context of life's inevitable storms. We are in the second week of our series, "Weathering the Storm," where we explore how Jesus prepares us for life's challenges, including the ultimate storm of death. We revisited the parable of the wise and foolish builders from the Gospel of Luke, emphasizing the necessity of not just hearing Jesus' teachings but also putting them into practice.
We discussed the critical role of the next generation in the church, stressing that they are not just the future but the present of the church. We must invest in them now, ensuring they are deeply rooted in their faith to withstand cultural pressures. This led us to the main theme: faith is not an already assembled product but something that requires active participation and effort.
We examined the story of Noah as a case study in faith. Noah built the ark not because he saw the rain but because he trusted God's word. This act of faith, despite the lack of visible evidence, is a powerful example of how we should live our lives. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It requires us to act today based on what we believe about tomorrow.
We also touched on the importance of hearing God's word to build faith and the necessity of putting that faith into action. Hearing produces faith, but doing proves it. We must not deceive ourselves by merely listening to God's word without acting on it. True faith is demonstrated through our actions, which should be motivated by the grace we have received from God.
Finally, we emphasized that our actions should stem from God's grace, not as a means to earn it. We are saved by grace through faith, and our good works are a response to that grace, not a prerequisite for it. This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor and allows us to live a life of freedom and purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. Investing in the Next Generation: The next generation is not just the future of the church; they are the church right now. We must invest in them, ensuring they are deeply rooted in their faith to withstand cultural pressures. This involves creating opportunities for them to lead and grow within the church community. [28:42]
2. Faith Requires Action: Faith is not an already assembled product; it requires active participation and effort. Just as Noah built the ark based on God's word, we must act today based on what we believe about tomorrow. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. [35:09]
3. Hearing Produces Faith: Hearing God's word is crucial for building faith. When we tune our ears to God's voice, it paints a future we have never seen before. This is why regular engagement with Scripture and church attendance are vital. They help us see hope and freedom in our lives. [40:36]
4. Doing Proves Faith: True faith is demonstrated through our actions. Hearing God's word without acting on it is self-deception. We must put our faith into practice, showing evidence of our beliefs through our actions. This is not about perfection but about consistent practice and growth. [45:48]
5. Grace Precedes Faith: Our actions should stem from God's grace, not as a means to earn it. We are saved by grace through faith, and our good works are a response to that grace. This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor and allows us to live a life of freedom and purpose. [56:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:13] - Invitation to Join In-Person
[27:50] - Welcoming Online Viewers
[28:42] - Investing in the Next Generation
[29:33] - Importance of Youth Engagement
[30:22] - Revisiting the Parable of the Builders
[31:03] - Jesus' Teachings on Building a Strong Foundation
[31:47] - Prayer for Guidance
[32:33] - Personal Story: The Office Chair
[33:34] - Assembling Faith
[35:09] - Faith as Substance and Evidence
[36:32] - Case Study: Noah's Faith
[39:08] - Hearing Produces Faith
[45:48] - Doing Proves Faith
[56:22] - Grace Precedes Faith
[01:05:49] - Building from God's Grace
[01:07:28] - Celebrating New Believers
[01:08:42] - Baptism and Public Profession of Faith
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Luke 6:47-49 - "I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins."
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
3. Romans 10:17 - "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
### Observation Questions
1. What are the two types of builders described in Luke 6:47-49, and what distinguishes their actions? [31:03]
2. According to Hebrews 11:1, how is faith defined? What are the two key components mentioned? [35:09]
3. In Romans 10:17, what is the source of faith, and how is it developed? [40:36]
4. What example from the Old Testament was used in the sermon to illustrate faith in action, and what was the key lesson from this example? [36:32]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to not only hear Jesus' teachings but also to put them into practice, as illustrated in Luke 6:47-49? How does this relate to building a strong foundation in life? [31:03]
2. How does the story of Noah in Hebrews 11:1 and the sermon illustrate the concept of acting on faith despite not seeing immediate evidence? What does this teach us about trust in God's promises? [36:32]
3. Romans 10:17 emphasizes the importance of hearing God's word. How can regular engagement with Scripture and church attendance help build and sustain faith in today's cultural context? [40:36]
4. The sermon mentioned that true faith is demonstrated through actions. How does this align with James 2:17, which states that faith without works is dead? [48:54]
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the importance of investing in the next generation, what are some practical ways you can support and encourage the youth in your church community to grow in their faith? [28:42]
2. Think about a time when you had to act on faith without seeing immediate results. How did that experience shape your trust in God? How can you apply this lesson to a current situation in your life? [36:32]
3. How can you make a habit of regularly engaging with Scripture to build your faith? What specific steps can you take this week to ensure you are hearing God's word consistently? [40:36]
4. Identify an area in your life where you have been hearing God's word but have not yet put it into action. What steps can you take to start practicing what you have learned? [45:48]
5. The sermon emphasized that our actions should stem from God's grace, not as a means to earn it. How can this understanding change your approach to serving and living out your faith? [56:22]
6. Consider the concept of building from God's grace rather than for God's grace. How does this perspective shift affect your motivation and actions in your daily life? [01:04:17]
7. Reflect on the role of community in building a strong foundation of faith. How can you actively participate in and contribute to your church community to help others grow in their faith? [52:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Investing in the Next Generation
The next generation is not just the future of the church; they are the church right now. We must invest in them, ensuring they are deeply rooted in their faith to withstand cultural pressures. This involves creating opportunities for them to lead and grow within the church community. By doing so, we are not only preparing them for the future but also empowering them to make a significant impact today. The church must be a place where young people feel valued, heard, and equipped to live out their faith boldly.
[28:42]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: Think of a young person in your church or community. How can you invest in their spiritual growth this week? Can you mentor them, pray for them, or involve them in a church activity?
Day 2: Faith Requires Action
Faith is not an already assembled product; it requires active participation and effort. Just as Noah built the ark based on God's word, we must act today based on what we believe about tomorrow. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This means that our faith should drive us to take steps that align with God's promises, even when we don't see immediate results. Our actions today are a testament to our trust in God's future plans for us.
[35:09]
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: What is one specific action you can take today that demonstrates your faith in God's promises? How can you step out in faith, even if you don't see the immediate outcome?
Day 3: Hearing Produces Faith
Hearing God's word is crucial for building faith. When we tune our ears to God's voice, it paints a future we have never seen before. This is why regular engagement with Scripture and church attendance are vital. They help us see hope and freedom in our lives. By immersing ourselves in God's word, we allow His promises to shape our perspective and strengthen our faith, enabling us to face life's challenges with confidence.
[40:36]
Romans 10:17 (ESV): "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Reflection: How can you make time this week to intentionally hear God's word? Can you set aside a specific time each day for Bible reading or listening to a sermon?
Day 4: Doing Proves Faith
True faith is demonstrated through our actions. Hearing God's word without acting on it is self-deception. We must put our faith into practice, showing evidence of our beliefs through our actions. This is not about perfection but about consistent practice and growth. Our actions should reflect the transformation that God's word brings into our lives, serving as a testimony to others of His power and grace.
[45:48]
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 you have been a hearer but not a doer of God's word. What practical steps can you take this week to put your faith into action in that area?
Day 5: Grace Precedes Faith
Our actions should stem from God's grace, not as a means to earn it. We are saved by grace through faith, and our good works are a response to that grace. This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor and allows us to live a life of freedom and purpose. Recognizing that our salvation is a gift from God helps us to serve Him out of love and gratitude, rather than obligation.
[56:22]
Ephesians 2:8-10 (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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Reflect on the grace God has shown you in your life. How can you respond to that grace this week through acts of kindness, service, or worship?
Quotes
1. "We believe that the future is right now when it comes to our next generation. Like, they're not the future of the church. They're the church right now. They should be ingrained in the church doing what God is calling them to do. And we are not shy in letting them take the lead in areas of this ministry. And so we just want to do whatever we can to create. We want to create opportunities for your students." [28:42] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith is a substance of things hoped for, but it's also evidence of things not seen. The author of Hebrews says this thing, faith, it's substance. This word substance means foundation, stand up under, and support. That's what that word means in the Greek. It's got substance today, but it's evidence of things not seen, which means as followers of Jesus, there should be evidence in our life today of what we believe is going to happen tomorrow." [35:09] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith is evidence today of what we believe about tomorrow. It's getting to work today. Jesus is teaching us this idea of faith. Now, I could do a whole year of series on this idea of faith, but today we're going to unpack this a little bit more, and I can't think of a better person to do a case study of than someone the author of Hebrews talks about just a few verses later. Man, this guy went through a storm. Actually, one of the biggest storms to ever go through this earth. His name was Noah." [35:55] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Hearing produces faith. Now, have you ever read a book? I caught some of you on that one. No, Sean, I haven't. Have you? Have you ever, like, read a book, like a fiction book or something, or you've heard someone explain a situation? And when you're reading it or hearing it, the moment they're saying it, it's like you can see it on film, like what it would look like on screen. Like you're picturing what it looked like. You've never pictured that scenario before, but now that you're reading it or hearing it, now you're picturing the scenario." [39:37] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We gotta be careful to what our ears are tuned to. We're not helping if it's always tuned to the bad news. We need to tune our ears to the good news about Christ. And some of us, we're scaring our children because of this new election. Like, oh, I'm scared for you. I'm scared for the world you're gonna be in. Oh, I'm so sorry for what you're gonna have to go through. Stop scaring the kids. You know what we should be saying? No matter how dark it gets, we believe in Christ and God could use you to share light in a dark situation." [41:07] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Going deeper as a Christian isn't based on what we know. It's based on what we do with what we know. And so we have so many people who are like, when are we going to go deeper, Pastor? And yet they're still not loving their neighbor. When are we going to go deeper? When are we going to go deeper, Pastor? And yet they're not even generous. When are we going to go deeper, Pastor? And they haven't served ever." [54:19] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Jesus did not come to make bad people good. Jesus came to make spiritually dead people alive so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works. He says first we're saved by Jesus' works, but then we get to do good works, which means we are not saved by good works. We have been saved for good works. That's the perspective change." [01:04:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus is our ark. The biggest storm we will ever face is sin and death and Jesus can save you from those things today. And he says, if you are in Christ, you are in the ark and I have chosen to rescue you from anything that you go through. Do you see this? This is why we listen to the teachings of Jesus. We don't call him master because he's a dictator. We call Jesus master because he's a savior. He rescues us. He saves us." [01:03:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We believe that watching Vail Online, it's a great first step. So as you check us out today, I would love to invite you and encourage you to come and join us in person at one of our upcoming weekend experiences. Listen, our service times are shown below. You, your family, and your friends will have plenty of space with full programming from birth to adults. Vail is consistently growing and expanding to bring more people into the church. We believe in community and would love for you to join us." [10:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We believe in the next generation, whether it's kids, whether it's youth, students, however that looks, young adults. And so one thing that we're just really encouraging people with going into this new season is we want to make sure that we don't hand off the baton too late. We believe that the future is right now when it comes to our next generation. Like, they're not the future of the church. They're the church right now." [28:42] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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