Contending for Faith: Embracing Growth Through Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Discomfort for Spiritual Growth

Faith is not a static state but a dynamic journey that requires active participation and courage. It involves following Jesus, who is always on the move, and often growth comes from stepping out of our comfort zones. This journey is not always easy, as it requires us to embrace challenges and uncertainties. However, it is through these moments of discomfort that we experience the most significant growth in our faith. By stepping out in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain, we allow God to work in our lives in powerful ways. [00:57]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 2: Distinguishing Between Human Failings and Divine Love

Many people walk away from their faith due to tragedy, hurt, or stagnation. It is crucial to remember that Jesus never forgets us, and our salvation is secure in Him. Tragedy can lead to doubt, but God remains good even when circumstances are not. Hurt from individuals within the church can also cause people to leave, but it is important to distinguish between the actions of broken people and the love of Jesus. By focusing on Jesus' unwavering love, we can find healing and strength to continue our faith journey. [03:37]

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you were hurt by someone in the church. How can you separate that experience from your relationship with Jesus and seek healing today?

Day 3: Standing Firm Against False Teachings

Contending for the faith is a call to action, urging us to stand firm and fight for the faith that has been entrusted to us. This involves being vigilant against false teachings that pervert the grace of God. True grace is not a license to live as we please but a call to live in a way that honors God. By knowing the truth of God's word, we can recognize and reject counterfeits, ensuring that our faith remains strong and untainted. [06:26]

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1, ESV)

Reflection: Are there teachings or beliefs you have encountered that seem to contradict the core truths of your faith? How can you seek clarity and truth from God's word today?

Day 4: The Call to Make Disciples

Discipleship is a vital part of contending for our faith. It involves investing time and energy into helping others grow in their faith. Whether it's discipling our children or coming alongside someone in the church, we are called to make disciples. This responsibility is not just for pastors but for every follower of Jesus. By stepping out in faith and trusting that God will show up in powerful ways, we can help others grow in their relationship with Him. [29:05]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can invest in spiritually? What is one practical step you can take this week to encourage their faith journey?

Day 5: Living a Life That Honors God

True grace is not a license to live as we please but a call to live in a way that honors God. We must be willing to step out in faith, even when it is uncomfortable, and trust that God will show up in powerful ways. By living out our faith, we demonstrate the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. This involves making choices that reflect our commitment to Him and seeking to honor Him in all that we do. [22:12]

"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." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to live in a way that honors God? What changes can you make today to align your actions with your faith?

Sermon Summary

Faith is a journey that requires active participation and courage. It is not a static state but a dynamic process of following Jesus, who is always on the move. Growth often comes from discomfort, and my prayer is that you embrace the challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone. The book of Jude, though brief, offers profound insights into the necessity of contending for our faith. It is a call to action, urging us to stand firm and fight for the faith that has been entrusted to us.

Many have walked away from their faith due to tragedy, hurt, or stagnation. Yet, Jesus never forgets us, and our salvation is secure in Him. Tragedy can lead to doubt, but it is crucial to remember that God is good, even when circumstances are not. Hurt from individuals within the church can also cause people to leave, but it is important to distinguish between the actions of broken people and the love of Jesus. Comfort and stagnation can lull us into complacency, but we are called to be active participants in our faith journey.

Jude emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith, a faith that was delivered once for all to the saints. This faith is the most important aspect of our lives, and it is worth fighting for. We must be vigilant against false teachings that pervert the grace of God. True grace is not a license to live as we please but a call to live in a way that honors God. We must know the truth of God's word to recognize and reject counterfeits.

Discipleship is a vital part of contending for our faith. It involves investing time and energy into helping others grow in their faith. Whether it's discipling our children or coming alongside someone in the church, we are called to make disciples. This is not just the responsibility of pastors but of every follower of Jesus. We must be willing to step out in faith, even when it is uncomfortable, and trust that God will show up in powerful ways.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith requires action and courage. Following Jesus means taking steps of faith, even when the outcome is uncertain. Growth often comes from discomfort, and we must be willing to embrace challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. [00:57]
2. Tragedy, hurt, and stagnation can lead people to walk away from their faith. It is important to remember that Jesus never forgets us, and our salvation is secure in Him. We must distinguish between the actions of broken people and the love of Jesus. [03:37]
3. Contending for the faith is a call to action. We must stand firm and fight for the faith that has been entrusted to us. This involves being vigilant against false teachings and knowing the truth of God's word to recognize and reject counterfeits. [06:26]
4. Discipleship is a vital part of contending for our faith. It involves investing time and energy into helping others grow in their faith. We are called to make disciples, and this is the responsibility of every follower of Jesus. [29:05]
5. True grace is not a license to live as we please. It is a call to live in a way that honors God. We must be willing to step out in faith, even when it is uncomfortable, and trust that God will show up in powerful ways. [22:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - The Call to Action
[02:39] - Understanding Faith and Apostasy
[03:37] - Tragedy and Faith
[04:28] - Hurt and Healing
[05:04] - Comfort and Stagnation
[06:26] - Contending for the Faith
[08:13] - The Importance of Faith
[10:02] - Showing Up for Others
[11:02] - Beware of False Teachings
[12:27] - Guarding the Faith
[13:41] - Identifying Counterfeits
[15:03] - The Basics of Faith
[18:47] - The Danger of False Gospels
[20:02] - The Value of True Grace
[22:12] - Living Out Your Faith
[29:05] - The Call to Discipleship
[30:14] - The Joy of Discipling Others
[32:24] - Finding Strength in Community
[34:29] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jude urge believers to do in Jude 1:3-4, and why is this important? [06:26]
How does the sermon describe the role of discomfort in the growth of faith? [00:57]
What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon that might cause someone to walk away from their faith? [03:37]
According to the sermon, what is the danger of false teachings within the church? [11:02]

Interpretation Questions

In Jude 1:3-4, what does it mean to "contend for the faith," and how might this look in a believer's life today?
How does the sermon suggest believers should respond to tragedy and hurt within the church? [04:28]
What is the significance of recognizing and rejecting false teachings, as discussed in the sermon? [13:41]
How does the concept of true grace differ from a permissive grace, according to the sermon? [22:12]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt uncomfortable in your faith journey. How did that experience contribute to your growth? [00:57]
Have you ever experienced hurt within the church? How can you distinguish between the actions of individuals and the love of Jesus? [04:28]
What steps can you take to actively contend for your faith in your daily life? Consider practical actions you can implement this week. [06:26]
Identify a false teaching or belief you have encountered. How did you recognize it, and what steps did you take to address it? [11:02]
How can you incorporate discipleship into your life? Identify one person you can invest in spiritually this month. [29:05]
Think about a specific area in your life where you might be using grace as a license to live as you please. What changes can you make to honor God more fully? [22:12]
Consider the role of community in your faith journey. How can you strengthen your connections with other believers to support and encourage each other? [32:24]

Sermon Clips

1) "Your faith is worth fighting for. And my prayer for you is that you would be uncomfortable. Uncomfortable breeds growth. Very little growth and life change happens when everything's fine. I'm not praying for something difficult to happen in your life. I'm praying that you might take steps of courage that would push you and stretch you. One of the ways that you and I can contend for our faith is to take steps of courage. Following Jesus requires movement. Jesus is never standing still. And we literally say we are following Jesus. That's a verb. That's action. So how are you following Jesus? When was the last time you took a step? When was the last time you were scared out of your minds following Jesus? Because you don't know how it's going to end. That's what faith is. It's taking a step not knowing the end result." [00:57] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Has anybody been hurt by the church? I'll start. I'll be the first one to raise my hand. Jesus did not hurt you. Broken people, broken individuals in the church hurt you. And I'm so sorry for that. That may happen again into the future. Why? Because there are people within the church. And anytime there's people, there's problems. My friends, Jesus has not hurt you." [05:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "The most important thing in your life is your faith. And it's not even close. Your faith is the most important thing that you have. It's the work that Jesus did for you. You personally. You personally on the cross. That he loves you unconditionally. What you believe about Jesus is the most important thing that you believe. And Jude says, I need to write to you about this." [08:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Show up. Show up. My friends, you get points for showing up in somebody's life. They won't remember what you say. They'll remember that you showed up. They'll remember that you were there with them. And Jude says, hey, I'm going to show up in your life because there's something really important I need to talk to you about." [10:02] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The grace of God does not give you a license to live your life any way you want. It compels me to honor God with everything I have because of what he's done for me. He calls us saints. He calls us. He says, we're called, we're loved, we're kept, we're saints once and for all. And let me remind you of the gospel. remind you of the good news, that we're not to live life any way we want." [22:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "One of the best ways to fight for your faith is to do some things that you've never done before. Contend for your faith. And as you do that, you will see God show up in powerful ways. Sometimes we walk away from things that have no meaningful value in our life because we're not putting into practice." [27:11] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "If you're a follower of Jesus, there's someone in your life that you should be pouring into. You should be making disciples. On this stage, I can't disciple anybody. I can teach some things. I can share some things. I can tell you some things. But disciple making is what Jesus did with 12 men in a boat and on a mountain and along the beach having campfires together and in homes. That's disciple making." [30:41] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "I'd be lying to you if I told you that I never thought about walking away from my faith. I'd be lying to you if there weren't days where I felt like this pastor thing's not working out. And I walk into a quick trip and on the sign, the front door of quick trip says they're hiring managers. And I think about it. Oh, wouldn't it be great? It's like a nine to five. I greet everybody, but I don't have to hear all their problems. I can go home. I'm bearing my heart here. But my faith is worth it too much. Consent for your faith. It means too much. Your faith is worth fighting for, my friends." [33:33] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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