Embracing Faith: Trust, Generosity, and Community Impact
Summary
In today's gathering, we celebrated the power and greatness of Jesus, acknowledging His sacrifice that grants us life. We are reminded of the importance of coming together in faith, regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey. Our community is a place where we can trust, love, and worship God collectively, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so. As we continue to grow in our faith, we are encouraged to embrace the journey God has for us, knowing that He meets us where we are but doesn't leave us there.
We also discussed the significance of giving as an act of worship, trusting God with our resources, and stretching our generosity to support the vision God has for our community. This is not just about financial giving but also about offering our time and talents to further God's kingdom. We are called to be a blessing to others, and through our collective efforts, we can make a significant impact.
In our series "Faith-Filled," we explored the concept of faith as trust in God, even when we cannot see the outcome. We examined the story of Elisha and King Joash from 2 Kings 13, where Joash was instructed to strike the ground with arrows. This act symbolized the extent of his faith and determination to defeat his enemies. The lesson here is to take action with the gifts and talents God has given us, trusting that He will guide us and use us for His purposes.
We are challenged to step out of our comfort zones, to take risks in faith, and to trust God beyond what we can see. This means believing in the potential God has placed within us and using it to make a difference. We are encouraged to strike the ground repeatedly, to persevere in faith, and to trust that God will bring about the victory He has promised.
Key Takeaways:
- Celebrating Jesus Together: Our faith journey is enriched when we come together to celebrate and worship Jesus. His name is powerful, and His sacrifice gives us life. We are reminded that no matter where we are in our faith, we can trust and love God collectively. [22:20]
- Generosity as Worship: Giving is an act of worship that extends beyond finances. It involves offering our time and talents to further God's kingdom. By trusting God with our resources, we can make a significant impact in our community and beyond. [26:24]
- Faith Beyond Sight: Faith is trusting God even when we cannot see the outcome. It involves stepping out of our comfort zones and believing in the potential God has placed within us. We are called to take action with the gifts and talents God has given us. [40:15]
- Perseverance in Faith: We are encouraged to strike the ground repeatedly, to persevere in faith, and to trust that God will bring about the victory He has promised. This means taking risks and trusting God beyond what we can see. [57:17]
- Mobilizing for Impact: As a community, we are called to mobilize and make a difference. This involves dreaming big, taking action, and trusting God to do what only He can do. Together, we can strike the ground and make a lasting impact for God's kingdom. [01:10:36]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [22:20] - Celebrating Jesus
- [23:30] - Community Connection
- [24:48] - Announcements and Giving
- [26:24] - Worship Through Giving
- [28:29] - Prayer for Generosity
- [35:09] - Introduction to Faith-Filled Series
- [36:12] - Understanding Faith
- [37:03] - Dreaming Without Limitations
- [38:18] - Trusting God Beyond Sight
- [40:15] - Faith as Trust
- [44:34] - Story of Elisha and Joash
- [48:02] - Using Our Gifts
- [54:01] - Making an Impact
- [57:17] - Perseverance in Faith
- [01:10:36] - Mobilizing for Impact
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Kings 13:14-19
- Hebrews 11:1
- Malachi 3:10
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Observation Questions:
1. In 2 Kings 13:14-19, what was the significance of King Joash striking the ground with arrows, and how did Elisha react to his actions? [46:22]
2. How does the sermon describe the act of giving as a form of worship, and what biblical basis is provided for this practice? [26:24]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between faith and action, particularly in the context of using one's gifts and talents? [48:02]
4. According to the sermon, what role does community play in our faith journey, and how is this reflected in the way we worship and serve together? [22:20]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Elisha and King Joash illustrate the concept of faith as described in Hebrews 11:1, and what lessons can be drawn about trusting God beyond what we can see? [40:15]
2. In what ways does the sermon challenge the listener to step out of their comfort zone, and how does this relate to the biblical call to live by faith? [57:17]
3. How does the sermon interpret the act of striking the ground as a metaphor for perseverance in faith, and what implications does this have for our spiritual growth? [57:17]
4. What insights does the sermon provide about the importance of generosity, and how does this align with the teachings in Malachi 3:10? [28:42]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was calling you to step out in faith. What was your response, and how can you apply the lesson from Elisha and Joash to take more decisive action in the future? [46:22]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of community in our faith journey. How can you actively contribute to building a stronger faith community in your church or small group? [22:20]
3. Consider the gifts and talents God has given you. What is one specific way you can use them to serve others and further God's kingdom this week? [48:02]
4. The sermon discusses the idea of giving as an act of worship. How can you stretch your generosity, not just financially, but also with your time and talents, to support your community? [26:24]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel comfortable but sense God is calling you to take a risk. What practical steps can you take to move beyond your comfort zone and trust God more fully? [57:17]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of dreaming without limitations into your daily life, and what impact might this have on your faith and actions? [37:03]
7. Reflect on the concept of perseverance in faith. What is one area where you need to "strike the ground" repeatedly, and how can you commit to this practice in the coming weeks? [57:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Celebrating Jesus Together
In our faith journey, the power of community is undeniable. Coming together to celebrate and worship Jesus enriches our spiritual lives and strengthens our collective faith. Jesus' sacrifice grants us life, and His name holds immense power. Regardless of where we are on our spiritual path, we can trust and love God collectively. This communal worship is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey, and it encourages us to support and uplift one another as we grow in faith. [22:20]
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to this week to encourage and support in their faith journey?
Day 2: Generosity as Worship
Generosity is a profound act of worship that extends beyond financial giving. It involves offering our time, talents, and resources to further God's kingdom. By trusting God with what we have, we can make a significant impact in our community and beyond. This act of giving is not just about the material but also about the heart's posture towards God and others. We are called to be a blessing, and through our collective efforts, we can support the vision God has for our community. [26:24]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can offer your time or talents this week to serve someone in your community?
Day 3: Faith Beyond Sight
Faith is about trusting God even when we cannot see the outcome. It requires stepping out of our comfort zones and believing in the potential God has placed within us. We are called to take action with the gifts and talents God has given us, trusting that He will guide us and use us for His purposes. This kind of faith challenges us to dream without limitations and to trust God beyond what we can see. [40:15]
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more, even though the outcome is uncertain?
Day 4: Perseverance in Faith
We are encouraged to strike the ground repeatedly, to persevere in faith, and to trust that God will bring about the victory He has promised. This means taking risks and trusting God beyond what we can see. Perseverance in faith involves a commitment to continue believing and acting on God's promises, even when challenges arise. It is about holding onto the hope that God is faithful and will fulfill His word. [57:17]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing where you need to persevere in faith and trust in God's promises?
Day 5: Mobilizing for Impact
As a community, we are called to mobilize and make a difference. This involves dreaming big, taking action, and trusting God to do what only He can do. Together, we can strike the ground and make a lasting impact for God's kingdom. Mobilizing for impact means using our collective resources, talents, and faith to bring about change and to be a blessing to others. It is about being proactive in our faith and stepping out to make a difference. [01:10:36]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to contribute to a collective effort in your community to make a positive impact?
Quotes
1) "And what I've learned is that whenever we have those ideas and we think about if failure wasn't an option, this is what my life would look like. That is actually what we should be chasing. Because what happens is we take away all the limitations that we've placed on ourselves, that life has placed on us, and we start going, well, anything is possible. And the Bible actually tells us that when we're with God, anything is possible with God. And so the reality is, is what we begin to do is we go, here's where I would love to live my life. Maybe it's supernatural and there's great things, or maybe it's, you know, wherever it is, this is where I'd love to live my life, but here's where I am. And the gap between the two frustrates us. And the gap intimidates us." [38:18] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Faith is walking to the edge of your comfort and taking one more step. Faith is going to the edge and going, I'm comfortable worshiping like this, but I'm gonna take one more step and worship like this. I'm comfortable praying quietly in my car, but I'm gonna take one more step and I'm gonna pray out loud in my life group. See, faith is going, I'm comfortable giving just this much, but I'm gonna take one more step and believe that God is who he says he is. And I'm going to give a little bit more. Faith is the ability to go, I know I'm comfortable being this kind of husband, but I'm going to believe God and I'm going to go one step further and be the Bible's kind of husband." [58:22] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "And what happens is, is we begin to now lower—watch, we lower our standard, we lower our living, we lower our rhythms, we lower our disciplines, we lower our lives down to the level of what we can attain by ourselves. Here's what I can do. Here's how I can get there. Here's what I can chase. Here's what I can make happen. And we begin to go, well, I'm not going to live up here. I'm not going to have the disciplines and the rhythms up here. I'm not going to believe. God, for up here, because I can do down here. And slowly we begin to lower the bar until we now meet what we can attain and what we can hold." [39:14] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "And what I want to encourage some of us today is this idea that you got a talent on the inside of you. And you got a purpose on the inside of you. And you got an ability on the inside of you. That God gave you as a weapon. God gave you as an ability. God gave you as something to make an impact with. And I'm just going to encourage you. Stop looking at it and waiting on somebody else to pick it up. Stop waiting on somebody else to use your gift for their good. Stop waiting on somebody else to look and go, you know what? I'm good at this. And I'm good at that. I can make a difference. No. You pick up what God's placed in your hand." [48:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "And here's what I want to tell some folks today. And here's what I want to tell some folks today. And here's what I want to tell some folks today. And here's what I want to tell some folks today. And then I'm going to just overflow for a minute. I want to tell some folks today, strike the ground again. You're tired and you're frustrated. And I get it. But what if you keep letting go of the arrows? What if you keep striking the ground? Even if your arm's tired. Even if the strikes feel frustrating and mundane and like it's not making progress. Eventually, one of those strikes is going to hit exactly where it needs to. And all things are going to break loose. All blessing will break loose. All victory breaks loose. Everything God's promised begins to happen." [01:00:17] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "And I just need to tell some of you today, don't you stop early. Don't you only strike the ground three times. You keep going until God has to grab you by the belt loop like a college coach that's mad at the referee. And you got, you make God grab you by that belt loop and pull you back on to that sideline and go, hey, boy, I need you to calm down for a second. I need you. You've already destroyed him. Now you're just kicking him in the head. And I'm here to tell the enemy today in somebody's life that we've quit too early, but we're picking back up the bow and we're going to strike the ground and we're going to make a, we're going to make a scene out of you, buddy." [01:01:30] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "And I think that's because we follow God in that season. And many of you were like, I'll help stabilize. I'll step on teams and I'll, I'll do this and I'll do that. And you're serving in areas you never thought you would. And during that season, man, we saw something that was, we saw something that was, we saw something that was insane. So while we're doing this, we watched over 300 people over the past eight months join Radiate Church and be a part of what we're doing on a consistent basis. That's, y'all, in the midst of galvanizing and stabilizing, you got growingizing. I just made that up. It's got an end in eyes. Growizing, we're just growing." [01:06:06] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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