Embracing New Beginnings: Cultivating Faith That Works
Summary
As we step into the new year, there's a palpable sense of anticipation and hope. Many of us have set resolutions, whether it's hitting the gym, getting out of debt, or deepening our spiritual lives. This yearning for change is rooted in our desire to experience something new, to believe that transformation is possible. God echoes this sentiment in Isaiah, urging us to forget the past and embrace the new things He is doing. The challenge, however, is not just to recognize these new beginnings but to perceive them with faith.
Faith is more than a Sunday ritual; it's a living, breathing part of our daily lives. Like a gingerbread house that looks appealing but lacks substance, our faith can sometimes appear vibrant on the outside but falter under life's pressures. We are called to cultivate a faith that works—a faith that actively shapes our perspectives and actions. This year, our focus is on developing such a faith, one that is not only personal but also communal and external.
Stephen, a disciple from the book of Acts, exemplifies this faith. Despite facing severe persecution, his faith remained unshaken. His boldness, clarity of vision, and Christ-like perspective in the face of adversity serve as a powerful testament to what a faith that works looks like. Stephen's story challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways, allowing it to transform our actions and, in turn, reinforce our beliefs.
To cultivate this faith, we must engage in three key areas: internal, communal, and external. Internally, we need to feed our faith through prayer and scripture. Communally, we must gather as a church, supporting and encouraging one another. Externally, we are called to serve and give generously, impacting our community with the love of Christ. This journey, which we call the "road to one," is about taking intentional steps to deepen our faith and let it shine through our actions.
As we embark on this journey, we have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate our faith to the world. Despite uncertainties, we trust in God's promise of new beginnings. Our vision remains steadfast: to be a church known for its faith, actively engaging with our community and embodying the love of Jesus. Are you ready to be part of this transformative journey?
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace New Beginnings: As we enter a new year, God invites us to forget the past and embrace the new things He is doing. This requires faith to perceive and trust in His promises, even when they are not immediately visible. [09:52]
2. Cultivate a Faith That Works: Faith should be more than a Sunday ritual; it should actively shape our perspectives and actions. A faith that works is one that impacts our lives and the lives of others, transforming our responses to life's challenges. [13:57]
3. Learn from Stephen's Example: Stephen's story in Acts demonstrates a faith that remains steadfast in adversity. His boldness, clarity, and Christ-like perspective challenge us to live out our faith in tangible ways, allowing it to transform our actions and reinforce our beliefs. [17:06]
4. Engage in Internal, Communal, and External Faith: To develop a faith that works, we must engage in three areas: internal (prayer and scripture), communal (gathering as a church), and external (serving and giving generously). This holistic approach strengthens our faith and impacts our community. [22:11]
5. Seize the Opportunity to Demonstrate Faith: Despite uncertainties, we have an opportunity to show our faith to the world. By trusting in God's promise of new beginnings and actively engaging with our community, we can embody the love of Jesus and make a meaningful impact. [28:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - New Year Resolutions
[02:30] - Embracing New Beginnings
[04:15] - The Nature of Faith
[06:00] - The Gingerbread House Analogy
[09:52] - Perceiving God's New Work
[13:57] - A Faith That Works
[17:06] - Stephen's Example of Faith
[19:30] - Indicators of Active Faith
[22:11] - The Road to One
[24:01] - Internal Faith Engagement
[26:00] - Communal Faith Engagement
[27:30] - External Faith Engagement
[28:14] - Opportunity to Demonstrate Faith
[29:45] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
3. Acts 6-7 (Story of Stephen)
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Observation Questions:
1. What does God promise in Isaiah 43:18-19, and how does this relate to the idea of new beginnings? [09:52]
2. How does the writer of Hebrews define faith, and why is this definition significant for our daily lives? [13:57]
3. In the story of Stephen from Acts 6-7, what were the key indicators of his faith during his trial? [17:06]
4. How does the gingerbread house analogy illustrate the difference between superficial faith and a faith that works? [09:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "perceive" the new things God is doing, as mentioned in Isaiah 43:18-19, and how can this perception impact one's faith journey? [09:52]
2. How can Stephen's example of faith in Acts 6-7 inspire believers to remain steadfast in the face of adversity? [17:06]
3. What are the implications of having a faith that is more than a Sunday ritual, as discussed in the sermon? How can this faith shape one's actions and perspectives? [13:57]
4. How does the concept of "faith that works" challenge the traditional understanding of faith as merely belief? [22:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a past situation where you struggled to perceive God's new work in your life. How might you approach a similar situation differently now? [09:52]
2. Identify one area in your life where your faith might appear vibrant on the outside but lacks substance. What steps can you take to cultivate a more genuine faith in that area? [09:52]
3. Stephen demonstrated boldness and clarity of vision in adversity. How can you develop these qualities in your own faith journey? [17:06]
4. The sermon emphasizes internal, communal, and external engagement in faith. Which of these areas do you find most challenging, and what practical steps can you take to grow in that area? [24:01]
5. Consider a time when your faith was tested. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience about having a faith that works? [22:11]
6. How can you actively demonstrate your faith to your community this year, and what specific actions will you take to embody the love of Jesus? [28:14]
7. Reflect on the idea of "the road to one." What is one tangible step you can take this week to deepen your faith and let it shine through your actions? [24:01]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Embrace the New with Faith
As we enter a new year, there is a divine invitation to let go of the past and embrace the new things God is doing. This requires a faith that perceives and trusts in His promises, even when they are not immediately visible. The anticipation of new beginnings is a universal experience, but the challenge lies in recognizing and embracing these opportunities with faith. God, through the prophet Isaiah, encourages us to forget the former things and focus on the new work He is doing in our lives. This is not just about setting resolutions but about aligning our hearts with God's vision for us. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His promises, allowing them to shape our future. [09:52]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of the past to embrace the new things God is doing? How can you actively trust in His promises today?
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Day 2: Faith Beyond Ritual
Faith is meant to be more than a Sunday ritual; it should actively shape our perspectives and actions. A faith that works is one that impacts our lives and the lives of others, transforming our responses to life's challenges. Like a gingerbread house that looks appealing but lacks substance, our faith can sometimes appear vibrant on the outside but falter under life's pressures. We are called to cultivate a faith that is alive and active, one that influences our daily decisions and interactions. This year, the focus is on developing such a faith, one that is not only personal but also communal and external. By doing so, we allow our faith to become a living testimony of God's work in our lives. [13:57]
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: In what ways can you ensure that your faith is more than just a ritual? Identify one specific action you can take this week to live out your faith in a tangible way.
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Day 3: Steadfast Faith in Adversity
Stephen's story in Acts demonstrates a faith that remains steadfast in adversity. His boldness, clarity, and Christ-like perspective challenge us to live out our faith in tangible ways, allowing it to transform our actions and reinforce our beliefs. Despite facing severe persecution, Stephen's faith remained unshaken, serving as a powerful testament to what a faith that works looks like. His example encourages us to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with challenges. By embodying a Christ-like perspective, we can navigate adversity with grace and strength, allowing our faith to shine brightly in the darkest of times. [17:06]
Acts 7:55-56 (ESV): "But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can Stephen's example inspire you to respond with faith and boldness in similar situations?
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Day 4: Holistic Faith Engagement
To develop a faith that works, we must engage in three areas: internal (prayer and scripture), communal (gathering as a church), and external (serving and giving generously). This holistic approach strengthens our faith and impacts our community. Internally, we need to feed our faith through prayer and scripture, allowing God's word to guide our thoughts and actions. Communally, gathering as a church provides support and encouragement, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Externally, serving and giving generously allows us to demonstrate the love of Christ to those around us, making a tangible impact in our community. By engaging in these areas, we cultivate a faith that is vibrant and transformative. [22:11]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Which area of faith engagement—internal, communal, or external—do you feel most called to strengthen? What specific steps can you take to grow in this area?
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Day 5: Demonstrating Faith to the World
Despite uncertainties, we have an opportunity to show our faith to the world. By trusting in God's promise of new beginnings and actively engaging with our community, we can embody the love of Jesus and make a meaningful impact. This journey, which we call the "road to one," is about taking intentional steps to deepen our faith and let it shine through our actions. As we embark on this journey, we have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate our faith to the world. Our vision remains steadfast: to be a church known for its faith, actively engaging with our community and embodying the love of Jesus. Are you ready to be part of this transformative journey? [28:14]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: How can you let your faith shine in your community this week? Identify one specific way you can demonstrate the love of Jesus to those around you.
Quotes
"Confidence in what we hope will happen next, but assurance in what we can't see, whether it's right here in front of us or even into the future. We have assurance in it, right? It's knowing the goodness of God, even if we can't physically see him or it with our own eyes. Like we still know, we have confidence, we are assured in what he is doing, that what he's doing is good. The question again is, can we perceive it? It's about faith, right?" [00:09:51] (32 seconds)
"We want to be known by our faith. And so that's why this year, for our theme of the year, as we look forward to all that's happening coming up throughout the course of this year, right? As we grow together as a church, we want to develop a faith that works. That's our theme. That's what we're talking about all throughout this month of January for sure. But really all throughout this year, we want to talk about what does it look like to have a faith that works? And what is that? It's an actual belief in God that impacts our perspective and responses in visible ways." [00:12:16] (39 seconds)
"Stephen had an active belief in God that impacted his perspective and responses in visible ways, in tangible ways. His faith was so real and so powerful in his life that he lived his life from his perspective of faith, right? Right? It was so powerful in his life that he lived his life from that perspective. His faith determined his actions and his actions reinforced his faith. This is a faith that works. And this is why we're going to be talking about this all month long, guys. This is so important because one thing leads to another and reinforces the other, right?" [00:21:40] (41 seconds)
"And the first and most important thing that we need to do is declare that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life, right? We've got to declare with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, right? And be saved. Like that's what Paul says. And so that's the first and most important thing that we need to do is Paul tells us is the way to salvation. Simply declaring that he is the Lord of our life, believing that God raised him from the dead, right? We've got to be a Christian first before any of this matters. You've got to receive his grace and place your faith in him." [00:24:06] (27 seconds)
"But what we also want to do is we want to get communal with our faith, right? We want to be together as a church, right? Whether that's us meeting in person or even out here online. Like, I don't know if you noticed this, but when you come out here to one church at home, you are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone. You are not alone. You are part of a community. You are together with others, right? And so if this is you, if you are not geographically close to us, I encourage you, keep on coming, right? Keep on being a part of our community." [00:25:37] (27 seconds)
"And then the final thing is we're going to go external, right? We're going to be giving of ourselves, right? And we do this by giving generously, right? We give it with our finances. We give it with our time, with our talents. We want to be generous as a church, but that requires each one of us to be generous with ourselves, right? So we want to be generous this year. And then with our first Saturday serve, we want to come together and serve our community to go out of our church walls and go into our community like we have for the last three plus years." [00:26:33] (29 seconds)
"Guys, this is why even though we don't know what's happening next still, right? This is why we will never change who we are. Our vision as a church will never change. We will continue to get out into the community, right? We're going to continue to rake yards and do car washes. We're going to continue to represent Jesus because that is fundamental to what faith will look like. My question for you is, do you want to be a part of this? Are you on board, right? I hope you are, guys, because we're excited about what God is doing. We may not know all the details yet, but we do know this. He is doing a new thing." [00:29:52] (36 seconds)
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