Faith: A Personal, Verbal, and Active Journey

Summary

Faith is not a vague or sentimental feeling, nor is it simply an agreement with historical facts. Faith is the next step after repentance, and it is foundational to the Christian life. True faith is not just believing that Jesus existed, but believing in Him—entrusting our lives to Him, relying on Him, and obeying Him. The difference between believing in someone and believing about someone is vast; the former requires personal investment, trust, and relationship.

Faith is rooted in historical events: Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead. These are not just stories or myths, but well-attested facts with eyewitnesses, and they form the bedrock of Christian belief. However, even demons believe these facts and shudder; what sets saving faith apart is a personal trust in Jesus Himself. Faith must move from the historical to the personal, where we risk our lives on the reliability and goodness of Christ.

Faith is also verbal. It must be confessed and spoken, both in our relationship with God and in our witness to others. Silence about our faith is a sign of something lacking. Just as relationships are built on communication, so our faith is strengthened as we talk to Jesus and about Jesus. Verbal confession is not just a ritual, but a vital expression of what is in our hearts.

Yet faith cannot stop at words. It must be practical, expressed in action. Faith without works is dead; it is not enough to agree with the truth of God’s Word—we must act on it. Like Peter stepping out of the boat, faith means taking risks, obeying God even when it is hard or when the outcome is uncertain. Many Christians are “parked in a layby,” full of knowledge and prayer, but not moving forward in faith. It is time to take off the handbrake and act.

Finally, faith is continual. It is not a one-time event, but a lifestyle of ongoing trust and obedience. The righteous live by faith, moving from one level of trust to another, growing stronger as we see God’s faithfulness in each area of our lives. Faithfulness and faith are inseparable; to have faith is to keep on trusting, regardless of circumstances or outcomes. This is the faith that sustains, transforms, and expresses itself in good works prepared by God.

Key Takeaways

- Faith is grounded in historical reality, not feelings or wishful thinking. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are well-attested events that form the foundation of Christian belief. Our faith is not a leap in the dark, but a response to the evidence God has provided in history. [04:35]

- Saving faith must become personal, moving beyond mere agreement with facts to a living relationship with Jesus. Trusting Jesus means obeying Him, investing our lives in Him, and relating to Him daily. If our faith is only historical, we have no more than the demons; real faith is a risk of trust in the living Christ. [12:52]

- Faith must be verbalized, both in prayer and in witness. Speaking to Jesus and about Jesus strengthens our faith and makes it real. Silence about our faith often signals a lack of conviction or courage, but verbal confession—especially before others—solidifies and deepens our trust in Christ. [19:01]

- Faith is practical and must be expressed in action. Agreement with God’s Word is not enough; faith is only real when it results in obedience and risk. Like Peter stepping out of the boat, we must act on what God says, even when it is uncomfortable or uncertain, for faith without action is “outrageous nonsense.” [29:13]

- Faith is continual—a lifestyle, not a moment. The righteous live by faith, moving from one level of trust to another, growing stronger through each act of obedience. Faithfulness is the ongoing expression of faith, trusting God regardless of outcomes, and persevering through every circumstance. [44:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - What Is Faith?
[02:30] - Believing in Jesus vs. Believing He Exists
[04:35] - Faith Is Historical
[07:56] - The Three Essential Facts of Faith
[10:19] - Faith Must Be Personal
[12:52] - Demons’ Faith vs. Saving Faith
[14:47] - Investing in a Relationship with Jesus
[16:52] - Faith Is Verbal
[19:01] - The Power of Confession
[21:35] - Talking to and About Jesus
[25:13] - Faith Is Practical
[29:13] - Faith Without Action Is Nonsense
[34:09] - The Car and Handbrake Analogy
[37:03] - Time to Move in Faith Again
[41:08] - Faith Requires Obedient Response
[44:48] - Faith Is Continual
[49:39] - From Faith to Faith: Growing Stronger
[52:00] - Closing and Final Encouragement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “What Is Real Faith?”

---

### Bible Reading

1. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
> For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

2. James 2:17-19 (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. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

3. Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)
> For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, what are the three essential historical facts that form the foundation of Christian faith?
2. In James 2:19, what does it say even the demons believe, and how does this challenge our understanding of faith?
3. The sermon described faith as “historical, personal, verbal, practical, and continual.” Which of these aspects did the pastor say most Christians tend to neglect, and what analogy did he use to describe this? [[34:09]]
4. In Romans 1:17, what does it mean that “the righteous shall live by faith”? How does this relate to the idea of faith being continual?

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. The pastor said, “Faith is not just believing that Jesus existed, but believing in Him—entrusting our lives to Him, relying on Him, and obeying Him.” Why is this distinction important for someone who wants to follow Jesus? [[10:19]]
2. Why does James say that “faith without works is dead”? How does this challenge the idea that faith is just about what we believe in our minds? [[29:13]]
3. The sermon mentioned that “faith must be verbalized, both in prayer and in witness.” Why might silence about our faith signal a lack of conviction or courage? [[19:01]]
4. The pastor said, “Faith is continual—a lifestyle, not a moment.” How does this understanding of faith help us when we face difficult or uncertain situations? [[44:48]]

---

### Application Questions

1. The pastor said, “If all we are is people that believe, yes, God’s mighty and all that, and then we’ve never moved on from there… you don’t have any more faith in Jesus than the demons do.” Is your faith mostly about agreeing with facts, or do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? What would it look like to move from “about” to “in”? [[12:52]]
2. When was the last time you took a risk in obedience to Jesus—something you wouldn’t have done unless you trusted Him? What happened, and what did you learn from it? [[31:15]]
3. The sermon challenged us to “take off the handbrake” and act in faith, not just fill up on knowledge and prayer. Is there an area of your life where you feel “parked in a layby”? What would it look like to “take off the handbrake” this week? [[34:09]]
4. The pastor said, “Faith must be verbal. It must be confessed and spoken, both in our relationship with God and in our witness to others.” When was the last time you talked to someone about Jesus? What holds you back from sharing your faith more openly? [[19:01]]
5. The message said, “Faith is practical, expressed in action. Faith without works is dead.” What is one specific step of obedience you sense God is asking you to take right now? What’s stopping you? [[29:13]]
6. The pastor described faith as “continual—a lifestyle, not a moment.” Are there areas where you have stopped trusting God because of disappointment or fear? How can you begin to trust Him again, even if the outcome is uncertain? [[44:48]]
7. The sermon said, “Faithfulness and faith are inseparable; to have faith is to keep on trusting, regardless of circumstances or outcomes.” How can you practice ongoing trust in God this week, especially in a situation where you don’t know how things will turn out? [[46:14]]

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you move from just knowing about Jesus to truly trusting Him, to give you courage to speak and act in faith, and to help you keep trusting Him every day, no matter what.

Devotional

Day 1: Faith is Historical—Rooted in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus
Faith is not based on feelings or vague beliefs, but on the unchanging historical facts of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. These events are the foundation of Christian faith, and without believing in all three, one cannot be born again. Just as we trust in other historical events because of evidence, so too we trust in Jesus because of eyewitness accounts and the testimony of Scripture. Our faith is unique because it is grounded in these real, world-changing events, not just in the idea that God exists. [07:56]

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV):
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Reflection: Do you truly believe in the historical reality of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, or have you settled for a vague belief in God’s existence? How might embracing these facts change the way you live today?


Day 2: Faith is Personal—Trusting and Obeying the Living Jesus
Faith is not just believing facts about Jesus, but personally trusting and obeying Him as a living person. It means moving beyond historical knowledge to a relationship where you invest your life, take risks, and follow His commands. Even the demons believe the facts about Jesus, but they do not trust or obey Him. True faith is demonstrated by a daily walk with Jesus, talking to Him, listening to Him, and doing what He says, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. [16:52]

James 2:19 (ESV):
“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

Reflection: In what area of your life is Jesus calling you to trust and obey Him more deeply today, rather than just knowing about Him? What step can you take to move from knowledge to personal trust?


Day 3: Faith is Verbal—Expressed by Speaking to and About Jesus
Faith must be expressed with words, both in talking to Jesus and in talking about Him to others. Just as relationships are built through communication, so faith grows as you speak honestly with Jesus in prayer and boldly confess Him before others. Verbal confession strengthens your faith and is a vital step in your walk with God. If you are too ashamed to talk about Jesus, something is lacking in your faith. Let your words reflect the hope and life you have in Christ. [23:46]

Romans 10:9 (ESV):
“Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Reflection: When was the last time you spoke openly about your faith in Jesus to someone else? Who can you share your faith with today, and how might that strengthen your own trust in Him?


Day 4: Faith is Practical—Demonstrated by Actions, Not Just Words
Faith is not complete until it is lived out in action. It starts with belief, is expressed in words, but must be followed by deeds. Faith without works is dead; real faith always results in obedience and practical steps, even when it’s risky or uncomfortable. Like Peter stepping out of the boat, faith means taking action based on God’s Word, not just agreeing with it. Examine your life: are you parked in a spiritual lay-by, or are you moving forward in faith, taking risks and trusting Jesus to catch you? [32:23]

James 2:17 (ESV):
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today that would demonstrate your faith in Jesus, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable?


Day 5: Faith is Continual—A Lifestyle of Ongoing Trust and Faithfulness
Faith is not a one-time event but a continual, daily lifestyle of trusting Jesus, no matter the circumstances. The righteous live by faith, moving from one level of trust to another, persevering even when things are hard or the outcome is uncertain. Faithfulness means keeping faith through every season, not shrinking back into old habits or unbelief. As you go on believing, your faith is strengthened for whatever challenges may come. [49:39]

Romans 1:17 (ESV):
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to keep trusting Jesus today, even when you don’t see immediate results? How can you practice ongoing faithfulness in this area?

Quotes

Faith is historical. It's based on facts, not on feelings. You may not feel safe saved today, but the facts don't change just because you feel different. So faith is nothing to do with feelings. Feelings are involved in faith, but faith is not dependent upon feelings. [00:02:50] (26 seconds)  #faithRootedInFacts Edit Clip

Faith is personal. What do I mean by that? I don't mean when it's a personal thing. And I'll keep it to myself. Thank you very much. That's not personal. That's selfish. It's personal because although we believe the three historical events, they're the beginning of our faith. It has to be faith in Jesus Christ. [00:10:04] (32 seconds)  #personalFaithInJesus Edit Clip

If you trust someone, you'll obey them. Conversely, if you disobey, you don't trust them. And faith is a better... trust. It's not about a one-time historical belief. It's personal because it's not just about believing the historical things, but it's going further than that so that you actually take a risk by investing your life in that person and trusting him. [00:12:18] (29 seconds)  #faithIsTrustInAction Edit Clip

It's not enough to believe Jesus existed. We must trust him as Savior and Lord. Faith is not a vague belief, but true faith is more robust. Until we get to the point where we trust Jesus personally, then we haven't experienced real faith. [00:16:29] (21 seconds)  #trustJesusAsSavior Edit Clip

If you want to know if he's real, talk to him. If you want to know if he means business, talk to him. If you want to know if he's interested in you, talk to him. You want to know what he thinks about you, talk to him. If you want to know if he's trustworthy, talk to him. Get to know him, spend time with him, listen to him in his presence. That's how trust is built. [00:21:35] (29 seconds)  #knowHimThroughConversation Edit Clip

The best thing you can do as a new believer is to tell somebody. Why? Because it strengthens your faith. I remember I got saved, my mates came around to play football on a Sunday, I said no, I'm in church and they looked at me and they went you're in church? I said yeah, Jesus is my Lord and Saviour now. They all left me but something happened inside of me, something happened inside of me because he never went anywhere, he never left. [00:22:31] (31 seconds)  #faithStrengthenedByWitness Edit Clip

If we claim to follow Christ but we're too ashamed to talk about him then something's lacking in our faith. You get what I just said? I said if we claim to follow Christ but we're too ashamed to talk about him then something is lacking in our faith. [00:24:24] (19 seconds)  #faithRequiresBoldness Edit Clip

Faith is practical. Faith is what you do. It is not necessarily just what you say. It progresses from the historical to the personal to the verbal, but it can't be verbal alone. It has to go through and be followed through with deeds also. It's not just what you think or what you say, but it's what you do. [00:25:41] (27 seconds)  #faithInActionNotJustWords Edit Clip

When was the last time you believed in Jesus? Let's think about that for a minute. When was the last time you believed in Jesus? When did you last take a risk that you wouldn't have got through, that wouldn't have come out the other side if Jesus hadn't been there to catch you? [00:31:15] (32 seconds)  #faithRiskAndDependence Edit Clip

Faith is continual. It's continual. It's continual. What do I mean by that? Well, it's no good starting in faith and ending in unbelief. It's continual. Faith and faithfulness are the same word in the Greek and the Hebrew. To have faith means to be faithful. To trust someone is to go on trusting them. [00:44:19] (28 seconds)  #faithIsContinualJourney Edit Clip