Faith: Confronting the Impossible and Embracing Destiny
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of faith and how it can confront the impossible, even when faced with distractions or challenges. I shared personal anecdotes to illustrate how faith can be tested, such as the time when an older lady in the congregation kept distracting me during my sermon, only to find out later that she was struggling with her hearing aid. I also discussed how faith can confront the impossible, using the example of when I was called to start a ministry, which seemed impossible at the time. I stressed that you don't need to have enough faith to finish, just enough faith to start, and as you start, your faith increases for the finish.
In the second part of my sermon, I focused on how faith can launch us into our destiny. I used the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man to illustrate this point, emphasizing that real faith does something with the word that God tells us. I also discussed how offenses can paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward in our destiny. I concluded my sermon by sharing a personal story of how I was called to preach the gospel, which seemed impossible at the time, but was made possible through faith.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith can confront the impossible, even when faced with distractions or challenges ([16:03])
- You don't need to have enough faith to finish, just enough faith to start ([17:50])
- Real faith does something with the word that God tells us ([28:18])
- Offenses can paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward in our destiny ([29:24])
- Faith can launch us into our destiny, even when it seems impossible ([33:45])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1) Hebrews 11:1 [05:29
2) 2 Corinthians 5:14 [13:47
3) Mark 2:1-4 [10:36
Observation Questions:
1) In Hebrews 11:1, what does it mean to have confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see?
2) How does 2 Corinthians 5:14 describe the role of Christ's love in our actions?
3) What actions do the men in Mark 2:1-4 take because of their faith?
Interpretation Questions:
1) How does the concept of faith in Hebrews 11:1 relate to our daily lives and decisions?
2) How does the love of Christ compel us to act according to 2 Corinthians 5:14?
3) What can we learn from the men's actions in Mark 2:1-4 about the relationship between faith and action?
Application Questions:
1) Can you recall a situation where you had to step out in faith, not knowing the outcome, similar to the men in Mark 2:1-4?
2) How can you demonstrate Christ's love compelling you to act in a specific situation this week?
3) What is one dream or vision you believe God has placed in your heart, and how can you move forward in faith towards it?
4) Can you think of a person in your life who needs Jesus, and how can you put them before yourself like the men in Mark 2:1-4 did for the paralyzed man?
5) How can you cultivate a greater sense of faith and confidence in God's plans for your life, as described in Hebrews 11:1?
Quotes
1. "How many of us are settling for the dirt instead of the possum? God has told you to go get the possum and we have to ask God for help and we may need people around us to help us. You will always need people around you to help you. This is why we have groups and this is why we have community. You can't ever do what God's called you to do by yourself." - 21:10
2. "When you step into what God has called you to do, the next person can step up into what God has called them to do. There's a book by Henry Cloud called necessary endings. I read it four times before the Lord called me from here to there because I didn't want to go. I loved it here, loved the people, but I was comfortable. There was more. You talk about a stretch of faith, that's what God did with me." - 12:49
3. "Our faith is not for us, it's for others. The faith that we're praying for is to help others. If God has given me a word, if I'm supposed to do something and something inside of me is compelling, I'm going to make a way. I'm going to keep pursuing." - 12:49
4. "God is moving in the family of churches. So many life changes, so many things. I mean expanding. I mean Parker County got to get up because we have a lot of people that are coming right and so many people need more. There's so much hope in Parker County and we need to make room for people and that's a good thing." - 02:29
5. "Faith confronts The Impossible. Listen, there's going to be a time in your life in a season where God's going to move you on or move you towards something else or have you start something or have you do something great. You don't have to have enough Faith to finish, just enough Faith to start. That's all you have to do and when you start your faith increases for the finish." - 15:32