Faith Development: Embracing Resistance and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Resistance as a Pathway to Transformation

In our faith journey, resistance is often perceived as a barrier, but it can be a powerful catalyst for growth and transformation. Just as startups face skepticism and market challenges, the early church encountered persecution, notably from Saul. However, these obstacles did not signify the end; rather, they propelled the church toward expansion and deeper faith. Embracing resistance as an opportunity to pivot can lead to new beginnings and a more profound spiritual journey. By viewing challenges as stepping stones, we can align ourselves with God's transformative plan. [29:22]

Acts 8:1-4 (ESV): "And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word."

Reflection: Identify a current challenge in your life. How might God be using this resistance to guide you toward growth and transformation?

Day 2: The Power of the Pivot

The early church's expansion beyond Jerusalem due to persecution illustrates the importance of pivoting in response to changing circumstances. When faced with obstacles, it's crucial to adjust our strategies to align with God's direction. The early church's pivot not only expanded their reach but also challenged their cultural prejudices, demonstrating the power of God's plan to transcend boundaries. By embracing new opportunities and adjusting our approach, we can overcome barriers and reach new heights in our spiritual journey. [34:04]

Acts 11:19-21 (ESV): "Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord."

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you feel stuck. How can you pivot your approach to align with God's direction and embrace new opportunities?

Day 3: Transformation through Adversity

Saul's transformation into Paul highlights the profound change that can occur when we are open to God's leading. His dramatic pivot from persecutor to proponent of the faith illustrates how even our greatest adversities can become the foundation for a new and vibrant faith. By allowing God to guide us through challenges, we can experience profound personal transformation and become instruments of His purpose. [49:09]

Galatians 1:13-16 (ESV): "For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone."

Reflection: Reflect on a past adversity that led to personal growth. How can you remain open to God's leading in your current challenges?

Day 4: Embracing Blue Ocean Strategy in Faith

Just as startups seek untapped markets, we are called to explore new areas of our lives where God can work. The early church's expansion into new communities like Samaria exemplifies this approach. By moving beyond familiar routines and embracing new spiritual practices, we can experience fresh growth and vitality in our faith. This openness to new possibilities allows us to witness God's work in unexpected places and ways. [44:56]

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 new spiritual practice or area of life can you explore to experience fresh growth in your faith?

Day 5: Fail Fast and Fail Forward

In our spiritual journey, setbacks are not failures but opportunities to learn and grow. The "fail fast and fail forward" mentality encourages resilience and openness to change. By adopting this mindset, we can navigate challenges and continue to pursue God's purpose for our lives. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity allows us to refine our faith and align more closely with God's will. [50:48]

Proverbs 24:16 (ESV): "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."

Reflection: Think of a recent setback in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity to learn and grow in your faith?

Sermon Summary

In this third week of our "Startup Faith" series, we explore the concept of developing faith, drawing parallels between the challenges faced by startups and the early church. Just as startups encounter resistance from skeptical investors and market shifts, the early church faced persecution, notably from Saul, who sought to dismantle the movement. However, resistance was not the end; it was a catalyst for growth and transformation. This week, we delve into how the early church responded to adversity and how we can apply these lessons to our own faith journeys.

The lean startup approach, which involves building, measuring, learning, and pivoting, serves as a model for our faith development. When we encounter obstacles or plateaus, it's crucial to pivot—adjusting our strategies to align with God's direction. The early church exemplified this by spreading beyond Jerusalem due to persecution, reaching new communities like Samaria, which they might have otherwise avoided. This pivot not only expanded their reach but also challenged their prejudices, demonstrating the power of God's plan to transcend cultural boundaries.

We also reflect on the transformation of Saul, who became Paul, a pivotal figure in the early church. His dramatic pivot from persecutor to proponent of the faith illustrates the profound change God can bring about in our lives when we are open to His leading. This transformation is akin to the "fail fast and fail forward" mentality in Silicon Valley, where setbacks are seen as opportunities for growth.

In our own lives, we are encouraged to identify areas where we face resistance and consider how God might be calling us to pivot. Whether it's in our personal relationships, professional endeavors, or spiritual practices, God invites us to revise our strategies and embrace new opportunities for growth. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of life that God intends for us and bring hope to those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Resistance as a Catalyst for Growth: Just as startups and the early church faced resistance, we too encounter obstacles in our faith journey. These challenges are not meant to defeat us but to propel us toward growth and transformation. Embracing resistance as an opportunity to pivot can lead to new beginnings and deeper faith. [29:22]
2. The Power of the Pivot: The early church's expansion beyond Jerusalem due to persecution illustrates the importance of pivoting in response to changing circumstances. By adjusting our strategies and embracing new opportunities, we can overcome barriers and reach new heights in our spiritual journey. [34:04]
3. Transformation through Adversity: Saul's transformation into Paul highlights the profound change that can occur when we are open to God's leading. Even our greatest adversities can become the foundation for a new and vibrant faith if we allow God to guide us through them. [49:09]
4. Embracing Blue Ocean Strategy in Faith: Just as startups seek untapped markets, we are called to explore new areas of our lives where God can work. By moving beyond familiar routines and embracing new spiritual practices, we can experience fresh growth and vitality in our faith. [44:56]
5. Fail Fast and Fail Forward: In our spiritual journey, setbacks are not failures but opportunities to learn and grow. By adopting a mindset of resilience and openness to change, we can navigate challenges and continue to pursue God's purpose for our lives. [50:48]
** [50:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:00] - Introduction to Startup Faith Series
[10:15] - The Lean Startup Approach
[15:30] - Developing Faith Through Resistance
[20:45] - The Early Church's Challenges
[25:00] - The Concept of Pivoting
[29:22] - Resistance as a Path to Growth
[34:04] - The Early Church's Expansion
[39:19] - Personal Story of Overcoming Obstacles
[44:56] - Blue Ocean Strategy in Faith
[49:09] - Saul's Transformation to Paul
[52:56] - Embracing Change in Our Faith
[56:26] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Sermon Clips

We can acknowledge that even the aspects of our life that feel the most out of control are within yours. And God, help us to see even the things in our life that we can't see the way around the corner or the way through or the way over. You have already thought up a way for us to grow in you because of them. Would you reveal that to us today? It's in Jesus' name. Amen. [00:28:59] (23 seconds)

But the pivot is a shift in strategy from your original idea because it is either not working or the market has shifted. And something that was working at some point either isn't working anymore, or you can see the writing on the wall that change is coming and you need to pivot as a result. The companies that are household names almost universally are marked by their ability to adjust when competitors, refused to measure, learn, and pivot to develop or redevelop their strategy for changing circumstances. [00:30:50] (35 seconds)

What we'll learn together from the early church is that resistance signals a need for revision and a need for revision. And so, as we look at the early church, we'll learn that resistance not retreat. Sure, it can seem like an easy off-ramp when we face resistance, when we face an obstacle, when we're not sure what to do. It can feel like an easy chance to exit or for some of us put our faith into a comfortable corner in our life that affects our routine on a weekend maybe or the way we have one conversation with one person, but we quarantine it from a whole bunch of areas of our life. [00:33:11] (28 seconds)

And now, because of that, as people face persecution, we see God use that persecution to move the early church beyond Jerusalem. See, so many people had tried to convince Jesus that what he should do is gain and strive for earthly power. But instead of doing that, it feels like he finally got through to them that his followers realized, wait, he was never after earthly power. It was about a different kind of kingdom. And we see the early church learn to not seek personal or political or worldly power for themselves as the church. Instead, they grew more and more comfortable with discomfort. [00:35:49] (37 seconds)

They probably would have stayed in Jerusalem for much longer, but the persecution that Saul was preparing for made it impossible to stay concentrated in the city. They scattered, but they kept preaching the good news of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Luke, he continues our passage by describing that this way. He says, and those who were scattered—remember, this is the church that left just a few verses ago—they were scattered and went about preaching the word. And Philip—and if you're like, did you change this to be your name? No, this was here before me. [00:41:42] (34 seconds)

In one act of resistance and persecution, the early church was forced to face its generational prejudice against the Samaritan people. And it expanded their reach of Jesus beyond the monoculture of the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. As I said, God uses pivots like this to bring a massive change in our lives. If we will revise our strategy and not merely retreat into what is known and what is comfortable. [00:45:31] (46 seconds)

At this point in Acts, God has forced the early church to move beyond a single culture or group of people, to develop resilient hope in the midst of persecution, to learn how to develop a pioneer mentality while continually expressing grace through their lives, often to people who want nothing to do with them. And he was just getting started. Remember that guy, Saul, who was persecuting the church, who presided over Stephen's execution, who was going from house to house, ravaging the early church and throwing people in prison? [00:48:35] (35 seconds)

There's an idea in Silicon Valley for this too. It's fail fast and fail forward. Don't just get stuck. Don't let failure be the thing that stops you from learning. Let it be the catalyst that helps you learn. As a matter of fact, Paul could have stubbornly stuck with what wasn't working, but instead he understood the error in his ways. He changed course immediately and dramatically. [00:50:19] (24 seconds)

Imagine if God would use our little bit of faith to keep sparking a movement of faith throughout our region. Faith is contagious, but if we always hold back the call to God, we're going to get stoned to death. Off of our faith, where it shows up and sparks in our life, no one will ever know. There are Saul's everywhere. [00:55:04] (19 seconds)

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