Faith in Action: Building a Relationship with God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of faith and its practical application in our lives, as outlined in James Chapter 2. We began by acknowledging the everyday faith we practice in various aspects of our lives, such as trusting our cars to start or bridges to hold us. This everyday faith is a useful analogy for understanding spiritual faith. Faith, in its simplest form, can be broken down into three stages: belief, action, and proof. Just as we trust a chair to hold us when we sit in it, our faith in God should be evident through our actions.
James emphasizes that faith without works is dead. He uses the example of someone who claims to have faith but does not help a person in need. Such faith is useless. True faith should manifest in loving God and loving people. This is not about earning salvation through works but about demonstrating the authenticity of our faith through our actions. James highlights the stories of Abraham and Rahab to show that their faith was made complete by their actions, which were rooted in their relationship with God.
We also discussed the importance of a relationship with God over mere ritualistic practices. Our faith should be driven by affection and trust in God, not by a checklist of religious duties. This relationship takes time and trust, much like any other meaningful relationship in our lives. We should strive to ask God what He desires, listen to His guidance, say yes to His calls, and give thanks for His presence in our lives.
In conclusion, faith is a long-term journey that requires us to look at the overarching story of our relationship with God. It’s not about quick results but about a consistent, growing relationship with Him. We are encouraged to go back to our first love, remain in Him, and allow our faith to be revitalized by His Spirit.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in Everyday Life: Faith is not just a spiritual concept but something we practice daily in various aspects of our lives. Understanding this helps us grasp the importance of faith in our spiritual journey. Just as we trust a chair to hold us when we sit, our faith in God should be evident through our actions. [44:41]
2. Faith and Works: James teaches that faith without works is dead. True faith should manifest in loving God and loving people. This is not about earning salvation but about demonstrating the authenticity of our faith through our actions. Our faith should be more than intellectual knowledge; it should be active and visible. [52:52]
3. Relationship Over Ritual: Our faith should hinge on a relationship with God, not on ritualistic practices. This relationship takes time, trust, and affection. We should strive to ask God what He desires, listen to His guidance, say yes to His calls, and give thanks for His presence in our lives. [01:04:12]
4. Long-Term Perspective: Faith is a long-term journey that requires us to look at the overarching story of our relationship with God. It’s not about quick results but about a consistent, growing relationship with Him. We should take a step back and look at the progression of our faith over time. [01:17:24]
5. Revitalizing Faith: If our faith feels stagnant or dead, it’s not too late to restore it. We need to go back to the roots, to our first love, and allow God to breathe new life into our faith. This involves remaining in Him and allowing His Spirit to fill us anew. [01:21:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:02] - Summer Kickoff and Introductions
[41:52] - Series Overview: Word to the Wise
[42:45] - Welcome to Online Viewers
[43:43] - Wisdom in Faith
[44:41] - Everyday Faith
[45:20] - Faith in Action
[46:17] - Three Stages of Faith
[47:02] - Faith Becomes Fact
[48:39] - Spiritual Faith
[50:32] - Confusion in Faith
[52:52] - Faith and Works
[53:45] - Faith Groundwork
[55:35] - Hypothetical Argument
[56:24] - Faith and Love for God and People
[57:08] - Baseball Glove Illustration
[58:51] - Relationship is the Missing Link
[59:51] - Examples of Abraham and Rahab
[01:03:17] - Obligation vs. Affection
[01:04:12] - Relationship Over Ritual
[01:06:51] - Strengthening Your Relationship with God
[01:09:01] - Ask and Listen
[01:09:44] - Say Yes
[01:10:20] - Give Thanks
[01:11:09] - Practical Example
[01:15:18] - God’s Invitation
[01:17:24] - Long-Term Perspective on Faith
[01:18:44] - Charles Spurgeon’s Quote on Faith
[01:21:17] - Restoring Stagnant Faith
[01:22:48] - Remaining in Him
[01:23:42] - Prayer and Response
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 2:14-26
2. Ephesians 2:8-9
3. Romans 10:9
#### Observation Questions
1. According to James 2:14-26, what examples does James use to illustrate that faith without works is dead?
2. How does Ephesians 2:8-9 describe the relationship between grace, faith, and works?
3. In the sermon, what everyday examples were given to explain the concept of faith? ([44:41])
4. What does Romans 10:9 say is required for salvation?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize that faith without works is dead? How does this align with the examples of Abraham and Rahab? ([59:51])
2. How can the analogy of trusting a chair to hold us help us understand the nature of faith in God? ([46:17])
3. What does the sermon suggest is the "missing link" in our faith journey, and how does it relate to our actions? ([58:51])
4. How does the concept of a relationship with God differ from ritualistic practices according to the sermon? ([01:04:12])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate your faith through actions this week? ([52:52])
2. Think about a time when your faith felt stagnant. What steps can you take to revitalize your faith and return to your "first love"? ([01:21:17])
3. How can you shift your perspective from seeing faith as a checklist of duties to viewing it as a growing relationship with God? ([01:04:12])
4. Identify one area in your life where you can better integrate your faith and actions. What specific steps will you take to make this change? ([56:24])
5. How can you practice asking God what He desires, listening to His guidance, and saying yes to His calls in your daily routine? ([01:09:01])
6. Consider a person in your life who is in need. How can you show your faith through a tangible act of love towards them this week? ([52:52])
7. What are some ways you can give thanks for God's presence in your life and strengthen your relationship with Him? ([01:10:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in Everyday Life
Faith is not just a spiritual concept but something we practice daily in various aspects of our lives. Understanding this helps us grasp the importance of faith in our spiritual journey. Just as we trust a chair to hold us when we sit, our faith in God should be evident through our actions. This everyday faith serves as a useful analogy for understanding spiritual faith.
In James Chapter 2, we are reminded that faith without works is dead. This means that our faith should be more than just intellectual knowledge; it should be active and visible. When we trust God, it should be evident in how we live our lives, how we treat others, and how we respond to challenges. Our actions should reflect our belief in God's promises and His character. [44:41]
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: Think of a specific area in your daily life where you can demonstrate your faith through action. How can you show your trust in God in this area today?
Day 2: Faith and Works
James teaches that faith without works is dead. True faith should manifest in loving God and loving people. This is not about earning salvation but about demonstrating the authenticity of our faith through our actions. Our faith should be more than intellectual knowledge; it should be active and visible.
James uses the example of someone who claims to have faith but does not help a person in need. Such faith is useless. True faith should lead us to act in love and compassion towards others. This is not about performing good deeds to earn God's favor but about allowing our faith to naturally produce good works as a result of our relationship with Him. [52:52]
James 2:15-16 (ESV): "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"
Reflection: Identify someone in your life who is in need. How can you demonstrate your faith by helping them in a practical way today?
Day 3: Relationship Over Ritual
Our faith should hinge on a relationship with God, not on ritualistic practices. This relationship takes time, trust, and affection. We should strive to ask God what He desires, listen to His guidance, say yes to His calls, and give thanks for His presence in our lives.
It's easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions of religious duties without truly connecting with God. However, true faith is driven by a deep, personal relationship with Him. This means spending time in prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His will in our lives. It's about loving God and allowing that love to transform us from the inside out. [01:04:12]
Hosea 6:6 (ESV): "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are they driven by a genuine relationship with God or by a sense of obligation? How can you deepen your relationship with Him today?
Day 4: Long-Term Perspective
Faith is a long-term journey that requires us to look at the overarching story of our relationship with God. It’s not about quick results but about a consistent, growing relationship with Him. We should take a step back and look at the progression of our faith over time.
It's important to remember that faith is not a sprint but a marathon. There will be ups and downs, but the key is to remain steadfast and continue growing in our relationship with God. This means being patient and trusting in His timing, even when we don't see immediate results. It's about looking at the bigger picture and recognizing how God has been faithful throughout our journey. [01:17:24]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your faith journey. How has God been faithful to you over the years? How can you continue to trust Him in the long-term?
Day 5: Revitalizing Faith
If our faith feels stagnant or dead, it’s not too late to restore it. We need to go back to the roots, to our first love, and allow God to breathe new life into our faith. This involves remaining in Him and allowing His Spirit to fill us anew.
Sometimes, our faith can feel dry and lifeless. But God is always ready to renew and revitalize our faith if we turn to Him. This means spending time in His presence, seeking His guidance, and allowing His Spirit to work in us. It's about rekindling our passion for God and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. [01:21:17]
Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV): "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first."
Reflection: If your faith feels stagnant, what steps can you take to rekindle your passion for God? How can you allow His Spirit to renew and revitalize your faith today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We practice faith every single day, whether you realize it or not. I mean, think about our car. We get in our car and it is designed to get us from point A to point B, right? And so we sit in our car, we push the button and we don't even think about it. But then when it starts, we just go and we get to where we need to go, right? Think about a bridge. We don't consciously have faith in a bridge. But we do because we, we trust that the civil engineers design that bridge in such a way that it's going to hold my car and all the other cars on the bridge." [45:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Take this chair, for example. I have faith that this chair will hold me. Do you think this chair will hold me? Yes. I can have faith that it will hold me. But you cannot know if it will hold me unless I sit down and I can sing about this chair. I can write poems about this chair. I can do anything I want about this chair, but you will not know that I have a belief or trust in it until I actually do something about it and sit in it. And it held me. So then my faith becomes fact." [47:02](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What if we take this same construct and we superimpose it on our spiritual lives, doesn't work very, I mean, it's supposed to work, right? But we can get a little bit confused in this because think about, I think most of us in here would probably say, I believe in God. Would you believe in God? If you don't, you don't have to believe to belong. We always say that around here and we're just glad you're here because we're taking a deep dive into how faith works today." [48:39](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Listen, all those things are not bad to have faith in. But what James is communicating, what he's saying to us here is he's saying, there is only one place to put your faith, that there's a working relationship in which you will be loved perfectly. In Ephesians 3, 17 through nine, it says this, I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, to know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with the fullness of God." [01:15:55](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Like I said earlier, God's in the pool saying, come on, I promise, it's the greatest thing. There's so much life in here. There's so much joy in here. There's so much peace. There's abundance. There's gifts and blessings. Just come. Just come and be with me. Because the relationship I have for you, it is rooted out of a deep love for you. We forget that. We forget that he's for us and not against us." [01:16:45](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "James is not telling us that we need to feel responsible for housing and feeding every single person that we come across, but he is saying this, your faith needs to be more than what you say. Your faith needs to be more than an intellectual knowledge. It needs to have some action to it. Okay. I want to lay some faith groundwork. Okay. For just. Listen here, I need to lay some groundwork of how faith works. And when it comes to faith, when it comes to our belief in Jesus, our salvation, all that's required from us is belief." [53:45](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith should hinge on relationship, not ritual. Our faith should hinge on a relationship with him, not ritual. Let me ask you this. When you think of your faith, would you say that it resembles a relationship? Or a ritual? Would you say that it resembles, oh, I get to do these things. I have affection. I want to do these things. Things should be just coming and flowing. I get to do these things. I want to do these things. I want to dive into it with the word. I want to be closer to him." [01:05:43](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Relationships take time. And so often, we're so quick to throw out our faith because we're frustrated that it hasn't worked like we thought it should. But relationships, he's saying, when you connect your faith with a relationship, it's going to take time. Another thing about relationships is obligation versus affection. I think of how this plays into our relationship with God is that he doesn't want us to come to him and do these things out of obligation. No, he wants us to do these things out of affection for him and what he's done for us." [01:03:17](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Listen, I'm trying to say this. Faith should hinge on relationship, not ritual. Our faith should hinge on a relationship with him, not ritual. Let me ask you this. When you think of your faith, would you say that it resembles a relationship? Or a ritual? Would you say that it resembles, oh, I get to do these things. I have affection. I want to do these things. Things should be just coming and flowing. I get to do these things. I want to do these things. I want to dive into it with the word. I want to be closer to him." [01:05:43](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Charles Spurgeon said it this way. He has a quote about faith and works. And what he says is that faith is kind of like a tree. The leaves on the tree don't give it life. But when the leaves are absent, it proves that the tree is dead. So it's not the faith or it's not the fruit in the leaves that are actually giving that tree a vibrant life. But when they're gone, we can tell that that tree is dead." [01:19:36](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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