Faith in Action: Living as God's Ambassadors
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound connection between faith and works, emphasizing that true faith naturally leads to actions that reflect God's character and kingdom. We began by discussing the importance of community involvement and Bible study, encouraging everyone to participate in Wednesday night sessions and Sunday classes. We also highlighted the upcoming Madison cleanup day as an opportunity to serve and build relationships within our community.
Our main focus was on the symbiotic relationship between faith and works, as illustrated in James 2. We examined how faith without deeds is dead, using examples like Abraham and Rahab to show that genuine faith compels us to act in ways that align with God's will. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab's assistance to the spies were acts of faith that demonstrated their trust in God.
We also touched on the dangers of making evangelism an idol, stressing that our primary focus should be on Jesus and living out our faith authentically. This means our actions should naturally flow from our faith, not be driven by a desire for recognition or validation. We must be cautious not to judge others based on the works we think they should be doing, but rather encourage each other to follow the Spirit's leading in their lives.
Furthermore, we discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us to perform good works, emphasizing that the Spirit's presence in our lives should move us to actions that we wouldn't undertake on our own. This divine guidance helps us to live out our faith in practical, impactful ways.
In closing, we reflected on the importance of combining faith and works to truly live as God's ambassadors. We were reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and this love should be the driving force behind our faith and actions.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith and Works are Inseparable: Genuine faith naturally leads to actions that reflect God's character and kingdom. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab's assistance to the spies are prime examples of how faith compels us to act in alignment with God's will. Faith without deeds is dead, and deeds without faith are meaningless. [38:26]
2. Avoid Making Evangelism an Idol: While sharing the good news is crucial, it should not become an idol. Our primary focus should be on Jesus and living out our faith authentically. Our actions should flow naturally from our faith, not be driven by a desire for recognition or validation. [35:45]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides us to perform good works, moving us to actions that we wouldn't undertake on our own. This divine guidance helps us to live out our faith in practical, impactful ways. Believing in the Spirit's power is essential for a vibrant faith that leads to meaningful works. [52:44]
4. Judging Others' Works: We must be cautious not to judge others based on the works we think they should be doing. Each person's faith journey is unique, and the Spirit leads us in different ways. Encouraging each other to follow the Spirit's leading is more important than imposing our expectations on others. [41:37]
5. Living as God's Ambassadors: Combining faith and works is essential to truly live as God's ambassadors. Our actions should demonstrate the love of God through Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate us from this love, and it should be the driving force behind our faith and actions, calling people to the love of Jesus. [01:03:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Community Involvement and Bible Study
[2:30] - Madison Cleanup Day
[4:00] - Opening Prayer
[5:30] - Introduction to Faith and Works
[7:00] - The Mission of Our Church
[8:30] - Faith and Works in Matthew 5:16
[10:00] - Avoiding Evangelism as an Idol
[12:00] - Examples from James 2
[14:00] - Abraham and Rahab's Faith in Action
[16:00] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[18:00] - Judging Others' Works
[20:00] - Living as God's Ambassadors
[22:00] - Closing Thoughts and Invitation
[24:00] - Final Prayer and Song
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 2:14-26
2. Matthew 5:16
3. Ephesians 2:8-10
#### Observation Questions
1. According to James 2:14-26, what examples are given to illustrate that faith without deeds is dead?
2. In Matthew 5:16, what is the purpose of letting our light shine before others?
3. How does Ephesians 2:8-10 describe the relationship between grace, faith, and works?
4. What specific actions did Abraham and Rahab take that demonstrated their faith? [38:26]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize that faith without deeds is dead? How does this challenge common perceptions of faith? [38:26]
2. How can making evangelism an idol detract from our primary focus on Jesus? What are the potential dangers of this mindset? [35:45]
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in guiding believers to perform good works, according to the sermon? [52:44]
4. How can we balance encouraging others to follow the Spirit's leading without imposing our expectations on them? [41:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your faith led you to take a specific action. How did that experience strengthen your faith? [38:26]
2. Have you ever felt pressured to perform certain works to gain recognition or validation? How can you shift your focus to ensure your actions flow naturally from your faith? [35:45]
3. In what ways can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? Share a recent experience where you felt the Spirit leading you to act. [52:44]
4. Think of a person in your life whose faith journey is different from yours. How can you encourage them to follow the Spirit's leading without judging their actions? [41:37]
5. How can you actively combine faith and works to live as God's ambassador in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate God's love. [01:03:57]
6. What steps can you take to avoid making evangelism an idol while still sharing the good news effectively? How can you ensure that your primary focus remains on Jesus? [35:45]
7. Reflect on the upcoming Madison cleanup day. How can participating in this event help you build relationships within the community and live out your faith? [32:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith and Works are Inseparable
True faith naturally leads to actions that reflect God's character and kingdom. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab's assistance to the spies are prime examples of how faith compels us to act in alignment with God's will. Faith without deeds is dead, and deeds without faith are meaningless. This symbiotic relationship between faith and works is crucial for living a life that honors God. When we truly believe, our actions will naturally follow, demonstrating our trust and obedience to God. [38:26]
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 recent situation where you had the opportunity to act on your faith. Did you take action? If not, what held you back, and how can you prepare yourself to act in faith next time?
Day 2: Avoid Making Evangelism an Idol
While sharing the good news is crucial, it should not become an idol. Our primary focus should be on Jesus and living out our faith authentically. Our actions should flow naturally from our faith, not be driven by a desire for recognition or validation. It's important to remember that evangelism is a means to an end, not the end itself. Our ultimate goal is to glorify God and live in a way that reflects His love and grace. [35:45]
Matthew 6:1 (ESV): "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for sharing your faith. Are you seeking recognition or validation from others? How can you refocus your efforts to ensure that your primary goal is to glorify God?
Day 3: The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides us to perform good works, moving us to actions that we wouldn't undertake on our own. This divine guidance helps us to live out our faith in practical, impactful ways. Believing in the Spirit's power is essential for a vibrant faith that leads to meaningful works. The Spirit's presence in our lives should be evident through the actions we take and the love we show to others. [52:44]
Galatians 5:16 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to take action. How did you respond? What can you do to be more attuned to the Spirit's guidance in your daily life?
Day 4: Judging Others' Works
We must be cautious not to judge others based on the works we think they should be doing. Each person's faith journey is unique, and the Spirit leads us in different ways. Encouraging each other to follow the Spirit's leading is more important than imposing our expectations on others. By focusing on our own walk with God and supporting others in theirs, we create a more loving and understanding community. [41:37]
Romans 14:4 (ESV): "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
Reflection: Think of someone whose actions you have judged recently. How can you shift your perspective to be more supportive and encouraging of their unique faith journey?
Day 5: Living as God's Ambassadors
Combining faith and works is essential to truly live as God's ambassadors. Our actions should demonstrate the love of God through Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate us from this love, and it should be the driving force behind our faith and actions, calling people to the love of Jesus. As ambassadors, we represent God's kingdom on earth, and our lives should reflect His love, grace, and truth. [01:03:57]
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Reflection: In what ways can you better represent Christ in your daily interactions? Identify one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate God's love to those around you.
Quotes
1. "And it's just been really interesting comments back and forth. And just so you know, we are going to have a few guest teachers on Wednesday nights, some who have expertise in some of these books of the Bible that will give us a fresh and different perspective. So Wednesdays, plan to be a part of that." [31:34] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so it's just kind of the next step of that. And so if you're available, you can come to the cleanup day. And so if you're available, on the 28th, between eight and 11, please come help be part of a team and go out and help clean up Madison. It's just a way to get to know our community and really be present here. And that's probably the biggest thing we can do is to be present in our community and be able to do that and build those relationships. Those are always important." [32:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So when we are those people who are sharing good news, it is just a natural outgrowth of who we are in the faith that we have, not some conjured up way in which we're going to go out. And now, and I'm not against any of those things because for those of you who grew up in the churches of Christ, we've always had a program around evangelism. Right. Uh, it's go, you means go me. If you remember those books, uh, there, there was a world Bible school was away. I mean, I love those things, but let's be careful not to make those things. The important things at the end of the day, even in all of those things are sharing the good news of sharing Jesus so he can transform their lives, not what we do here." [37:09] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So think about faith and works. I can remember a little bit growing up that we were in a lot of ways, we were works-based more than we were faith-based. And I made this mistake one time of telling my dad that I believed I was saved by faith alone. Now, let's jump, let's think about this for a second. So let's think about the Church of Christ background, all right? So it was always, and I'm going to pick on us a little bit today, you know, you can pick on family, we can do that. So it was always like, yes, faith was important and we had faith, but it was faith plus works, or faith plus hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized." [39:57] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And then the story of Rahab. Rahab was someone who was not part of the group. And yet God used her in a way that really made a difference. Not only has her here, but she's also in Hebrews chapter 11. You get that same picture. There's five people listed in Hebrews chapter 11 and one of them is Rahab. And so we've got to understand this level of faith that we have to have in who God is and what he's calling us to do and how we can step into those works. Because Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 says, it's impossible without faith to please God." [49:39] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We are still today in our movement, in the restoration heritage of the churches of Christ. Again, I'm picking on family. We are scared to death of the Holy Spirit moving in our lives because someone might think we're nuts, right? I mean, the Holy Spirit will move if we believe scripture and the Holy Spirit living in you will move you to do things that you wouldn't do on your own. Isn't that the biggest thing? Isn't that the biggest thing? Isn't that the beauty of the Holy Spirit living in us?" [52:44] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer says this, faith without works is no faith. At all. It's a simple lack of obedience to God. Now, I don't know about you, but that one hurts because it's a deep truth that says when we refuse to step into the lead of the Holy Spirit that's prompted by the faith that we have in God and his son, Jesus, to go into this world and be involved in people's lives and make a difference, it's just simple lack of obedience." [55:42] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And I wonder sometimes when we throw our good works, all over Facebook. Think about this for a second. And I'm reminded of Matthew chapter 6 when Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, when you give to the needy, don't announce it with trumpets and expect some applause. I'm paraphrasing a little bit. Because when you've done that, you got your reward. But when you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. And then what you do in secret, your father will reward you in secret." [57:36] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "C.S. Lewis said the debate about faith and works, well, it's like asking which blade and a pair of scissors is the most important. I like that. It's probably one of the simplest ways to think about it. In order to truly cut the paper, you need both blades of the scissor. In order for us to truly live the way God called us to live, we've got to put our faith and our works together so that they send a message to the world that we are his. We are his ambassadors. We are his people. We are the ones who want them to know where we come from. Faith, and works together." [01:02:15] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Man, sometimes when we're living in this world, we forget that we're not the only people that God loves. And when we combine our faith and our works, the sole purpose of that is to show the love of God through Christ Jesus in all that we do. So today, if you don't have that love and you're not living in that love, and it's not the thing that pushes you and motivates you, if it's not the thing that pushes you and motivates you, if it's not the thing that pushes you and motivates you, if it's not the thing that defines your faith so that the works that you involve yourself in are things that really matter to the greater kingdom of God and the character of God, I invite you to step into that today." [01:05:36] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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