Faith in Action: Transforming Belief into Practice
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound difference between merely believing and actively doing. Imagine if simply believing in the principles of health, finance, or education was enough to transform our lives. Yet, we know that belief alone doesn't bring change; action does. Jesus understood this and taught that faith without action is incomplete. He didn't just call people to believe in Him but to follow Him actively. This call to action is what truly transforms lives and builds enduring faith.
Jesus' invitation was not just to believe but to follow Him, to live out our faith in practical ways. This means translating our beliefs into actions that reflect our trust in God. When we act on our faith, we experience God's faithfulness, which in turn strengthens our faith. This is the essence of a relationship with God—trust demonstrated through obedience.
We also discussed the importance of practical teaching in growing our faith. It's not enough to hear and believe; we must apply what we learn. Jesus' teachings, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, challenge us to live differently, to adopt an upside-down kingdom ethic that prioritizes others and reflects God's character. This practical application of faith is what builds a strong foundation, like a house built on rock, able to withstand life's storms.
The message concluded with a call to action: to not just be hearers of the word but doers. This is how we grow our faith and prepare for the inevitable challenges of life. By following Jesus and applying His teachings, we not only strengthen our faith but also make our lives better and more aligned with God's will.
Key Takeaways:
1. Belief vs. Action: Believing the right things is not enough to transform our lives. It is through action that our beliefs become meaningful and impactful. Jesus calls us to follow Him actively, not just to believe in Him. This active following is what leads to true transformation and fulfillment of our dreams. [02:47]
2. Faith and Trust: Our faith grows when it intersects with God's faithfulness. This happens when we step out in obedience, even when it's challenging. Trust is the currency of our relationship with God, and it is demonstrated through our actions, not just our beliefs. [14:42]
3. Practical Teaching: Practical teaching is essential for growing our faith. It provides us with the tools to apply our beliefs in real-world situations. When we act on what we learn, we experience God's faithfulness, which strengthens our faith. [11:26]
4. Building on Rock: Jesus taught that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like wise builders who build their houses on rock. This strong foundation enables us to withstand life's storms. Our faith is strengthened through practical application, not just belief. [22:05]
5. Invitation to Follow: Jesus invites us to follow Him, not just to believe in Him. This involves living out His teachings in our daily lives. By doing so, we experience God's faithfulness and our faith grows stronger, preparing us for whatever challenges may come. [42:05]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - The Power of Belief
[01:18] - Knowing vs. Doing
[02:07] - Jesus' Invitation
[03:33] - Faith Becomes Frail
[04:44] - Follow Me
[06:23] - Confidence in God
[08:10] - What Would You Do?
[09:31] - Ingredients of Faith
[11:26] - Practical Teaching
[15:52] - Sermon on the Mount
[20:03] - Building on Rock
[25:30] - The Wise and Foolish Builders
[32:40] - The Perfect Law of Freedom
[37:33] - Living It Out
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 1:22-25 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
2. Matthew 7:24-27 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
3. Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) - Jesus' teachings on living out faith.
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus compare those who hear His words and put them into practice to, according to Matthew 7:24-27?
2. In the sermon, what is the difference between believing and doing, and how does it affect our dreams? [02:47]
3. How does James describe the act of listening to the word without doing it? [29:11]
4. What are some of the practical teachings Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount that challenge cultural norms? [16:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of building a house on rock versus sand in Matthew 7:24-27 illustrate the importance of applying Jesus' teachings in our lives?
2. Why does the speaker emphasize that faith becomes frail when we only believe but do not act? [03:33]
3. How does James 1:22-25 challenge the common perception of faith as merely belief?
4. What might Jesus' upside-down kingdom ethic, as described in the Sermon on the Mount, look like in today's society? [16:31]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a belief you hold about your faith. What is one specific action you can take this week to live out that belief? [02:47]
2. Consider a situation where you need to trust God more. What step of obedience can you take to demonstrate that trust? [14:42]
3. Identify a teaching from the Sermon on the Mount that you find challenging. How can you begin to incorporate it into your daily life? [16:31]
4. Think of a time when you felt convicted by a sermon but did not act on it. What can you do differently next time to ensure you apply what you learn? [21:07]
5. How can you build a strong foundation of faith in your life, similar to the wise builder in Matthew 7:24-27?
6. What is one area of your life where you need to move from belief to action? How will you start this process?
7. How can you encourage someone else in your life to not just believe but also act on their faith? What practical support can you offer them?
Devotional
Day 1: Belief Transformed into Action
Believing in principles is not enough to bring about change in our lives. It is through action that our beliefs become meaningful and impactful. Jesus calls us to actively follow Him, not just to believe in Him. This active following is what leads to true transformation and fulfillment of our dreams. When we translate our beliefs into actions, we reflect our trust in God and experience His faithfulness, which in turn strengthens our faith. This is the essence of a relationship with God—trust demonstrated through obedience. [02:47]
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: Identify one belief you hold about God that you have not yet acted upon. What specific step can you take today to put that belief into action?
Day 2: Trust as the Currency of Faith
Our faith grows when it intersects with God's faithfulness. This happens when we step out in obedience, even when it's challenging. Trust is the currency of our relationship with God, and it is demonstrated through our actions, not just our beliefs. When we act on our faith, we experience God's faithfulness, which strengthens our faith. This dynamic relationship between faith and trust is crucial for spiritual growth and resilience. [14:42]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you are struggling to trust God. What is one action you can take today to demonstrate your trust in Him?
Day 3: The Power of Practical Teaching
Practical teaching is essential for growing our faith. It provides us with the tools to apply our beliefs in real-world situations. When we act on what we learn, we experience God's faithfulness, which strengthens our faith. Jesus' teachings, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, challenge us to live differently, to adopt an upside-down kingdom ethic that prioritizes others and reflects God's character. This practical application of faith is what builds a strong foundation, like a house built on rock, able to withstand life's storms. [11:26]
Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV): "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."
Reflection: What is one teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to apply in your life? How can you begin to practice it today?
Day 4: Building a Strong Foundation
Jesus taught that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like wise builders who build their houses on rock. This strong foundation enables us to withstand life's storms. Our faith is strengthened through practical application, not just belief. By following Jesus and applying His teachings, we not only strengthen our faith but also make our lives better and more aligned with God's will. [22:05]
Luke 6:47-48 (ESV): "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel unstable or shaken. What steps can you take to build a stronger foundation in that area by applying Jesus' teachings?
Day 5: The Invitation to Follow
Jesus invites us to follow Him, not just to believe in Him. This involves living out His teachings in our daily lives. By doing so, we experience God's faithfulness and our faith grows stronger, preparing us for whatever challenges may come. This call to action is what truly transforms lives and builds enduring faith. It is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God, where trust is demonstrated through obedience and action. [42:05]
John 15:14-15 (ESV): "You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. What is one way you can more intentionally follow Jesus in your everyday life? How can this change help you grow closer to Him?
Quotes
"If simply believing was enough to make a difference, think how different our life would be. When it comes to school, I mean, we all know that preparation is the way forward for a student, right? We believe that preparation is how you move forward. So, what if simply believing that preparation was the way forward but you didn't have to actually prepare." [00:01:18]
"Jesus didn't spend a lot of time just trying to get people to believe things that He said. He actually invited them over and over and over. And I think invites us to this very day to do things because He knew what we know that doing is what makes all the difference." [00:02:23]
"When we believe but don't do our dreams don't come true. When we believe but don't do our dreams don't come true. But I would like for all of us to just say this out loud together, okay. If there's nothing else you can pass this along to your children. Even if you don't apply it ready altogether when we believe but don't do our dream." [00:02:47]
"Jesus invited people to live their life or to live a life that actually reflected their confidence and their faith or their trust in God. And as we said last time, the reason Jesus came was so that we could know what God is truly like so that we can place our confidence in the real God." [00:06:14]
"Whenever we step out in obedience or to say it another way whenever we follow Jesus in an area where it's challenging where it costs us something, where we resist at first but finally give in. When our faithfulness to God intersects with His faithfulness to us, our faith gets bigger because we're going to come back to this." [00:13:09]
"Jesus is introducing what we could call His Upside-Down Kingdom Ethic. He came into the world where the people with all the power and all the resources leverage their power and resources for their own benefit. And Jesus says, 'I wanna turn that upside down. And those of you with power and resources should leverage your power and resources for the sake of those who have less power and fewer resources.'" [00:16:28]
"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine everyone who sat through this sermon everyone who just their jaws are hanging open. Like what? Everyone hears these words of mine and believes them, nope. Who remembers them? Nope. Who wrote them down? Nope. Who agrees with them? Nope. I know what it is. Who feels convicted by them? Nope." [00:20:34]
"He's saying it is possible for you to attend some kind of gathering every week of your life or every other every you know, twice a week. It is possible to hear. And it's possible to believe and yet live a life that ultimately undermines your faith. It is possible to hear, and it's possible to believe and yet live your life in such a way that your practical life undermines what you've heard and what you believe." [00:26:37]
"James writes a letter. We call it the book of James. And he's even more direct than Jesus. Here's what James, the brother of Jesus says on the same topic, he says to his audience, 'Do not merely listen to the word. And so deceive yourself.' Believing can be deceiving. If you think that, because you believe everything and you know, everything you need to know and you have the perfect theology but you don't do anything." [00:27:40]
"Faith is a muscle. And if you don't exercise it it atrophies and it Withers away. And the way we exercise our faith is not by believing things. We exercise our faith by stepping out and doing things and experiencing God's faithfulness. That's what grows our faith." [00:30:05]
"Application is what makes all the difference. So one thing God uses to grow up and mature and blow up our faith is application oriented teaching someone who gives us handles that challenges us not to simply sit and listen and not to simply experience something." [00:40:23]
"Following Jesus, it's gonna stretch your faith. It's gonna exercise your faith. It's gonna grow your faith. That's why ultimately following Jesus, will make your life better and it'll make you better. Not at believing. It will make you better at life." [00:41:05]
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