A Faith That Moves: Trusting God Beyond Belief

Today, we reflected on the greatness of God’s faithfulness and the foundational role of the church as seen in the early chapters of Acts. The church was birthed in unity, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and the breaking of bread, and these same elements remain vital for us today. The promise of God’s Spirit and salvation is not just for a select few, but for all—our families, our communities, and even those we have yet to meet. We are called to be a people who are devoted to God’s Word, to one another, and to prayer, creating a place of strength and transformation.

We also explored the difference between faith and trust. Many of us live in a spiritual “tug of war,” believing God can do great things, but struggling to let go of control and truly trust Him. Faith is the starting point—it’s believing God is able. But trust is the anchor; it’s the willingness to put everything in God’s hands and let Him do what only He can do. Without trust, our faith remains incomplete and ineffective, and we risk exhausting ourselves by trying to do God’s job for Him.

The story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 illustrates this tension. He had faith—he believed in God and kept the commandments—but he couldn’t let go of what he possessed to fully trust Jesus. We often do the same, holding onto control, bitterness, or our own accomplishments, and limiting our faith to what we can achieve ourselves. True mountain-moving faith is not just belief, but belief partnered with trust that leads to action and surrender.

Building faith comes from knowing God personally—experiencing His character, love, and grace for ourselves, not just through others’ stories. Building trust comes from remembering what God has already done in our lives, stacking up “stones of remembrance” as the Israelites did, so that when new challenges arise, we can look back and know He is trustworthy.

The invitation is to move from mere belief to a living, active trust in God. To surrender control, to remember His faithfulness, and to let our faith and trust work together so that God can do more than we could ever accomplish on our own. This is a journey, not a one-time decision, but it is the path to a life that truly moves mountains.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Early Church’s Blueprint: The first believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. These were not just rituals, but the means by which God’s Spirit moved powerfully among them. Our commitment to these same practices creates a community where God’s presence is experienced and lives are transformed. [22:02]
• 2. Faith vs. Trust—The Tug of War: Many of us believe God is able, but we struggle to trust Him with the outcomes. This creates a spiritual tug of war, where we exhaust ourselves trying to control what only God can do. The anchor that brings rest and effectiveness is not just faith, but trust—letting God be God in every area of our lives. [47:12]
• 3. Trust Is Built on Remembrance: Trust grows when we intentionally remember what God has already done. Like the Israelites stacking stones after crossing the Jordan, we need to keep a record of God’s faithfulness in our lives. This practice strengthens our trust when new challenges arise, reminding us that the God who was faithful before will be faithful again. [68:12]
• 4. Faith Must Move Beyond Belief: Belief alone is not enough; even demons believe. Faith that moves mountains is faith that leads to action, surrender, and obedience. When we move from simply believing God can, to trusting that He will—and acting on that trust—we step into the fullness of what God desires for us. [49:32]
• 5. Surrendering Control Is the Path to Rest: Our deepest exhaustion comes from trying to do God’s job—fixing, providing, or orchestrating outcomes. True rest and fruitfulness come when we do our part and then take our hands off, allowing God to bring the harvest. Surrender is not weakness, but the gateway to seeing God’s power at work in and through us. [57:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [17:58] - Declaring God’s Faithfulness
• [18:19] - Ministry Moment and Invitation to Prayer
• [18:57] - The Birth and Organization of the Church
• [19:57] - Peter’s Transformation and the Power of the Spirit
• [21:02] - The Promise for All Generations
• [22:02] - Devotion to Teaching, Fellowship, and Prayer
• [37:20] - Introducing “Mountain Movers” and Faith That Moves
• [38:06] - Facing a Faith Crisis
• [39:28] - Tug of War: The Struggle Between Faith and Control
• [42:07] - The Anchor: Why Trust Matters
• [47:12] - Faith vs. Trust: The Real Issue
• [49:32] - Faith Must Move Beyond Belief
• [51:03] - Trusting God Over Our Own Understanding
• [59:42] - How to Build Faith: Knowing God Personally
• [64:17] - How to Build Trust: Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [68:12] - Stones of Remembrance and Trust
• [71:16] - Faith and Trust: The Journey to Surrender
• [73:03] - Responding in Faith and Trust
• [75:38] - Closing and Celebration of Life Change

Bible Reading

Acts 2:38-42 (NASB) — > Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Luke 18:18-27 (NASB) — > A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ... When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ... But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Joshua 4:1-7 (NASB) — > Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan...’” ... “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord...’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 2:42, what four things did the early church devote themselves to? How did the sermon describe the importance of these practices for us today? [[22:02]]
2. In the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18), what did Jesus ask the man to do, and how did the man respond? [[44:23]]
3. What was the purpose of the twelve stones that the Israelites took from the Jordan River in Joshua 4? How did the sermon connect this to building trust in God? [[01:08:12]]
4. The sermon described a “spiritual tug of war” between faith and trust. What does this phrase mean, and how does it show up in our lives? [[42:07]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the early church’s devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer was so powerful for their growth and unity? How might these practices help us experience God’s presence today? [[22:02]]
2. The rich young ruler believed in God and kept the commandments, but he struggled to let go of his possessions. What does this reveal about the difference between faith (belief) and trust (surrender)? [[44:23]]
3. The sermon said, “Trust is built on remembrance.” Why is it important to remember what God has done in the past when facing new challenges? How does this help us trust Him more? [[01:08:12]]
4. The pastor said, “Faith is the starting point—it’s believing God is able. But trust is the anchor; it’s the willingness to put everything in God’s hands.” What are some areas where people might have faith but struggle to trust? [[47:12]]

Application Questions

1. The early church was devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Which of these do you find easiest to practice, and which is most challenging for you? What is one step you could take this week to grow in the area that’s hardest for you? [[22:02]]
2. The sermon described a “tug of war” between believing God can do something and actually trusting Him with the outcome. Is there a specific area in your life where you feel this tension right now? What would it look like to let go of control and trust God in that area? [[42:07]]
3. The rich young ruler couldn’t let go of what he possessed to fully trust Jesus. Are there things—like control, bitterness, or accomplishments—that you tend to hold onto instead of surrendering to God? What is one thing you sense God asking you to release? [[44:23]]
4. The sermon encouraged us to “stack up stones of remembrance” by keeping a record of God’s faithfulness. Can you share a time when God came through for you in the past? How might remembering this help you trust Him with something you’re facing now? [[01:08:12]]
5. The pastor said, “True rest and fruitfulness come when we do our part and then take our hands off, allowing God to bring the harvest.” Is there an area where you’ve been trying to do God’s job for Him? What would it look like to do your part and then step back? [[57:07]]
6. The sermon challenged us to move from belief to a living, active trust in God. What is one practical way you can act on your faith this week—something that requires you to trust God, not just believe in Him? [[49:32]]
7. The invitation was to “surrender control, remember His faithfulness, and let our faith and trust work together.” What is one area of your life where you want to see God do more than you could accomplish on your own? How can the group pray for you in this? [[01:12:43]]