Faithfulness: Small Steps to Significant Change
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we conclude our series on the habits of a healthy heart by focusing on faithfulness. As we gather in this grace-filled, no-judgment zone, we are reminded that if we desire a new life, we must change our habits, and to change our habits, we must allow God to change our hearts. This summer, as we relax and reflect, it's a perfect time to evaluate our lives and invite God to work deeper within us.
Faithfulness in the little things is a big thing. Jesus tells us that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Often, the challenges we face seem insurmountable, but with a little faith and consistent action, significant changes can occur over time. However, it's difficult when you're in the middle of a transformation. The initial excitement fades, and the lack of visible results can be discouraging. This is where many give up, but we are called to persevere.
Faithfulness compounds over time. Small, consistent actions lead to significant outcomes. Whether it's maintaining a workout routine, nurturing a relationship, or saving money, these small steps accumulate and lead to substantial results. The key is not to quit, even when it gets tough.
Grit is essential for faithfulness. Grit involves grace, resilience, integrity, and teachability. Grace allows us to forgive ourselves and others when we make mistakes. Resilience helps us to keep going despite challenges. Integrity ensures that we stay true to our values, and teachability keeps us open to learning and growth.
In our journey, we must remember that faithfulness in little things prepares us for bigger things. Our actions, no matter how small, are significant in God's eyes. As we remain faithful, we will see the fruits of our labor and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
### Key Takeaways
1. Faithfulness in Little Things: Being faithful in small actions is crucial. Jesus emphasized that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. This principle teaches us that small, consistent actions can lead to significant changes over time. It's about taking those little steps daily, trusting that they will accumulate into something substantial. [16:17]
2. The Challenge of the Middle: The middle of any journey is often the hardest part. It's where initial excitement wanes, and the lack of visible results can be discouraging. This is the critical point where many give up. Recognizing this phase and pushing through it is essential for achieving long-term goals. [19:13]
3. The Compounding Effect of Faithfulness: Small, faithful actions compound over time, leading to significant outcomes. Whether it's in relationships, finances, or personal growth, consistent effort in small things leads to big results. This principle encourages us to stay committed, knowing that our efforts will pay off in the long run. [24:56]
4. The Importance of Grit: Grit, which includes grace, resilience, integrity, and teachability, is essential for faithfulness. Grace allows us to forgive ourselves and others, resilience helps us to keep going despite challenges, integrity ensures we stay true to our values, and teachability keeps us open to learning and growth. These qualities are crucial for maintaining faithfulness in our journey. [28:48]
5. Faithfulness Prepares Us for Greater Things: Being faithful in little things prepares us for bigger responsibilities and opportunities. Our small, consistent actions are significant in God's eyes and prepare us for greater tasks. This principle reminds us that our daily faithfulness is not in vain but is building us up for more significant purposes. [45:40]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:29] - Housekeeping and Connection
[03:21] - Series Conclusion: Habits of a Healthy Heart
[04:17] - Opening Prayer
[11:55] - Heart of John the Baptist
[13:06] - Evaluating Life and Changing Habits
[14:04] - Personal Story: Online Training
[16:17] - Faithfulness in Little Things
[19:13] - The Challenge of the Middle
[24:56] - The Compounding Effect of Faithfulness
[28:48] - The Importance of Grit
[45:40] - Faithfulness Prepares Us for Greater Things
[47:44] - Generosity and Tithing
[49:00] - Connection Card and Announcements
[50:21] - Joining a Team and Community
[49:52] - Closing and Offering
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 17:20 (NIV) - "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"
2. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
3. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say about the power of faith as small as a mustard seed in Matthew 17:20?
2. According to Galatians 6:9, what are we encouraged not to grow weary in doing, and what is promised if we do not give up?
3. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, what does God say about His grace and power in relation to our weaknesses?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of faith as small as a mustard seed relate to the idea of being faithful in little things? ([16:17])
2. Why is the middle of any journey often the hardest part, and how can recognizing this help us persevere? ([19:13])
3. What does it mean for faithfulness to compound over time, and how can this principle be applied to different areas of our lives? ([24:56])
4. How do the qualities of grace, resilience, integrity, and teachability contribute to maintaining faithfulness? ([28:48])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up in the middle of a challenging situation. How did you push through, or what could you have done differently to persevere? ([19:13])
2. Identify a small, consistent action you can take this week to build faithfulness in a specific area of your life. How will you ensure you stick with it? ([16:17])
3. Think about an area in your life where you need more grace for yourself or others. How can you practice extending grace in that area this week? ([28:48])
4. What are some practical ways you can develop resilience in your daily life, especially when facing challenges? ([34:17])
5. How can you ensure that you maintain integrity in your actions and decisions, even when it is difficult? ([38:27])
6. In what ways can you cultivate a teachable spirit and remain open to learning and growth? ([39:11])
7. Consider a small responsibility or task you have been neglecting. How can being faithful in this small thing prepare you for greater opportunities in the future? ([45:40])
Devotional
Day 1: Faithfulness in Little Things
Faithfulness in the little things is a big thing. Jesus tells us that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Often, the challenges we face seem insurmountable, but with a little faith and consistent action, significant changes can occur over time. However, it's difficult when you're in the middle of a transformation. The initial excitement fades, and the lack of visible results can be discouraging. This is where many give up, but we are called to persevere. [16:17]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: What small, consistent action can you start today that will lead to significant change over time? How can you remain faithful in this action even when you don't see immediate results?
Day 2: The Challenge of the Middle
The middle of any journey is often the hardest part. It's where initial excitement wanes, and the lack of visible results can be discouraging. This is the critical point where many give up. Recognizing this phase and pushing through it is essential for achieving long-term goals. [19:13]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: Think of a goal or project you are currently working on. How can you push through the middle phase where it feels toughest? What steps can you take to stay motivated and committed?
Day 3: The Compounding Effect of Faithfulness
Small, faithful actions compound over time, leading to significant outcomes. Whether it's in relationships, finances, or personal growth, consistent effort in small things leads to big results. This principle encourages us to stay committed, knowing that our efforts will pay off in the long run. [24:56]
Proverbs 13:11 (ESV): "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you can apply small, consistent actions. How can you commit to these actions daily, trusting that they will lead to significant outcomes over time?
Day 4: The Importance of Grit
Grit, which includes grace, resilience, integrity, and teachability, is essential for faithfulness. Grace allows us to forgive ourselves and others, resilience helps us to keep going despite challenges, integrity ensures we stay true to our values, and teachability keeps us open to learning and growth. These qualities are crucial for maintaining faithfulness in our journey. [28:48]
James 1:12 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you demonstrate grace, resilience, integrity, and teachability? How can you cultivate these qualities further in your daily life?
Day 5: Faithfulness Prepares Us for Greater Things
Being faithful in little things prepares us for bigger responsibilities and opportunities. Our small, consistent actions are significant in God's eyes and prepare us for greater tasks. This principle reminds us that our daily faithfulness is not in vain but is building us up for more significant purposes. [45:40]
Matthew 25:21 (ESV): "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"
Reflection: Consider the small tasks and responsibilities you have today. How can you approach them with faithfulness, knowing that they are preparing you for greater things? What mindset shift do you need to make to see their significance in God's eyes?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you want a new life, you got to change your habits. You want to change your habits, you got to let God change your heart. And so we've been going through a journey of just inviting God into our heart in deeper levels to do the work that he does in order to bring the life out he's called us to be and to do." [03:21] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Being faithful in the little things is a big thing. Being faithful in the little things is a big thing. Scripture says in Matthew 17, 20, and it says it in a lot of different places and context. But again, Jesus says, I tell you the truth. If you had faith, even as small as a mustard seed, Jesus says. You could say to those mountains, move from here or there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." [16:17] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Satan will always put it that it's impossible for you to change. He'll give you all the excuses and the lies. This is the way you've always been. This is the way you're raised. This is the way that you're going to be. It's not true. And I'm telling you, if you just have a little bit of faith and you take a little bit of action, because faith is action, and it's the little bitty things, over the context of time, make a big difference." [17:25] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Failure is not final. It's learning. And if you get everything right the first time that you picked, it was something that you picked, then it was too easy. It's like kind of going and playing a Chuck E. Cheese and playing the kids game for more tickets. It's too easy. Grace is foundational to you to be all that God has called you, to be and called you to do. You got to have grace for yourself. It's just foundational." [33:02] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Let us not become weary in doing good. How many of you know that doing good can make you get weary? Yeah? And we often want to quit, even when we're doing good. And he says, Do not grow weary sometimes for doing good for a proper time. That's not my time. It's not your time. But a proper time. What are you going to do? You're going to reap a harvest if you don't give up." [34:17] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And this is why we're going to wrap up our series and talk about habits of the heart with this lesson on don't quit. Because Satan doesn't want to rob you of the good that God has started in you. And if you're new jumping in, man, I encourage you to go back. It is. This is worth it. As we talked about different habits of self-examination, the habit of simplifying life, Solomon says greater as tranquility on one hand and have then have toil in two and be chasing after the wind." [14:59] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faithfulness compounds. It compounds in your life. While you're working and saying like, God, I need your help to work in my heart. To work in this one place of faithfulness where I am. I'm weak and I need you to build me up. You know what? It's that one place compounds in your life to other places. I was talking with a man yesterday, the other day. And he's an older gentleman who's really been struggling physically. And he's gotten into an exercise program. And part of the exercise program is left brain, right brain. And he's doing something just like bouncing a ball to his left hand, right hand." [24:56] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The reason Christians, I believe, struggle so much is that we don't allow ourselves to be teachable, to have mentors, to have guides, to have teachers that are up close to us, who are speaking directly into our lives. Who know us so well to tell us these truths. The guide is true. how do you combat that? You've got to stay in a posture of curiosity, of learning. You've got to stay in a posture of humility. He says, look, I can learn from anyone and anybody. Whether they're new or old. And that I'm going to stay curious, that I stay flexible, that I can continue to learn and ask for help." [42:33] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I don't know where you are in your journey. But maybe that diagram may help you to say, you know, these are parts of my life where I'm in this journey. In some places, you're just kind of static. Maybe there's some new things. Maybe you're in the middle of something. You've been thinking about quitting. And you know that God wants to take you somewhere. He's been prompting and pushing you there. Wherever you are in that journey. Hey, don't quit. Be faithful in the little things. And they become a really big thing." [44:13] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And maybe that's just where you need to start today. God, I just want to quit. I've been having all these negative messages. Man, that's been Satan just accusing you, putting lies in your heart. Let's just allow grace to cover. Let this grace be sufficient to fill you, to sustain you, to hold you. And allow them to have that resilience. Let God's grace lead to the power of His Holy Spirit. Let Him hold you up. Let Him build those convictions. Let Him refine your motivations. Because maybe you're doing the right thing, but you've got the wrong motives." [44:51] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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