Faith's Power: Trusting God Beyond Our Limitations
Summary
Today’s gathering centered on the reality that faith is not about the size or strength of our belief, but about the One in whom we place our trust. Life brings us moments when faith feels abundant and effortless, and other days when it seems we’re running on empty, struggling to forgive, to hope, or to move forward. Jesus’ words in Luke 17 remind us that even a mustard seed-sized faith, when rooted in Him, is enough to uproot the most stubborn, deep-rooted problems in our lives.
We explored how Jesus’ call to repeated forgiveness—“even if someone wrongs you seven times in a day and returns seven times, you must forgive”—is humanly impossible. The disciples’ honest response, “Increase our faith,” is a model for us. Admitting our limitations is not a sign of weakness, but an invitation for God’s grace and power to work in us. When we come to Jesus, both privately and together as a community, we open ourselves to His transforming work.
Faith, as Jesus describes, is not a fuel gauge to be monitored, but a relationship to be trusted. The focus is not on how much faith we have, but on the object of our faith—Jesus Himself. Even the smallest trust in Him can move what seems immovable. We are reminded not to rely on our own wisdom or strength, but to trust in God’s promises and character, even when the outcome is uncertain or the way forward is unclear.
We also considered the importance of community in our spiritual journey. Isolation breeds stagnation, but honest relationships and mutual support help us grow and persevere. When we pray God’s promises back to Him, we align ourselves with His power and plan, and we begin to see Him work in ways we could not have imagined.
Ultimately, the invitation is simple but not easy: bring your limitations, your struggles, and your “mulberry trees” to Jesus. Trust Him with even the smallest faith, and watch as He does what only He can do—uprooting what holds us back and preparing us for the life He has for us.
Key Takeaways
- Admitting Limitations Opens the Door to Grace
Recognizing our inability to forgive or overcome certain challenges is not a failure, but the first step toward experiencing God’s power. When we humbly confess our weakness to Jesus, we invite His strength to work in and through us. This honest admission, both privately and within trusted community, is the soil where faith grows and stagnation is uprooted. [38:00]
- Faith’s Power Lies in Its Object, Not Its Size
Jesus teaches that the effectiveness of faith is not about how much we have, but in whom we place it. Even faith as small as a mustard seed, when rooted in Christ, can move the most entrenched obstacles. The question is not, “Do I have enough faith?” but, “Am I trusting Jesus with what I have?” [41:51]
- Community is Essential for Spiritual Growth
Spiritual stagnation often takes root in isolation. God designed us to need one another, to share our struggles, and to pray for each other. Honest relationships within the body of Christ provide the support and accountability necessary to persevere and grow, especially when facing deep-rooted issues. [40:36]
- God’s Promises Are Meant to Be Claimed in Prayer
When we pray God’s promises back to Him, we align ourselves with His will and power. This act of faith is not about manipulating outcomes, but about surrendering our problems to God’s purposes. Even when the situation seems impossible, God invites us to trust Him to do what we cannot. [50:53]
- Trusting God with the Unknown Frees Us from Fear
Life’s “mulberry trees”—those stubborn, overwhelming problems—are not obstacles to God. Trusting Him with our unknowns, as Corrie Ten Boom did, allows us to experience His peace and provision even in the hardest circumstances. God does not require a full tank of faith, only our full trust in Him. [47:38]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:11] - Announcements and Birthdays
[05:47] - Heritage Bible’s Mission: Passion for God, Compassion for People
[07:18] - Offering, Coffee, and Community Life
[08:33] - Upcoming Events and New Series on Elders
[09:09] - Call to Worship and Nature’s Inspiration
[10:23] - Worship: Standing on the Promises
[13:15] - Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-19
[18:44] - Worship: Be Still My Soul
[21:24] - Guided Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
[25:30] - Special Music: He Is Able
[29:21] - Gratitude for Behind-the-Scenes Servants
[30:36] - The Reality of Faith’s Ups and Downs
[33:17] - Four Deep-Rooted Challenges in Life
[34:44] - Uprooting Stagnant Faith: The Mustard Seed Principle
[38:00] - Admitting Our Limitations to Jesus
[41:51] - The Source of Faith’s Power
[45:46] - Trusting God with the Unknown: Corrie Ten Boom’s Story
[48:53] - Affirming God’s Promises and Facing Mulberry Trees
[52:10] - Personal Story: Praying Through Conflict
[55:30] - Closing Prayer: Uprooting Stubborn Problems
[57:39] - Closing Worship and Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “A Little Faith in a Big God”
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### Bible Reading
Luke 17:1-19 (ESV)
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you..."
(Read the full passage: Luke 17:1-19)
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Jesus in Luke 17, what is the disciples’ response when told to forgive someone seven times in a day? What does this reveal about their understanding of faith? ([36:41])
2. What does Jesus compare faith to in this passage, and what does He say even a small amount of faith can accomplish? ([41:51])
3. In the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19), what is the difference between the one who returns to thank Jesus and the other nine?
4. The sermon mentions “mulberry trees” as a metaphor. What does the mulberry tree represent in the context of Jesus’ teaching? ([48:53])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do the disciples ask Jesus to “increase our faith” after hearing His command about forgiveness? What does this say about the challenges of living out Jesus’ teachings? ([36:41])
2. The sermon says, “Faith is not a fuel gauge to be monitored, but a relationship to be trusted.” What does it mean to focus on the object of faith (Jesus) rather than the amount of faith we have? ([41:51])
3. How does admitting our limitations and weaknesses open the door for God’s grace and power to work in us, according to the sermon? ([38:00])
4. The sermon highlights the importance of community in overcoming spiritual stagnation. Why is isolation so dangerous for our faith, and how does honest community help us grow? ([40:36])
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### Application Questions
1. The disciples honestly admitted to Jesus that they didn’t have enough faith to forgive as He commanded. Is there an area in your life where you need to admit your own limitations to God or to others? What would it look like to do that this week? ([36:41])
2. Jesus says even faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot a mulberry tree. What is one “mulberry tree”—a stubborn, deep-rooted problem or hurt—in your life that feels impossible to move? How might you bring this to Jesus, even with just a little faith? ([48:53])
3. The sermon says, “Faith’s power lies in its object, not its size.” Are you more focused on how much faith you have, or on who you are trusting? How can you shift your focus to Jesus Himself this week? ([41:51])
4. The message emphasized praying God’s promises back to Him. Is there a specific promise from Scripture you need to claim in prayer right now? What would it look like to pray that promise daily? ([50:53])
5. The sermon shared that “isolation breeds stagnation.” Are you currently walking through a struggle alone? What step could you take to invite someone from your church community into that struggle for support and prayer? ([40:36])
6. Trusting God with the unknown can free us from fear. Is there an uncertain situation in your life where you need to trust God more? What would it look like to surrender that to Him this week? ([47:38])
7. The pastor shared a story about praying for God to deal with a difficult relationship, resulting in unexpected peace. Is there a relationship or conflict in your life where you need to pray, “God, deal with me, deal with them, deal with both of us”? What’s stopping you from praying that way? ([54:53])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray specifically for the “mulberry trees” in their lives, asking God to uproot what feels impossible, and to help each person trust Him—even with just a mustard seed of faith.
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