Our Father's Heart Calls us to Trust Message

Devotional

Day 1: Faith is assurance that leads to action.

You are invited to see faith not as a vague feeling but as the assurance that shapes choices and prompts obedience, just like Noah, Abraham, and Moses whose trust led them to act. Trust is practical: it moves you into the ark, onto the road, across the sea, or into hard conversations because you believe God will follow through on His promises. Let that assurance shape one deliberate step this week as you walk in the present with the future in view. [11:12]

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Reflection: What is one concrete step of obedience you can take this week that would demonstrate your assurance in God’s promises (one phone call, one act of service, one conversation, etc.)?

Day 2: Jesus is the exclusive way, truth, and life.

Trust in Jesus means following a person, not merely a philosophy; because He rose from the dead, His words carry the authority to guide every step of daily life. When doubt or confusion comes, return to the reality that Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth that shapes your beliefs, and the life that renews your heart. Let this conviction reorient decisions about relationships, time, and priorities today. [15:39]

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Reflection: Where in your life have you been following a “way” other than Jesus this season, and what one habit can you change this week to follow Jesus more faithfully?

Day 3: Faith itself is a gift from God.

Trust is not primarily a self-produced achievement but a gracious gift God gives so His children can believe and persevere; it is something received, used, and shared. Recognize that the very ability to trust is God’s work in you—meant to be practiced, strengthened, and offered to others as you live out the gospel. Use the gift: trust in hard moments, speak of it to someone, and let it move you to acts of love. [07:05]

Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Reflection: Recall a time your faith felt like a clear gift—how can you steward that gift this week (who will you tell, how will you use it in service, what practice will you adopt)?

Day 4: God often works from small, unexpected places.

God’s saving work broke into history in a humble town and a manger so that His ways would confound human expectations about size, power, and reliability. Bethlehem’s smallness reminds you that God delights to bring life and deliverance where people least expect it, inviting trust even when circumstances look inferior or unlikely. Watch for God’s unexpected work this week and be willing to step into small, ordinary places believing He will do the extraordinary. [03:29]

Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Reflection: Identify one “small” place, person, or situation you’ve been overlooking; how might God be calling you to trust Him there and act concretely this week?

Day 5: Jesus perfects our faith through suffering and victory.

Fix your eyes on Jesus—the founder and perfecter of our faith—who endured the cross and now reigns; He understands both doubt and suffering and transforms them into perseverance. In seasons when faith feels small, remember that Jesus entered weakness and brought resurrection life, so your present frailty is met by His sustaining presence. Let His suffering and victory coach you to keep trusting, sharing, and stepping out into unknown places God calls you to. [07:28]

Hebrews 12:2
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflection: When your faith feels cold or weak, what single practice (scripture reading, silence, confession, communion, telling a trusted friend) helps you refocus on Jesus’ suffering and victorious life, and will you commit to it this week?

Sermon Summary

As the second Advent candle shines, we remembered that faith is complete trust—confidence anchored not in ourselves but in Jesus. The “Bethlehem candle” takes us straight into the paradox of God’s heart: he brings the world’s salvation through smallness and obscurity. Micah foretold a ruler from a village “too little,” and that is precisely where God chose to do his greatest work. We tend to trust what’s big, obvious, and controllable; yet the Father delights to meet us in the manger, on the cross, and in the silence of the empty tomb. These aren’t just ancient sites; they’re the pattern of how God still moves in the present.

Trust is not something we muster; it’s a gift given and sustained by God. We’re saved by grace through faith, and even that faith is grace—a gift to receive, use, and share. The Lord keeps giving: absolution that frees conscience, baptism that unites us to Christ’s death and life, and his body and blood that nourish us with a foretaste of the kingdom. Because Jesus fulfilled the promises and will come again, we can actually live like our future is secure—because it is.

Trust leads the way now. Hope fixes our eyes on the future; trust puts our feet on the ground in the present. Mary and Joseph show us that trust matures through costly obedience, and Hebrews 11 widens the picture—sometimes trust looks like seas parting, and sometimes it looks like persevering through chains and loss. Either way, God is faithful, and trust turns into action.

And Jesus himself is not merely a pointer to life; he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We can entrust every step to him because he rose as he said. If your trust feels small, remember: Bethlehem was small. If you’ve suffered, remember: Jesus suffered. If your heart feels cold, remember: he knows the silence of the grave and stepped out of it. Until he comes again, let trust lead the way—receive the gift, use it, share it, and walk into the places he opens before you.

Key Takeaways

1. God works through small, unlikely places God chooses Bethlehem-sized spaces to unveil his strength, so we learn to recognize him in what the world overlooks. The manger, the cross, and the empty tomb reframe our expectations of power and success. Trust grows when we allow God to define significance, not our appetite for the spectacular. Look for him in the quiet, and you’ll find him faithful. [05:16]
2. Trust is a gift to steward Faith isn’t self-generated grit; it’s grace received and sustained by God. Because it’s a gift, we’re called to use it—resting in Jesus, acting on his promises, and sharing the life we’ve received. The sacraments train our trust, embodying forgiveness and communion in tangible ways that shape real lives. Stewardship of trust means both dependence and courageous obedience. [07:05]
3. Trust leads the present; hope anchors future Hope fixes us on Christ’s return; trust empowers today’s steps. When the future is secured in Jesus, the present is liberated for faithfulness. Trust doesn’t erase uncertainty; it relocates it—under the care of a Father who holds our days. That’s why trust moves, builds, serves, and waits with confidence. [14:20]
4. Maturity grows through hardship and obedience Mary and Joseph’s journey shows that trust ripens in difficulty, not in ease. Costly obedience stretches our capacity to rely on God rather than our plans. Trials aren’t proof of God’s absence but opportunities to discover his sufficiency. As trust deepens, character follows, and our witness becomes weighty and real. [10:02]
5. Jesus, the way, truth, and life Trust is not an idea; it’s attachment to a risen Person. Because Jesus is the Way, we follow him; because he is the Truth, we submit to his Word; because he is the Life, we receive his power to become new. Resurrection credibility turns his claims into solid ground for every decision. Entrust your path, your mind, and your breath to him. [15:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Faith Defined as Trust
[01:45] - The Bethlehem (Faith) Candle
[03:29] - Small Bethlehem, Big God
[05:16] - Manger, Cross, Empty Tomb
[06:09] - Miracles: Absolution, Baptism, Communion
[07:05] - Trust Is God’s Gift
[08:31] - Use and Share God’s Gifts
[10:02] - Mary and Joseph’s Costly Trust
[11:12] - Hebrews 11: Heroes of Trust
[14:20] - Trust Now, Hope for the Future
[15:39] - Jesus: Way, Truth, and Life
[17:55] - When Trust Feels Small or Cold
[19:00] - Emmanuel Worthy of Our Trust
[19:29] - Prayer: Let Trust Lead the Way

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Micah 5:2
"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Observation questions

What surprising words does Micah use to describe Bethlehem, and why would that make the coming ruler unexpected?
God often acts through the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb. Which of those examples most helps you see how God works in unlikely places, and why? [05:16]
The church receives tangible gifts: absolution, baptism, and Holy Communion. How do these means differ from other kinds of encouragement or spiritual help you have experienced? [06:09]
Faith is described as a gift from God rather than self-generated grit. Where have you noticed faith increasing because of God’s gift rather than by your own effort? [07:05]

Interpretation questions

What does the image of "Bethlehem" teach about how God chooses places and people for his saving work? [03:29]
If faith is a gift that must also be stewarded, how should that shape ordinary habits such as prayer, worship, obedience, and serving others? [07:05]
Hebrews 11 presents both spectacular deliverances and patient endurance through suffering. How should that mixed pattern shape realistic expectations for how trust matures in a person’s life? [11:12]
If Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, what practical implications follow for making a difficult decision in the coming days? [15:39]

Application questions

God often works in small, unlikely places rather than in the spectacular. Where have you been tempted to seek security in what is big and obvious rather than in small, faithful obedience? What concrete step of trust can you take this week? [04:46]
Trust is a gift meant to be used and shared. Who could you invite, serve, or tell about the hope you have this week? Make a specific plan (who, when, how). [08:31]
Baptism, absolution, and Holy Communion sustain trust in tangible ways. When will you intentionally receive one of these means in the coming month, and how will you prepare your heart beforehand? [06:09]
Mary and Joseph showed costly obedience on their journey to Bethlehem. What costly obedience might God be asking of you now, and what is the first practical step you will take? [10:02]
If your trust feels small or weak, what short prayer or simple spiritual practice will you adopt today to hand that small trust back to Jesus? [17:55]
Trust leads the present while hope anchors the future. What one observable action will you take this week in confident trust (serve, forgive, give, speak with someone, take a risk), and how will you report the result to the group next time? [14:20]

Sermon Clips

``We can trust every word he is saying. Why? Because when somebody comes back from the dead, you should probably listen to what they're saying. Amen, church? Jesus delivered on everything he said he was going to do. He died and he rose again just like he said he would. And because of the resurrection, because of the ascension, we can trust in Christ fully in everything he has done for us. [00:15:44] (27 seconds) #ResurrectionTruth

Jesus is the way. Not a way or not someone to show the way. He is literally the way. Therefore, we can trust. We can walk. We can follow after him. We can have trust and faith knowing that he's going to show us where he wants us to go. He's going to open up doors and opportunities for how to live. He has set the example. We can trust in it and follow him every step of our life, even when it's hard, even when it demands of us. [00:16:17] (27 seconds) #JesusIsTheWay

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