Growing Faith: Cultivating God's Promises Through Love

Faith is the essential ingredient that activates the promises of God in our lives. Every believer has been given a “measure of faith”—a starter portion, like a sourdough starter, that is meant to be nourished, exercised, and grown. This measure is not something we manufacture or boast about; it is a gift from God, distributed to each of us for the unique purpose and calling He has designed for our lives. Just as the human body has many parts with different functions, each of us has a specific role in God’s kingdom, and the faith we’ve been given is precisely what we need to fulfill that role.

It’s important to understand that faith is not static. Scripture shows that faith can grow, flourish, or remain dormant depending on how we tend to it. The seedbed for this growth is love—agape love, the selfless, unconditional love that chooses forgiveness and unity. When we walk in love, our faith is able to increase and bear fruit. Like the sourdough starter that must be fed and shared, our faith is meant to be cultivated and passed on, impacting not just our own lives but also those around us and even future generations.

God’s power and His responses to our prayers are not always a simple “yes” or “no.” Sometimes, the answer requires perseverance, pressing in, and spiritual warfare. There are measurable levels of faith and power, and different assignments or seasons in life may require us to grow in faith to meet the challenge. Unbelief, on the other hand, acts like a breaker switch, limiting what God desires to do in and through us. The spiritual atmosphere we create—through faith or unbelief—matters deeply.

God’s timing and justice are also measured. Sometimes, the fulfillment of His promises is delayed, not because He is unwilling, but because He is working out His purposes with patience and justice, giving space for repentance and growth. Our responsibility is to steward the measure of faith we’ve been given: to feed it, exercise it, and pass it on. In doing so, we become conduits for God’s power, not only for ourselves but for generations to come.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is a Gift and a Starting Point, Not a Boast The measure of faith each person receives is a divine gift, not a personal achievement. This means we cannot take pride in our faith level, nor should we underestimate what God has given us. Our responsibility is to recognize this starter portion and steward it with humility, knowing it is precisely what we need for our God-given purpose. [04:19]
• 2. Faith Must Be Cultivated and Grows in the Soil of Love Faith is like a seed or a sourdough starter—it must be fed, exercised, and developed to grow. The environment that best nurtures faith is one of agape love: selfless, forgiving, and unified. Without love, faith stagnates; with love, it flourishes and becomes fruitful, impacting not just ourselves but the community around us. [11:48]
• 3. Unbelief Limits God’s Power, While Faith Opens the Channel The spiritual atmosphere we create through faith or unbelief directly affects what God can do in our midst. Unbelief acts like a breaker switch, shutting off the flow of God’s power, while faith opens the channel for His work. This is not about God losing power, but about our willingness to trust and respond, which determines the measure of His activity in our lives. [21:07]
• 4. God’s Timing and Justice Are Measured and Purposeful Delays in the fulfillment of God’s promises are not signs of His reluctance, but of His patience and justice at work. Sometimes, God withholds judgment or fulfillment until the right time, giving space for repentance or preparation. Understanding this helps us trust His timing and remain steadfast, even when answers seem slow in coming. [27:11]
• 5. Perseverance is Often Required—Not Every Answer is “Yes” or “No” Many situations in life and ministry require more than a simple prayer and a quick answer. Some breakthroughs demand perseverance, spiritual warfare, and a pressing in that stretches and grows our faith. Different assignments require different measures of faith and power, and we are called to press on, trusting that God has given us what we need to overcome. [30:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Water Baptism Reflections
• [02:00] - Introduction to Faith Forward Series
• [03:10] - Romans 12:3 and the Measure of Faith
• [04:19] - Purpose and Service in the Body
• [06:12] - Thinking Soberly and Realistically
• [07:20] - Stepping Out in Faith: Personal Testimony
• [09:24] - The Seed and Growth of Faith
• [11:48] - Faith and the Soil of Love
• [13:50] - Sourdough Starter Analogy
• [16:42] - God’s Power: Yes, No, and Perseverance
• [19:51] - Measurable Amounts of Faith and Grace
• [21:07] - Unbelief as a Breaker Switch
• [23:05] - Faith, Atmosphere, and Jesus in Nazareth
• [25:58] - The Measure of Sin and God’s Justice
• [27:11] - God’s Timing and Delayed Promises
• [30:12] - Perseverance and Spiritual Warfare
• [32:11] - The Challenge: What Will You Do With Your Faith?
• [33:39] - Passing Faith to Future Generations
• [34:45] - Prayer of Salvation and Closing

Bible Reading

Romans 12:3 (ESV) — > For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV) — > We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Mark 6:4-6 (ESV) — > And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Observation Questions

1. According to Romans 12:3, what does Paul say about the source and purpose of our faith?
2. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, what two things does Paul say are increasing among the believers?
3. What limited Jesus’ ability to do miracles in his hometown, according to Mark 6:5-6?
4. In the sermon, what analogy did Pastor Mike use to describe the measure of faith each believer receives? ([13:50])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul warns believers not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, especially in the context of faith? ([04:19])
2. How does the connection between faith and love in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 help us understand what causes faith to grow? ([11:48])
3. What does the story of Jesus in Nazareth (Mark 6) teach us about the relationship between faith, unbelief, and the spiritual atmosphere we create? ([21:07])
4. Pastor Mike said that faith is a gift and a starting point, not something to boast about. How does this perspective change the way we view our own faith and the faith of others? ([04:19])

Application Questions

1. Pastor Mike compared faith to a sourdough starter that needs to be fed and shared. What are some practical ways you can “feed” your faith this week? Is there a spiritual practice (prayer, Bible reading, serving, etc.) you want to focus on? ([13:50])
2. The sermon emphasized that faith grows best in the “soil” of agape love. Is there someone you need to forgive or show selfless love to in order to help your faith grow? What’s one step you can take toward that this week? ([11:48])
3. Unbelief was described as a “breaker switch” that limits what God wants to do. Are there areas in your life where you sense unbelief is holding you back? What would it look like to “flip the switch” and choose faith in that area? ([23:05])
4. Sometimes God’s answers to prayer are delayed because of His timing and justice. Is there a promise or prayer you’ve been waiting on? How can you trust God’s timing and remain steadfast, even when it feels slow? ([27:11])
5. The sermon mentioned that perseverance and spiritual warfare are sometimes required for breakthrough. Is there a situation where you’ve been tempted to give up? What would it look like to “press in” and persevere in faith? ([30:12])
6. Pastor Mike challenged us to think about passing our faith on to others and future generations. Who in your life could you encourage or share your faith with this week? What’s one specific way you could do that? ([33:39])
7. Reflecting on the idea that faith is a gift and not a personal achievement, how can you encourage someone who feels like their faith is “small” or “not enough”? ([04:19])