Growing in Faith Through Practice and Persistence

Life is full of things that require practice, from solving a Rubik’s Cube to building strong friendships, and faith is no different. Just as it takes repeated effort to master a puzzle or maintain a relationship, growing in faith demands intentional, ongoing practice. The Christian journey isn’t about instant perfection or comparing ourselves to others who seem to have it all together. Instead, it’s about being rooted in Christ, building habits that keep us close to God, and encouraging one another along the way.

Paul’s words to the Colossians remind us to continue living our lives in Christ, being “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” This rooting doesn’t happen overnight. Like any worthwhile pursuit, it takes time, repetition, and sometimes a willingness to feel awkward or inadequate as we begin. Whether it’s prayer, worship, reading scripture, or serving others, these practices form the habits that anchor us in Christ, especially when life gets difficult or distractions threaten to pull us away.

It’s easy to be tempted by shortcuts or new philosophies that promise quick results or easier paths, but true spiritual growth comes from the slow, steady work of staying connected to Jesus. Even when we don’t feel like we’re making progress, or when our efforts seem small compared to others, God values our sincerity and persistence. Over time, these practices become second nature, shaping our hearts and lives in ways we may not even notice until we face challenges and realize our roots hold firm.

No one becomes an expert overnight, and God isn’t looking for perfection—just a willing heart and a desire to keep practicing. As we encourage one another, share our joys and struggles, and keep showing up for God and each other, we discover that faith, like any skill, grows stronger with practice. In all things, let us strive to stay in love with God, trusting that every small step draws us deeper into the life Christ offers.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith Requires Practice, Not Perfection Just as mastering a Rubik’s Cube or maintaining a friendship takes repeated effort, growing in faith is a process that demands regular practice. We don’t need to be the best or compare ourselves to others; what matters is our willingness to keep trying, even when we feel inadequate or awkward. God values our persistence and sincerity over polished performance. [13:47]
• 2. Being Rooted in Christ Anchors Us Through Life’s Storms Paul’s encouragement to the Colossians to be “rooted and built up in him” is a reminder that deep spiritual roots are formed through consistent habits—prayer, worship, scripture, and service. These roots don’t grow overnight, but over time they provide stability and strength, especially when life gets hard or distractions arise. Staying rooted in Christ is the antidote to drifting away. [32:20]
• 3. Beware of Shortcuts and Shiny Distractions Human nature often seeks loopholes or quick fixes, whether in dieting or spirituality. But shortcuts rarely lead to lasting transformation. True growth comes from the slow, sometimes unglamorous work of daily faithfulness—choosing Christ over the latest trend or easy answer, and resisting the urge to settle for what simply fits our preferences. [31:18]
• 4. Habits Take Time to Form, But They Shape Who We Become Science and experience both show that forming new habits takes much longer than we might expect—sometimes months or even years. The regular practices of faith may feel awkward or ineffective at first, but over time they become part of who we are, equipping us to respond with faith and resilience when challenges come. Don’t be discouraged by slow progress; roots grow deep over time. [35:25]
• 5. God Cares More About Sincerity Than Skill Whether in prayer, worship, or any spiritual discipline, God is not impressed by eloquence or expertise but by authenticity and a genuine heart. Even if our efforts feel clumsy or inadequate, what matters most is that we show up and offer ourselves honestly to God. Over time, our confidence and comfort will grow, but God’s love and acceptance are already present from the start.
  
  ** [38:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:44] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
• [13:47] - Children’s Time: The Rubik’s Cube and Practice
• [14:52] - The Value of Practice in Life and Faith
• [15:48] - Practicing Prayer with the Children
• [17:50] - Rubik’s Cube Giveaway and Community Engagement
• [19:10] - Sharing Joys and Concerns
• [22:30] - Congregational Prayer
• [23:55] - The Lord’s Prayer
• [26:06] - World Records and the Challenge of Mastery
• [27:03] - Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:6-8
• [28:17] - The Temptation to Drift and Seek New Things
• [29:07] - The Snackwells Effect: Loopholes vs. Long-Term Growth
• [32:20] - Staying Rooted in Christ and Wesley’s Third Rule
• [33:10] - The Three Simple Rules and the Need for Practice
• [35:25] - How Habits Form and the Power of Repetition
• [36:26] - Learning to Pray and Growing in Confidence
• [38:41] - Sincerity in Faith Over Skill
• [39:35] - Closing Blessing and Sending Forth

1. According to Paul in Colossians 2:6-8, what are believers encouraged to do after receiving Christ Jesus as Lord?
2. What does Paul warn the Colossians about in verse 8? What kinds of things might “hollow and deceptive philosophy” refer to?
3. In the sermon, what everyday activities did the pastor compare to practicing faith? ([13:47])
4. What are some of the specific habits or practices mentioned in the sermon that help us stay rooted in Christ? ([32:20])

1. Why do you think Paul uses the imagery of being “rooted and built up” in Christ? What does this suggest about the process of spiritual growth?
2. The pastor shared a story about feeling inadequate when praying out loud compared to others. What does this reveal about how we often measure our spiritual progress? ([37:21])
3. The sermon mentions that forming habits takes much longer than we expect—sometimes months or years. Why might God value slow, steady growth over quick results? ([35:25])
4. What does it mean to “stay in love with God” as described in the sermon, and how is this connected to the idea of practice? ([33:10])

1. The pastor said, “Anything worthwhile takes practice. That includes your faith.” What is one area of your faith (prayer, worship, reading scripture, serving, etc.) that you feel awkward or inadequate in? What is one small step you could take this week to practice it? ([14:52])
2. Paul warns against being taken captive by “hollow and deceptive philosophy.” Are there any “shortcuts” or “shiny distractions” in your life right now that are pulling you away from being rooted in Christ? How can you resist them? ([31:18])
3. The sermon emphasized that God cares more about sincerity than skill. When have you felt like your efforts in faith weren’t “good enough”? How does knowing God values your authenticity change your approach? ([38:41])
4. The pastor shared that it can take months or even years for faith habits to become second nature. Is there a spiritual habit you’ve tried to build but felt discouraged by slow progress? What would help you keep going? ([35:25])
5. The sermon talked about encouraging one another and sharing joys and struggles. Who in your life could you encourage this week in their faith journey? What’s a practical way you could do that? ([32:20])
6. The idea of “staying in love with God” was described as showing up for God and each other, even when it’s hard. What does “showing up” look like for you right now? Is there a commitment you want to renew or start? ([33:10])
7. Think about a time when you faced a challenge and realized your “roots” in Christ held you firm. What habits or practices helped you stay grounded during that time? How can you strengthen those roots now for future storms? ([32:20])