Growing Your Measure of Faith Through Love

Devotional

Day 1: God Has Given Each Believer a Measure of Faith

Every believer receives a unique, God-given measure of faith—a starter portion—sufficient to respond to Him and to grow in their calling. This faith is not something we manufacture or boast about, but a gracious gift distributed by God Himself, designed for service and purpose in each life. Just as the human body has many parts with different functions, so too does each believer have a role and the faith needed to fulfill it. You are not lacking; you have what you need to begin, and your journey is to discover and develop that measure, trusting that God has equipped you for what He calls you to do. [09:17]

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."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust that God has already given you the faith you need to take the next step, even if you feel unqualified or uncertain?

Day 2: Faith Must Be Mixed with Love to Grow

Faith is not meant to stand alone; it flourishes in the soil of agape love—a selfless, unconditional love that chooses forgiveness and unity. As you walk in love, releasing hurts and letting go of offenses, your faith is nourished and grows stronger. The increase of faith and love go hand in hand, and the more you choose to love, the more your faith will be enlarged and fruitful. Show yourself and others grace, and watch as your faith deepens and expands in ways you never expected. [11:40]

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."

Reflection: Who is one person you need to forgive or show love to today, so that your faith can continue to grow and not be hindered by offense or bitterness?

Day 3: Faith Is Like a Starter—It Must Be Fed and Shared

Just as a sourdough starter must be fed and cared for to produce good bread, your measure of faith must be nourished with the Word of God, prayer, and obedience. If you ignore it, it will remain dormant or ineffective, but if you tend to it, it will grow and bear fruit—not just in your life, but in the lives of others as you pass it on. Your faith is meant to be alive, multiplying, and feeding others, becoming a legacy that outlives you and blesses generations to come. [15:36]

Matthew 13:33 (ESV)
"He told them another parable. 'The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.'"

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “feed” your faith today—through Scripture, prayer, or obedience—and who can you encourage by sharing your faith with them?

Day 4: Unbelief Limits God’s Power, but Faith Opens the Channel

God’s power is present and available, but unbelief acts like a breaker switch, shutting off what God desires to do in and through you. Faith is the channel through which God’s power flows, and when you choose to trust and believe, you create an atmosphere where God can move mightily. Don’t let familiarity, doubt, or past disappointments keep you from coming to Jesus with expectancy—He marvels at faith, and He is ready to work where hearts are open. [23:00]

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."

Reflection: Where have you allowed unbelief or disappointment to limit what you expect from God, and how can you choose faith in that area today?

Day 5: Perseverance Is Sometimes Required—Don’t Give Up Too Soon

Not every answer from God is a simple yes or no; sometimes, you are called to persevere, press in, and fight the good fight of faith. Different assignments require different measures of God’s power, and breakthrough may come only after persistent prayer and steadfast trust. Don’t quit just because the answer hasn’t come quickly—linger, tarry, and keep believing, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and His promises are sure. [30:08]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: What is one area where you have been tempted to give up praying or believing, and how can you renew your perseverance and hope in God’s promise today?

Sermon Summary

Faith is the essential ingredient that activates the promises of God in our lives. God has given each of us a “measure of faith”—a starter portion, like a sourdough starter, that contains everything needed to grow, multiply, and fulfill our unique calling. This measure is not something we manufacture or boast about; it is a gift from God, distributed to every believer for the purpose of serving Him in the way He has designed. Just as the human body has many parts with different functions, each of us has a specific role and the exact measure of faith required to walk it out.

This measure of faith is not static. It is meant to be exercised, nourished, and developed. Like a seed, it must be tended to—fed by the Word, prayer, and obedience. As we do this, our faith grows, and so does our capacity to love others. The love of God in our hearts is the fertile ground where faith flourishes. Without love, faith remains stunted; with love, it increases and overflows, enabling us to forgive, release hurts, and walk in unity.

God’s power and grace are also described in Scripture as measurable. There are times when God’s power is limited, not by His own ability, but by the unbelief or spiritual atmosphere of people. Faith is the channel through which God’s power flows, while unbelief acts like a breaker switch, shutting off what God desires to do. This is seen in Jesus’ own ministry, where in Nazareth, He could do few miracles because of their unbelief.

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 justice and timing in the world and in the lives of others. Our role is to persevere, to press in, and to continue to grow our measure of faith, trusting that God is at work even in the waiting.

Every believer is challenged to consider: What are you doing with the measure of faith God has given you? Will you feed it, grow it, and pass it on to others, leaving a legacy of faith for generations to come?

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is a divine gift, not a human achievement. Each believer receives a unique “measure of faith” from God, perfectly suited to their calling and purpose. This means no one starts from zero, and no one can boast about their faith as if it were self-made. Our responsibility is to steward and develop what God has entrusted to us. [02:27]
2. The growth of faith is inseparable from the growth of love. True, flourishing faith is rooted in agape love—a selfless, unconditional love that chooses forgiveness and unity over bitterness and division. When love increases, faith finds fertile ground to expand, and the supernatural becomes possible in our lives and communities. [11:40]
3. Faith must be exercised and nourished, like a sourdough starter, to become effective. If neglected, it remains dormant or ineffective; if fed with the Word, prayer, and obedience, it grows and produces fruit. This process is often trial and error, requiring patience and persistence, but the “starter” God gives us is always enough to begin. [15:36]
4. God’s power and grace operate in measurable ways, and our faith (or lack thereof) can either open or close the flow of His power. Unbelief acts as a breaker switch, limiting what God desires to do, even when His power is present. Faith, on the other hand, is the conduit through which God’s power flows, making the impossible possible. [23:00]
5. The timing of God’s promises is often connected to His justice and mercy, not just our readiness or desire. Sometimes, delays are not denials but are God’s way of working out His purposes in the world and in the lives of others. Our call is to persevere, to press in, and to trust that God’s timing is perfect, even when we do not see immediate results. [26:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:40] - Water Baptism Reflections
[01:30] - Introduction and Prayer
[02:27] - The Measure of Faith Explained
[04:10] - Humility, Pride, and Faith
[06:10] - Thinking Soberly About Our Gifts
[07:06] - Stepping Out in Faith: Personal Story
[09:17] - The Greek Meaning of “Measure”
[11:40] - Faith and Love: The Seedbed of Growth
[13:50] - Sourdough Starter: An Illustration of Faith
[15:36] - Feeding and Sharing Your Faith
[19:41] - God’s Power and Measurable Grace
[21:03] - Unbelief as a Breaker Switch
[23:00] - Faith Opens, Unbelief Closes
[25:51] - The Measure of Sin and God’s Timing
[26:42] - God’s Justice, Mercy, and Delays
[30:08] - Persevering in Faith
[31:59] - The Challenge: What Will You Do With Your Faith?
[34:40] - Invitation to Salvation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

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

According to Romans 12:3, what does Paul say about the source and distribution of faith among believers?
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, what two things does Paul say are increasing among the believers?
In Mark 6:4-6, what limited the miracles Jesus could do in Nazareth, and how did Jesus respond to this?
The sermon compared faith to a “starter” for sourdough bread. What does this illustration suggest about how faith works in our lives? [15:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul warns believers not to think of themselves more highly than they ought, but instead to think “soberly” about their measure of faith? How does this relate to spiritual pride? [02:27]
The sermon says that faith and love grow together. Why might love be described as the “seedbed” for faith to flourish? [11:40]
In Mark 6, Jesus’ power was limited by the unbelief of the people. What does this teach us about the relationship between faith, unbelief, and God’s power? [23:00]
The sermon mentions that God’s timing and justice are “measured” and sometimes delayed. How might understanding this help us when we feel like God is not answering our prayers right away? [26:42]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us: “What are you doing with the measure of faith God has given you?” Can you think of a specific area in your life where you need to exercise or grow your faith right now? What would it look like to “feed” your faith in that area? [32:58]
The pastor said that faith grows when it is “fed by the Word, prayer, and obedience.” Which of these three do you find most challenging, and what is one step you could take this week to strengthen it? [15:36]
The message taught that love is the fertile ground for faith. Is there someone you need to forgive or a relationship you need to mend so that your faith can grow? What’s one practical step you could take toward that this week? [11:40]
The sermon used the example of a sourdough starter being passed down for generations. What kind of “faith legacy” do you want to leave for your family or friends? How can you start passing on your faith to others? [15:36]
The pastor said that sometimes God’s promises are delayed because He is working out His justice and timing. Is there a promise or prayer you’ve been waiting on? How can you persevere and trust God’s timing instead of giving up? [26:42]
The sermon described unbelief as a “breaker switch” that can shut off the flow of God’s power. Are there areas of doubt or unbelief in your life that you need to address? What would it look like to bring those to God honestly? [23:00]
Think about a time when you “stepped out in faith” and it didn’t go as planned. How did you respond? What did you learn from that experience about God’s faithfulness or about persevering in faith? [07:06]

Sermon Clips

We are to think soberly, realistically. You know, and I think about starting Harvest and we started in our living room and as Jack mentioned and Julie had been part of it from the beginning and we met. And it really was when I started church, there was a lot of, how do I say this? It was like a sink or swim moment. Do you know what I mean by that? I didn't know. I didn't know that if people would continue to come out and my wife, I've said this before many times, is like, why do people continue to come? I'm like, thanks for that confidence, honey. No. Actually, she'll be back next Sunday. She's on her way back. So, but it was really that moment. It's like I really didn't know for certain and really if I continued in that vein and it really didn't sense the hand of God and it was obvious, I would have done something else. Step out in faith. And so, there's nothing wrong with that. You step out in faith. It's like, well, that didn't work. [00:06:46] (61 seconds) #StepOutInFaith

This verse is saying that faith can grow exceedingly. It can be greatly enlarged, is what the scripture is saying. Flourishing, your faith is showing remarkable growth. And then there's this word, and. And Jack just hit on this, so important. And your love for each other is increasing. What is, I would say, the key to faith increasing? Is the love of God in your heart. [00:11:25] (29 seconds) #FaithAndLoveGrow

We can have all of the teaching. We can have all the points. We can have a lot of knowledge. But we're not operating in that agape love. What is that? It is a selfless, unconditional love. It is the highest form of love, agape love, which was read in 1 Corinthians 13. What is it based on? It's not based on feelings. It's based on a decision of your will to choose to walk in that love. [00:11:56] (27 seconds) #AgapeLoveInAction

Every believer has been given a starter portion of faith. In other words, the capacity to trust and to obey God. But how is it applied? And it may look differently depending upon your assignment, roles, and the seasons of life. [00:13:18] (15 seconds) #FaithAppliedInLife

The starter was key, and some of you know, and with that, she took it in. And she was making bagels, and she says to me, see, I mean, it was just amazing. She has it down perfectly. But some of you know how it's made. How many of you know you just don't grab any type of yeast, and then the store, and then you say, well, I'm going to make sourdough bread. You need what it's called a starter, a starter, and that's different than regular, I'm told, regular yeast. It's a, I wrote this down, it's a symbiotic colony of wild yeast and beneficial bacteria. Some of you ladies can correct me on that later, but a starter is this living, bubbling mixture that contains the power to cause the dough to rise, okay? That little container there next to it, that's the starter in there. You can see that, and the amazing thing about the sourdough starter is that people often share it. [00:14:57] (60 seconds) #FaithStarterCulture

We see here that in some degree, the power of God was limited by the people's unbelief. We feel that every time Jesus steps into the room, all the demons flee. All, you know, all the power of God is in. No, there's something to do with the people in cities, in culture, in mindsets that affect God from flowing in certain levels. It's just, I didn't write the book. It's in here. I'm just called to preach it. [00:22:01] (33 seconds) #UnbeliefLimitsPower

God's judgment is always measured, patient, and just. God doesn't just randomly wipe out people. He's very patient and just. You know, I've said this before. The wheels of God's justice turn ever so slowly, but they grind ever so finely. [00:26:18] (18 seconds) #PatientMeasuredJustice

There's a spiritual warfare going on, people. It's more real than this. And we have to be awakened to that warfare. Not in fear, but know that God has graced us with His ability. Amen? So faith is the key to activate that power. [00:31:50] (16 seconds) #PersevereInFaith

What will you do to start a portion of faith God has given you? Think about that. Will you feed it? Will you see it grow? Will you pass it on to your children and your friends, your coworkers? I mean, I thought about this 100 years from now, great, great, great grandkids, they're going to look at possibly a digital photo of you. If the Lord would tarry, and he doesn't come back in two weeks, if he tarries, they're going to look at that photo and they're going to say something at that photo. Someone's going to say something about your picture in 50, 75, 100 years when we're all gone. What are they going to say? What are they going to say? Boy, that's heavy. But our faith is meant to be alive, multiply in feeding others in Jesus' name. [00:33:39] (54 seconds) #FaithActivatesPower

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