Living Faith: Actions That Reflect Our Beliefs
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of aligning our actions with our words as followers of Christ. I used the story of the paralytic man in Mark 2 as a central theme, highlighting how the man's friends took action to bring him to Jesus, demonstrating their faith. I stressed that faith is not just about believing but also about acting upon that belief. I also pointed out that the healing and freedom we receive from God are not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be lived out in our daily lives. I challenged the congregation to not just hear the word of God but to act upon it, to live a life that truly reflects their faith in Christ.
In the second part of my sermon, I drew parallels between our faith journey and a sports team's performance. Just like a top-ranked team can lose its position if it doesn't perform well, we as Christians can lose our spiritual standing if our actions don't align with our faith. I urged the congregation to not just profess their love for Jesus but to demonstrate it through their actions. I concluded by reminding everyone that the freedom and blessings we receive from God are not meant to be buried but to be used to glorify Him and bless others.
Key Takeaways:
- Our faith in Christ should not just be professed but also demonstrated through our actions. ([01:47:49])
- The blessings and freedom we receive from God are not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be lived out in our daily lives. ([01:48:31])
- We should strive to align our actions with our faith, just like the friends of the paralytic man in Mark 2. ([01:49:54])
- Just like a top-ranked sports team can lose its position if it doesn't perform well, we can lose our spiritual standing if our actions don't align with our faith. ([01:46:52])
- We should not just hear the word of God but act upon it, living a life that truly reflects our faith in Christ. ([01:45:16])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 2:1-12 #!!01:37:18!!#
2. 1 Peter 5:8 #!!02:05:43!!#
Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 2:1-12, what role did the community play in the healing of the paralytic man?
2. How does the lion's hunting strategy in 1 Peter 5:8 relate to the importance of community?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the paralytic man in Mark 2:1-12 illustrate the power of community in our spiritual journey?
2. What does 1 Peter 5:8 teach us about the dangers of isolation and the strength found in community?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when your community played a significant role in your spiritual growth or healing? How did that experience shape your understanding of community?
2. How can you actively seek to strengthen your community, in light of the lessons from Mark 2:1-12 and 1 Peter 5:8?
3. Are there people in your life who are isolated and could benefit from being part of a community? How can you invite them in?
4. How can you ensure that your community is diverse and challenging, rather than just comfortable and similar to you?
5. How can you guard against the dangers of spiritual isolation, as warned in 1 Peter 5:8?
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Actions with God's Word
Our actions must align with the Word of God for us to truly live out our faith. It's not enough to simply hear the Word; we must also act upon it. This is the essence of revival - when our heart, mind, body, and actions align with God's Word. [01:44:29]
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where your actions did not align with God's Word. How can you ensure your actions align with His Word in the future?
Day 2: The Power of Community
God calls us to live in community with others. When we isolate ourselves, we become easy targets for the enemy. But when we stay in community, we find strength and protection. [02:07:13]
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Reflection: How are you actively participating in your Christian community? How can you deepen your involvement?
Day 3: Overcoming Paralysis of Hurt
Hurt can paralyze us and prevent us from living out God's Word. But God calls us to overcome our hurt and to live freely in Him. We must submit to the process of healing and allow God to work in us. [02:02:04]
Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Reflection: What hurt are you holding onto that is preventing you from living freely in God? How can you submit to God's healing process?
Day 4: The Importance of Submission
Submission is a key aspect of our Christian walk. We must submit our words and actions to our spiritual oversight for guidance and correction. This helps us to grow and mature in our faith. [02:02:57]
Hebrews 13:17 - "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account."
Reflection: How are you practicing submission in your Christian walk? How can you improve in this area?
Day 5: The Call to Serve
Jesus calls us to serve others, not to be served. Our actions should reflect this call to service. When we serve others, we are living out the Word of God in a tangible way. [01:44:29]
Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
Reflection: How are you serving others in your daily life? How can you increase your service to others?
Quotes
1. "Turnaround sometimes it's something you got to walk out like Paul says I got to walk it out I got to walk it out press on toward the mark of the high calling. I walk it out it didn't happen overnight but I got to keep going because the word of God is calling me to that action not to stay paralyzed but to come into Community with people around me that will challenge my growth." - 02:04:38
2. "Christ followers, you can say you love Jesus all you want but would the waitress at lunch say that your actions align with your words? It's time for the Church of America to rise up again and Revival will start to sweep the nation because it's no longer about what I'm hearing but it's what I'm doing after What I Hear." - 01:47:22
3. "Revival I believe with all my heart is when our actions align our heart our mind our body our actions align with the word that we know to be good. There's an action associated it's not one of those things to where you can just come in the door we've gotten it wrong in the United States of America to where we think that we walk in the door and we sit in the presence of God which is awesome we allow the word of God to be spoken into our life but then we walk out the door and we don't activate it." - 01:43:43
4. "Every single time you come in this house you should be picking up where we left off last week. You should pick up where you left off when you walked out the door you should pick that back up and come right back in so the level of praise that's here today should be even greater next time you walk in the door." - 01:34:27
5. "Whom the sun sets free is not free and then has to pick it back up to be free again. Whom the sun sets free you finish it is what yeah we have to start living life the way that we say we live our life." - 01:33:43
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