Small Steps of Faith: Transforming Lives Together
Summary
In today's gathering at Percival Baptist Church, we explored the profound impact of taking small steps of faith and how these can lead to significant life changes, not only for ourselves but for others around the world. Reflecting on my own journey, I shared how a simple newspaper article in 1999 became a divine invitation to engage with the AIDS orphan crisis in Zambia. This call led to the establishment of a ministry focused on building families rather than orphanages, emphasizing the importance of community and familial bonds for orphans and widows.
The heart of our mission is rooted in James 1:27, which defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows. This scripture has guided our efforts to create a holistic model of care that spans from infancy to young adulthood, ensuring that each child is nurtured in a loving family environment. Our approach involves reintegrating children with extended family whenever possible, and when not, providing them with a permanent family through our family homes. This model has seen remarkable success, with 100% of our double orphans having the opportunity to pursue higher education, a testament to God's faithfulness and the power of community support.
We also discussed the significance of Pure Religion Sunday, a day set aside to focus on the needs of orphans and widows, inspired by a vision to unite the global church in this cause. This initiative has grown to reach over 120 nations, demonstrating the power of collective faith and action.
As we consider the needs around us, whether in Zambia or our local communities, the challenge is to ask God what He wants to do through us. By taking even the smallest step of faith, we can become instruments of His grace, witnessing firsthand the transformation that only He can bring. This journey of faith is not one we undertake alone but in partnership with each other and with God, who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
Key Takeaways:
1. Small Steps of Faith: Each small step of faith we take can lead to significant life changes. It's the accumulation of these steps that allows us to see God's faithfulness and impact in our lives and the lives of others. By trusting in God's invitation, we can become part of His redemptive work in the world. [24:02]
2. Building Families, Not Orphanages: Our ministry focuses on creating family environments for orphans, emphasizing the importance of community and familial bonds. This approach aligns with the biblical call to care for orphans and widows, providing them with love, stability, and a sense of belonging. [32:29]
3. Pure Religion Sunday: This day is a call to action for the global church to unite in caring for orphans and widows. Inspired by James 1:27, it challenges us to live out our faith through tangible acts of love and service, reflecting God's heart for the vulnerable. [44:09]
4. God's Faithfulness in Education: Despite the challenges, 100% of our double orphans have had the opportunity to pursue higher education. This remarkable achievement highlights God's provision and the transformative power of community support in breaking cycles of poverty and hopelessness. [39:15]
5. Asking God What He Wants to Do: Instead of asking what we can do, we should seek God's guidance on what He wants to accomplish through us. By aligning our actions with His will, we can experience His power at work and become part of His redemptive plan for the world. [48:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [24:02] - How Can You Change the World?
- [25:20] - A Divine Invitation
- [27:46] - Trusting God's Faithfulness
- [30:03] - Building Families, Not Orphanages
- [32:29] - The Role of Widows
- [35:10] - Reintegration and Family Homes
- [36:44] - Young Adult Homes and Education
- [39:15] - God's Provision in Education
- [41:08] - The Birth of Orphan Sunday
- [44:09] - Pure Religion Sunday Explained
- [45:10] - The Call to Care for Orphans and Widows
- [46:45] - Emulating Christ's Sacrifice
- [47:40] - Asking God What He Wants to Do
- [48:26] - The Power of God's Spirit
- [49:36] - Ephesians 3:20-21
- [50:39] - Responding to God's Invitation
- [51:16] - A Story of Rescue and Redemption
- [53:00] - Naming Baby Mandy
- [55:02] - Encouragement to Take a Step of Faith
- [55:58] - Gratitude and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- James 1:27
- Ephesians 3:20-21
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Observation Questions:
1. What does James 1:27 define as pure and undefiled religion? How does this align with the mission discussed in the sermon? [44:09]
2. According to the sermon, what was the initial step of faith that led to the establishment of the ministry in Zambia? [25:20]
3. How does the ministry's approach to caring for orphans differ from traditional methods, and what biblical principle does this reflect? [30:03]
4. What role does the global church play in Pure Religion Sunday, and how has this initiative expanded over the years? [41:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of taking small steps of faith relate to the broader theme of God's faithfulness and provision as discussed in the sermon? [24:02]
2. In what ways does the ministry's focus on building families rather than orphanages reflect the biblical call to care for orphans and widows? [32:29]
3. How does Ephesians 3:20-21 encourage believers to seek God's guidance in their actions, and how is this principle demonstrated in the sermon? [48:26]
4. What might be the significance of the global church uniting for Pure Religion Sunday, and how does this reflect the power of collective faith and action? [44:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a divine invitation to take a step of faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [25:20]
2. Consider the ministry's approach to reintegrating orphans with extended family. How can you apply the principle of building community and familial bonds in your own life? [35:10]
3. Pure Religion Sunday challenges believers to care for orphans and widows. What specific actions can you take to support vulnerable individuals in your community? [44:09]
4. The sermon emphasizes asking God what He wants to do through us. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily decision-making process? [48:26]
5. Think about the role of education in breaking cycles of poverty and hopelessness. How can you contribute to educational opportunities for those in need? [39:15]
6. Reflect on the story of baby Mandy and the power of small steps of faith. What small step can you take this week to make a difference in someone's life? [55:02]
7. How can you engage with the global church's mission to care for orphans and widows, both locally and internationally? What resources or connections can you leverage to support this cause? [41:08]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Small Steps of Faith
In life, it's often the small steps of faith that lead to the most significant changes. These steps, though seemingly minor, accumulate over time and allow us to witness God's faithfulness and transformative power in our lives and the lives of others. By trusting in God's invitation, we become active participants in His redemptive work in the world. This journey of faith is not about grand gestures but about consistent, faithful actions that align with God's will. As we take these steps, we open ourselves to the possibility of being used by God in ways we never imagined. [24:02]
"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: What small step of faith can you take today that might lead to a significant change in your life or the life of someone else?
Day 2: Building Families, Not Orphanages
The focus on creating family environments for orphans highlights the importance of community and familial bonds. This approach aligns with the biblical call to care for orphans and widows, providing them with love, stability, and a sense of belonging. By reintegrating children with extended family whenever possible, and providing permanent family homes when not, this model ensures that each child is nurtured in a loving environment. This holistic model of care has proven successful, with many children having the opportunity to pursue higher education, breaking cycles of poverty and hopelessness. [32:29]
"God sets the lonely in families; he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." (Psalm 68:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a sense of family and community for those who are lonely or marginalized in your own community?
Day 3: Pure Religion Sunday
Pure Religion Sunday is a call to action for the global church to unite in caring for orphans and widows. Inspired by James 1:27, it challenges believers to live out their faith through tangible acts of love and service, reflecting God's heart for the vulnerable. This initiative has grown to reach over 120 nations, demonstrating the power of collective faith and action. By participating in this day, individuals and churches can make a significant impact on the lives of orphans and widows, embodying the true essence of pure religion. [44:09]
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." (Isaiah 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to care for orphans and widows in your community or globally?
Day 4: God's Faithfulness in Education
Despite the challenges faced by orphans, the opportunity for higher education has been made possible through God's provision and the transformative power of community support. This remarkable achievement highlights the importance of investing in the education of vulnerable children, as it breaks cycles of poverty and hopelessness. By providing educational opportunities, we not only equip these children for a better future but also demonstrate God's faithfulness in their lives. [39:15]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you support educational opportunities for those who are less fortunate in your community or beyond?
Day 5: Asking God What He Wants to Do
Instead of focusing on what we can do, we should seek God's guidance on what He wants to accomplish through us. By aligning our actions with His will, we can experience His power at work and become part of His redemptive plan for the world. This requires a posture of humility and openness to God's leading, trusting that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. As we ask God what He wants to do through us, we open ourselves to being used by Him in ways that bring about transformation and hope. [48:26]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek God's guidance and align your actions with His will? How can you begin to do that today?
Quotes
1. "How can you change the world? The answer is, with one small step of faith at a time. And it is that accumulation of small steps of faith that lead to life change in your life and can impact others, even all the way around the world." [00:24:02] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God was tapping right here, saying, I have an invitation for you. I want you to join me in what I'm about to do. I'm going to take a remnant of children that the world would say, as an orphan in a developing country, losing parents to AIDS, there's very little hope for. And I'm going to raise them for my glory." [00:26:56] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "All we could say is God is faithful. And however we're earning a living today, if he's calling us to go to the orphan and tell them there's a God who knows your name, who wants to redeem your life just because you're an orphan does not mean that's the end of your life." [00:28:14] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What they need more than any material thing is to know me, to know Christ. And when we go to the orphan with that purity of intention to, to sacrifice all of our needs so that they might have Christ, that's when God works powerfully. And I can testify to that because I've seen it and I've watched it for over 20 years." [00:46:45] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I can make the claim that a small step of faith can truly save a life. You just don't know when and how and where God will do it. But that's who he is. He's a rescuer. He's a redeemer. He's a restorer of life." [00:55:07] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I'm telling you, ask God today as you walk out and look at some of those tables. And I encourage you to do that. What would you want to do Lord? And let me listen and hear so I can respond in a small step of faith. And see you rescue, redeem, and restore life to others. Amen." [00:55:56] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "To glorify God and see orphans raised to life in Christ in a home, in a family, and in a community where they're known and loved. That's what every orphan needs. And that's what every orphan receives when they know Jesus. The love and care in a home, in a family, in a community that's loving them and knowing them." [00:32:29] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And so, once, once we started doing that and seeing God work literally right in front of our, our eyes, rescuing an orphan, redeeming them, then we'd say, okay, now what? What do we do next? I mean, because, okay, they've received Jesus. You can see the life in them. And, but they still need to eat today. And they still need to go to school tomorrow. They still need clothes. They still need a place to live." [00:31:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And so, these amazing women, these widows who come and make that step of faith with us have been raising these children now for over 20 years. And we've got some great stories to share with you about that. But that's what's unique, I think, about our ministry is we never intended to create an institutional setting for these children where we could just feed them and educate them and clothe them. No, they needed a family." [00:33:53] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And so, our homes typically look like this. You have a widow who is answering the call of God to care for children who are not her own. That's her step of faith. And that's not a small step of faith either. That's a commitment for probably 13, 14, or 15 years to move into a home and to receive children who are broken, who are traumatized, who are hurting, and agree with God that He's going to heal their hearts and He's going to raise them up for His glory." [00:33:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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