Startup Faith: Action, Growth, and Trust in God

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action During Crisis

In times of crisis, faith calls us to move beyond prayer and into action. This proactive approach is exemplified by Menlo Church's contribution to Convoy of Hope, which is actively delivering supplies to those in need. This act of collective giving demonstrates the power and impact of the global church when united in purpose. It reminds us that our faith is not passive but requires us to engage with the world around us, especially in times of need. By taking tangible steps to help others, we embody the teachings of Christ and become a beacon of hope and support for those who are suffering. [00:00]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is currently in crisis, and what specific action can you take this week to support them in a meaningful way?

Day 2: Embracing Innovation in Faith

The innovative spirit of Silicon Valley parallels the early church's approach to faith, where adaptability and continuous improvement were key to spiritual growth and transformation. Just as startups thrive on new ideas and flexibility, our faith journey requires us to be open to change and growth. The early church's commitment to community, prayer, and shared life led to remarkable growth and transformation. By embracing this mindset, we can foster a dynamic and evolving faith that responds to the challenges and opportunities of our time. [30:51]

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel stuck? How can you invite innovation and adaptability into this area to foster growth?

Day 3: Applying Lean Startup Principles to Faith

The lean startup methodology, which emphasizes learning, iterating, and measuring progress, can be applied to our spiritual lives. This approach encourages us to focus on small, sustainable changes in our daily routines that deepen our connection with God. By adopting this mindset, we can cultivate a faith that is both resilient and responsive to the needs of our community. The early church's dedication to simple, consistent practices fostered spiritual growth and community impact, serving as a model for us today. [34:25]

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!" (Lamentations 3:40, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one small change you can make in your daily routine that will help you grow closer to God. How will you measure its impact on your spiritual life?

Day 4: Establishing a Minimum Viable Product for Faith

Establishing a "minimum viable product" (MVP) for our faith involves identifying daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms that nurture our relationship with God. These practices, such as daily prayer, weekly life groups, or annual retreats, help us stay grounded and focused on our spiritual journey. By committing to these rhythms, we create a foundation for spiritual growth and community impact, much like the early church did. This disciplined approach allows us to remain faithful in our routines while trusting God with the results. [49:50]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: What are the key spiritual practices that currently sustain your faith? How can you refine or expand these practices to better support your spiritual growth?

Day 5: Trusting God with the Journey

Our faith journey requires us to trust God with the outcomes while remaining faithful in our routines. Like the early church, we may not know the full extent of our impact, but we can trust that God is leading us one step at a time. By embracing this mindset, we can experience the transformative power of faith in our lives and communities. Trusting God with the journey allows us to focus on being faithful in the present, knowing that He is guiding us toward His purposes. [51:57]

"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 struggle to trust God with the outcome? How can you practice surrendering this area to Him today?

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Sermon Summary

In the midst of the ongoing crisis in Southern California, it's crucial to remember that our faith calls us to action, not just prayer. At Menlo Church, we are committed to being proactive in our response, as evidenced by our recent contribution to Convoy of Hope, which is actively delivering supplies to those in need. This is a testament to the power of collective giving and the impact we can have when we unite as the global church.

As we embark on a new series titled "Startup Faith," we draw parallels between the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley and the early church's approach to faith. Just as startups thrive on adaptability and continuous improvement, our faith journey requires us to be open to change and growth. The early church exemplified this through their commitment to community, prayer, and shared life, which led to remarkable growth and transformation.

The concept of the "lean startup" is particularly relevant to our spiritual lives. It emphasizes learning, iterating, and measuring progress, which can be applied to our faith journey. By focusing on small, sustainable changes in our daily routines, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God. This approach mirrors the early church's dedication to simple, consistent practices that fostered spiritual growth and community impact.

In our pursuit of spiritual growth, it's essential to establish a "minimum viable product" (MVP) for our faith. This involves identifying daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms that nurture our relationship with God. Whether it's a daily prayer, a weekly life group, or an annual retreat, these practices can help us stay grounded and focused on our spiritual journey.

Ultimately, our faith journey is about trusting God with the results while we remain faithful in our routines. Just as the early church didn't know the full extent of their impact, we too must trust that God is leading us one step at a time. By embracing this mindset, we can experience the transformative power of faith in our lives and communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Proactive Faith in Crisis: Our faith calls us to action, not just prayer, especially in times of crisis. By contributing to efforts like Convoy of Hope, we demonstrate the power of collective giving and the impact of the global church. [00:00]
2. Startup Faith and Innovation: The innovative spirit of Silicon Valley parallels the early church's approach to faith. By embracing adaptability and continuous improvement, we can foster spiritual growth and transformation. [30:51]
3. Lean Startup Approach to Faith: Applying the lean startup methodology to our spiritual lives involves learning, iterating, and measuring progress. This approach encourages small, sustainable changes that deepen our connection with God. [34:25]
4. Establishing a Faith MVP: Identifying daily, weekly, and yearly spiritual rhythms helps us cultivate a deeper relationship with God. These practices, like daily prayer or weekly life groups, keep us grounded and focused on our faith journey. [49:50]
5. Trusting God with the Results: Our faith journey requires us to trust God with the outcomes while remaining faithful in our routines. Like the early church, we may not know the full extent of our impact, but we can trust that God is leading us one step at a time. [51:57]
** [51:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Personal Connection to Crisis
[05:00] - Menlo Church's Response
[08:00] - Introduction to Startup Faith
[12:00] - The Design Stage
[15:00] - Prayer and Reflection
[18:00] - New Year's Resolutions and Habits
[22:00] - Silicon Valley Lessons
[26:00] - Lean Startup Approach
[30:00] - Early Church Routine
[34:00] - The Power of Community
[38:00] - Spiritual Rhythms and MVP
[42:00] - Trusting God with the Journey
[46:00] - Encouragement for the Year Ahead
[50:00] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did the early church take in response to the coming of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2:1-4?
How did the early believers in Acts 2:42-47 demonstrate their commitment to community and shared life?
According to the sermon, how does the "lean startup" approach relate to our spiritual lives? [34:25]
What are some examples of "minimum viable product" (MVP) practices mentioned in the sermon that can help us stay grounded in our faith? [49:50]

Interpretation Questions

How might the early church's practice of communal living and sharing resources (Acts 2:42-47) challenge modern-day Christians in their approach to community and generosity?
In what ways does the concept of a "faith MVP" encourage believers to focus on sustainable spiritual practices rather than overwhelming themselves with too many changes at once? [49:50]
How does the sermon suggest that the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley can be applied to our faith journey? [30:51]
What does it mean to trust God with the results of our faith journey, and how can this mindset impact our daily routines? [51:57]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt called to take action in a crisis. How did your faith influence your response, and what steps can you take to be more proactive in the future? [00:00]
Identify one area of your life where you can apply the "lean startup" approach to your spiritual growth. What small, sustainable change can you make this week? [34:25]
Consider your current spiritual routines. What is one daily, weekly, or yearly practice you can implement to deepen your connection with God? [49:50]
How can you cultivate a sense of community and shared life similar to the early church within your own small group or church community? [41:58]
Think about a situation where you need to trust God with the outcome. How can you focus on being faithful in your routines while leaving the results to Him? [51:57]
What specific steps can you take to ensure that your faith journey is characterized by adaptability and continuous improvement, as suggested by the sermon? [30:51]
How can you use the concept of a "faith MVP" to set realistic spiritual goals for the coming year, and what support do you need from your community to achieve them? [49:50]

Sermon Clips

"One of the key components of this that we sort of take a step back on and we look at in our moment is something called the lean startup approach. And as we begin our conversation, I think it's helpful to note what this is, not just in Silicon Valley, but what it can mean for you and me as we start or restart our faith." [00:34:03] (19 seconds)

"Last week, we started a short series in the book of Acts, which is a biography of sorts about the early church. And immediately following the moment when Jesus went back to heaven after coming back from the dead, he told his disciples to wait. They were supposed to stick around and wait for the Holy Spirit to arrive." [00:34:25] (21 seconds)

"Now, 50 days after Easter is something that we call Pentecost. And on Pentecost, the church coincides this moment where the earliest disciples were probably huddled together in a room celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. And they're like, oh, my God, we're going to do something. And they're the Jewish people called the Feast of Weeks." [00:35:19] (17 seconds)

"As you think about designing your own startup or restarted faith, what would an MVP look like for you? Now, I'm not suggesting that you dive into the next augmented reality or AI push. Many of you are doing that with your day job anyway. I'm suggesting a sustainable and repeatable change in your routine to pattern your life more and more, after the way of Jesus." [00:49:09] (24 seconds)

"They trusted God with the results and they focused on their routine. We would be wise to do the same. I was talking to a startup founder this week, and he told me that in startup world, you don't really know the end result. You have a picture of what you hope it will be, but it's pretty fuzzy. And oftentimes what happens as you take each next step, the potential next steps reveal themselves." [00:52:12] (24 seconds)

"Your faith can work the same way. Start with an MVP, a daily prayer, a weekly life group, an annual time of reflection. Trust God with the long-term vision of your life that you want to know now, but you couldn't handle it if he gave it to you anyway. Focus on the next step in front of you." [00:55:00] (17 seconds)

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