Steadfast Faith: Building Life on Christ
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of being steadfast and faithful in my Christian walk. The speaker emphasized that many Christians have embraced a version of Jesus that is passive and weak, which is not the Jesus we find in Scripture. He encouraged us to spend time studying the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7, as it is a declaration of the Kingdom that Jesus makes. It covers the principles of the Kingdom, our attitudes, the fulfillment of the law, and teachings on various aspects of life such as lust, marriage, divorce, oaths, revenge, love for enemies, prayer, fasting, finances, worry, judgment, and discerning true and false prophets and disciples.
The speaker also addressed the current cultural climate where being solid and responsible is often seen as a bad thing. He pointed out that we have made an idol out of weakness and frailty, forgetting that we stand on a firm foundation in Christ. He emphasized that the grace of God is not only enough to save us but also to keep us looking like Jesus. He also pointed out that we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and therefore, we should not be easily shaken or frazzled by the storms of life. Instead, we should declare, "I will not be shaken," because we have built our lives on Christ, the solid rock.
Key takeaways:
- The Sermon on the Mount is a crucial teaching that every Christian should study and understand, as it covers the principles of the Kingdom and various aspects of life. ([07:50])
- Being solid and responsible is not a bad thing. It is a reflection of standing on a firm foundation in Christ. ([01:29])
- The grace of God is not only enough to save us but also to keep us looking like Jesus. ([02:46])
- We should not be easily shaken or frazzled by the storms of life because we have built our lives on Christ, the solid rock. ([04:00])
- We should be more concerned about being faithful to Christ than being accepted by the world. ([06:01])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being solid and steadfast in faith, rather than succumbing to the culture of weakness and victimhood that is prevalent in today's society. He argues that believers should not idolize weakness, but rather, should focus on the stability that Christ provides. [49:33] (00:48)
2. The speaker discusses the importance of building our lives on a firm foundation, which is Jesus Christ. He warns against building our lives on things like career, culture, or childhood, and instead encourages us to build our lives on Jesus, who can bless all aspects of our lives. [49:33] (23:24)
3. The speaker encourages believers to be faithful, not famous. He emphasizes that God is looking for those who will be faithful to His teachings, regardless of the circumstances they face. [49:33] (48:42)
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Matthew 5-7: These chapters contain the Sermon on the Mount, which the speaker refers to as the "Declaration of the Kingdom" that Jesus makes.
2. Hebrews 12: This chapter contains verse 28, which the speaker quotes to emphasize the unshakeable nature of the kingdom that believers have received.
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "solid" in faith according to the sermon?
2. How does the speaker describe the dangers of building our lives on things other than Jesus?
3. What does the speaker mean when he says that we should be "faithful, not famous"?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) relate to the speaker's emphasis on being solid and steadfast in faith?
2. How does Hebrews 12:28 support the speaker's point about the unshakeable nature of the kingdom that believers have received?
3. What does it mean to be "faithful" to God's teachings, and why is this more important than being famous?
Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the speaker's message about being solid in faith to our own lives?
2. What steps can we take to ensure that we are building our lives on Jesus, rather than on things like career, culture, or childhood?
3. How can we strive to be more faithful to God's teachings in our daily lives?
Devotional
Day 1: The Real Jesus is Not Passive or Weak
Jesus is often portrayed as a gentle, meek figure. While He is indeed full of love and compassion, it's important to remember that He is also powerful and strong. He is the one who defeated death, hell, and the grave. He is not passive or weak, but active and mighty.
Revelation 1:18 - "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
Reflection: Reflect on your perception of Jesus. Have you ever viewed Him as passive or weak? How does understanding Jesus as the powerful figure who defeated death, hell, and the grave change your perspective on your own challenges and struggles?
Day 2: The Importance of Being Solid in Faith
Our faith should not be wavering or weak, but solid and steadfast. We should not make idols out of our weaknesses, but rather strive to be self-disciplined and strong in our faith.
1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Reflection: How would you rate your current level of steadfastness in your faith? Are there areas in your life where you feel you've made an idol out of weakness? What steps can you take to become more solid and self-disciplined in your faith?
Day 3: The Necessity of Loving Your Enemies
Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us. This is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one if we are to follow His teachings.
Matthew 5:44 - "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Reflection: Can you think of a person who has hurt you or who you consider an enemy? How can you apply Jesus' command to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you in this specific situation?
Day 4: Being Authentically Faithful
Being 'real' should not be an excuse for disobedience or sin. Instead, we should strive to be authentically faithful to Jesus and His teachings.
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: Have you ever used the phrase "I'm just being real" as an excuse for disobedience or sin? How can you shift your focus from being perceived as 'real' to being authentically faithful to Jesus and His teachings?
Day 5: Building Your Life on Jesus
Our lives should not be built on our careers, culture, or childhood, but on Jesus. He is the solid rock on which we should build our lives.
Matthew 7:24 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Reflection: What are you currently building your life on? Is it your career, culture, or childhood? How can you shift your focus to building your life on Jesus? What changes might you need to make in your life to do this?
Quotes
1. "Jesus is a rock and he is our Banner. The loudest thing that we're about is not me being real in my carnality but me exalting Christ in everything that I do. So don't be fake, be faithful." - 47:35
2. "A lot of Christians sadly have become more consumed with being accepted by the world than being faithful to Christ. If I represent Christ properly then the world won't accept me. Listen, you are catering to a world and trying to please a people that Jesus Promised would reject you." - 06:01
3. "We have to get Jesus right. We say this all the time, we have to get Jesus right because the real Jesus is the way, he's the truth, and he's the life." - 35:37
4. "Just because it looks like Jesus and just because it sounds like Jesus doesn't make it Jesus. Just because it's branded Jesus doesn't mean it's Jesus. So beloved, get into the word and discover what Jesus said and who he really is and absorb his nature into your life." - 35:37
5. "You don't need to be famous to make an impact for Jesus, you just need to be faithful. All you got to do is follow his teaching. My question today is what are you building your life on? Are you building it on your career, are you building on the culture, are you building it up on your childhood?" - 49:21
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