Stepping Out in Faith: Trusting God's Promises

Summary

Today, we gathered as God’s people to seek an increase of faith, hope, and love, and to be reminded of the promises that God has spoken over our lives. We began by lifting up our community in prayer—students, teachers, families, and all those in need—trusting that God hears and responds to the prayers of His people. We prayed for protection, wisdom, and the presence of the Holy Spirit as a new school year begins, and for the many individuals and leaders on our hearts.

Reflecting on the story of Evander Holyfield, who believed in his coach’s promise long before it was fulfilled, we turned to Hebrews 11 and the story of Abraham. Faith, as described in Scripture, is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Abraham’s journey is a powerful example: called by God to leave everything familiar, he stepped into the unknown, trusting in a promise that seemed impossible. Though he was old and childless, Abraham believed God’s word, and that faith set the course of his life and, indeed, the world.

Faith is always a response to God’s promises. It is not wishful thinking or demanding what we want, but trusting in what God has actually spoken. Abraham’s faith was not a one-time event; he needed to hear God’s promises repeated again and again, especially in seasons of waiting and darkness. This is why we return to Scripture, to worship, and to the sacraments—so that God’s promises are renewed in our hearts and we are strengthened to trust Him.

God’s faithfulness is the foundation for our faith. He has kept His promises throughout history, and He continues to do so. When we are overwhelmed by fear or uncertainty, God’s word to us is, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus assures us that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. We are invited to live not from a place of anxiety or scarcity, but from trust and hope, knowing that our true home is with God—a city with foundations, a promised land more solid than anything in this world.

Like Abraham, we are called to step out in faith, even when we cannot see the whole path ahead. Our faith not only brings us into right relationship with God, but also becomes a blessing to others, drawing our lives into God’s greater story of redemption. As we walk by faith, we find joy, peace, and rest for our souls, and we become a source of hope and courage for those around us.

Key Takeaways

- Faith is a response to God’s promises, not our own desires. True faith is rooted in what God has actually spoken, not in what we wish He would say. When we anchor our trust in His word, we find a foundation that does not shift with our circumstances or emotions. This is why it is vital to know and meditate on the promises God has given us in Scripture. [35:31]

- Even the greatest heroes of faith, like Abraham, needed to hear God’s promises repeatedly. Faith is not a one-time decision but a continual journey of being reminded, especially in seasons of waiting or darkness. Regularly returning to God’s word, worship, and the sacraments renews our trust and keeps our hearts anchored in hope. [38:07]

- God’s faithfulness is proven in history and in our lives. Abraham’s story shows that God keeps His word, even when fulfillment seems impossible. Remembering how God has been faithful in the past gives us courage to trust Him with our present and future, especially when we are called to step into the unknown. [33:48]

- Faith protects us from fear and anxiety by shifting our focus from scarcity to God’s abundance. Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, little flock,” remind us that the Father delights to give us the kingdom. When we trust in God’s character and provision, we are freed to live generously and courageously, rather than being paralyzed by fear. [41:53]

- Our faith is not just for ourselves; it becomes a blessing and inspiration to others. When we walk by faith, our lives are drawn into God’s larger story, and we become a source of hope and courage for those around us. God uses our trust in Him to encourage, strengthen, and even transform the lives of our families, friends, and communities. [47:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Opening Prayers and Litany
[04:30] - Prayers for the Community and Intercessions
[13:00] - Blessing of the Children
[17:36] - Children’s Dismissal and Prayer
[18:30] - Prayer for Illumination
[19:00] - The Story of Evander Holyfield and Faith
[30:03] - Hebrews 11: The Hall of Faith
[32:16] - Abraham’s Call and the Nature of Faith
[33:48] - Faith as Response to Promise
[35:31] - The Need for Repeated Promises
[38:07] - The Role of Worship, Word, and Sacraments
[40:00] - Faith Overcoming Fear
[41:53] - Living from Trust, Not Anxiety
[43:34] - The Heavenly City and True Rest
[45:50] - Faith’s Legacy and Blessing Others
[47:13] - Walking by Faith into God’s Story
[48:39] - Prayer for Increased Faith
[52:35] - Affirmation of Faith: Nicene Creed
[01:02:24] - Holy Communion
[01:14:41] - Blessing and Benediction
[01:16:32] - Post-Communion Prayer and Sending

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Walking by Faith in God’s Promises

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### Bible Reading

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-16 (ESV)
> 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
> 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
> 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
> 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
> 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
> 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
> 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
> 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
> 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
> 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
> 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)
> 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
> 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
> 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
> 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”
> 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
> 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Luke 12:32 (ESV)
> “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 11, what is the definition of faith, and how is Abraham’s life an example of this kind of faith?
2. In Genesis 15, what specific promise does God make to Abraham, and how does Abraham respond?
3. What does Jesus say to his followers in Luke 12:32, and what does this reveal about God’s heart toward us?
4. The sermon mentioned that Abraham needed to hear God’s promises repeatedly. How many times did God repeat His promise to Abraham, and why was this important? [[35:31]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that faith is a response to God’s promises, not just our own wishes. Why is it important to distinguish between what we want and what God has actually promised? [[35:31]]
2. Abraham’s journey required him to leave behind everything familiar and step into the unknown. What does this teach us about the nature of faith and trust in God? [[32:16]]
3. The sermon highlights that even Abraham, the “father of faith,” needed to be reminded of God’s promises over and over. What does this suggest about the ongoing nature of faith in our lives? [[35:31]]
4. Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” are meant to shift our focus from fear to trust. How does this promise challenge the way we typically respond to anxiety or uncertainty? [[41:53]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon shared that faith is rooted in God’s promises, not just in what we wish for. Are there things you have been hoping for that God hasn’t actually promised? How can you tell the difference, and how might this change your prayers or expectations? [[35:31]]
2. Abraham needed to hear God’s promises again and again, especially during long seasons of waiting. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of God’s promises when you feel discouraged or impatient? [[35:31]]
3. The sermon encouraged us to regularly return to Scripture, worship, and the sacraments to renew our faith. Which of these practices helps you most, and how can you make it a more regular part of your life? [[38:07]]
4. When you face fear or anxiety about the future, what voices do you tend to listen to? Are there specific steps you can take to focus more on God’s voice and less on voices of fear? [[41:53]]
5. The sermon said that our faith can be a blessing and inspiration to others. Can you think of a time when someone else’s faith encouraged you? How might your own trust in God encourage someone in your family, workplace, or community this week? [[47:13]]
6. Abraham was called to step out in faith, not knowing the whole path ahead. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God calling you to trust Him, even though you can’t see the outcome? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area? [[32:16]]
7. The sermon reminded us that God’s faithfulness in the past gives us courage for the present and future. Take a moment to remember a time when God kept a promise or provided for you. How can recalling this help you trust Him with what you’re facing now? [[33:48]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for an increase of faith, hope, and love, and to ask God to help them trust His promises more deeply in the week ahead.

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Is Assurance of Things Hoped For

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen; it is the foundation of our walk with God, shaping the trajectory of our lives as we trust in His promises even when we cannot yet see their fulfillment. When we look to the examples of the saints—like Abraham, Noah, and Enoch—we see that faith is not a vague optimism but a confident trust in the One who speaks and keeps His word. This kind of faith calls us to step into the unknown, to let our lives be swept up into God’s greater story, and to live with the assurance that what He has promised, He will surely do. [30:03]

Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to trust God’s promises because you cannot yet see the outcome? How might you take a step of faith today, trusting Him with what is unseen?


Day 2: God’s Promises Are the Foundation of Faith

Faith is always a response to God’s promises; it is not wishful thinking or demanding what we want, but trusting in what God has actually spoken and committed to do. Abraham’s story shows us that God’s promises are trustworthy, even when they seem impossible or delayed, and that faith is formed and strengthened as we hear and remember these promises again and again. Just as Abraham needed to be reminded repeatedly of God’s word, so do we—through Scripture, worship, and the sacraments—so that our faith may be anchored in the unchanging faithfulness of God. [35:31]

Genesis 15:5-6 (ESV)
And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Reflection: What is one promise of God from Scripture that you need to hear again today? How can you remind yourself of this promise throughout the week?


Day 3: Do Not Be Afraid—God Delights to Give You the Kingdom

God’s repeated command to “do not be afraid” is rooted in His generous heart; He delights to give His children the kingdom, inviting us to live not from fear or scarcity, but from trust and hope in His provision. In a world filled with anxious voices and uncertainty, Jesus calls us His “little flock” and assures us that our Father’s good pleasure is to bless us, freeing us to live openly and generously. When we listen to His voice above all others, we find courage to face the unknown and peace that overcomes our fears. [40:00]

Luke 12:32 (ESV)
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Reflection: What is one fear or anxiety you are carrying today? How can you intentionally listen for God’s voice of hope and generosity instead of the voices of fear?


Day 4: Faith Brings Us Into God’s Rest and True Home

By faith, we are not only forgiven and counted righteous, but we are also brought into the true rest and lasting home our hearts long for—a heavenly city with foundations, more solid than anything in this fleeting world. Like Abraham, who lived in tents but looked forward to a city with foundations, we are called to set our hope on the eternal life and relationship with God that He promises, even as we journey through the temporary and uncertain realities of this world. This hope gives us stability, joy, and peace, even in the midst of trouble and change. [43:34]

Hebrews 11:10, 14, 16 (ESV)
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. … For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. … But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to seek security in things that are temporary? How can you set your heart today on the “city with foundations” that God has prepared for you?


Day 5: Our Faith Inspires and Blesses Others

When we walk by faith, trusting God’s promises and stepping into the unknown, our lives become a source of courage and hope for others; God uses our faith to bless our families, friends, and the world around us. Just as Abraham’s faith drew him into God’s greater story and became a blessing to many, so our simple, faithful obedience—whether seen or unseen—can inspire others to trust God and find hope in Him. Even in times of weakness or uncertainty, God is able to increase our faith and use it for His purposes, drawing others to Himself through our witness. [47:13]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: Who in your life might be encouraged by your faith today? What is one specific way you can let your trust in God be visible to someone else this week?

Quotes

So in the Bible, faith always comes as a response to promise, to the word that God gives. So Romans chapter 10, verse 17 says, faith comes by hearing. And what is it that we hear? The word, the promise, the word of Christ. This is also one reason why sometimes I think people get confused about this. Like I could wake up one morning and say, God, I'm going to really believe today for a blue Corvette because I really want one, you know, but you can read through the Bible. There is no verse in there where God promises me a blue Corvette. That would be faith. It's not based on a promise, not based on anything, but what I want, right? Faith comes in response to promises that God has given. [00:36:17] (42 seconds)  #FaithNeedsRepetition Edit Clip

And if that's true for Abraham, you know, it's got to be true for you and me. We need to hear the promises again and again. That's why it's so important to open up your Bible and read God's word day by day. That's why it's so important to gather together week by week, Sunday by Sunday, and hear the word proclaimed and preached. [00:38:07] (21 seconds)  #RighteousByFaith Edit Clip

Romans chapter four tells us the same is true for us. We sinners hear that word of the gospel, that word of Christ, and we trust the one who gives the promise and the Lord counts us as righteous, even though we haven't always lived righteous. He counts us as righteous by faith, faith in the promise. Faith is what makes us right with God. [00:39:33] (22 seconds)  #VoicesOfFaith Edit Clip

And faith also protects us from being overwhelmed by fear. And trust the one who's giving us promises, and that saves us from fear. In Genesis 15, Abraham really is in a dark place. I mean, it's literally dark and he goes outside and sees the stars, but that's really symbolic of what's going on in his life because he's in the dark. He doesn't know what's going on. He's had this promise given. It's been all these years. And as he complains very, very personally to the Lord, he says, you have not yet given me a child. What's going on? Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit my house, right? He's in the dark. He doesn't know what's going on. He's in confusion. That's where he is. And in that moment, the Lord speaks to him and he says, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. And he reaffirms the promise to scatter Abraham's fears. [00:39:55] (55 seconds)  #EmbracedByFaith Edit Clip

There's so many voices in our world that speak fear and anxiety into our lives. Some of them are just well -meaning people who are themselves full of fears and anxieties. Some of them get paid and they do this for a living to speak fear and anxiety into the world. We know what makes the algorithms go and what gets lots of clicks, right? There's so many voices that speak that. But Jesus speaks hope. He speaks of a future with hope. He says, don't be afraid. Your father wants to give you what you really need. So you don't have to live with that tight -fisted anxiety. You can live openly and generously with the people around you because you know who your father is. You know he's going to take care of you. Don't live from that fear, that scarcity. Live from that trust and that hope. [00:41:21] (56 seconds)  #TransientWorldSolidFaith Edit Clip

When we respond to God's word, God's promise with faith, we are embraced into the heart of things. We are brought to him who is the living source of all the good, all the beautiful, all the captivating things that have ever caught our heart and attention, all the joys. By faith, we're not only forgiven our sins and accounted righteous like Abraham, but we're also brought into that rest that our hearts have been aching after. [00:43:02] (32 seconds)  #CalledToFaithJourney Edit Clip

We know, and we talked about this last week, everything that we experience in this world, every good thing, every bad thing, it's all transient, it's all temporary. This world is fleeting, but there is a true home. There is a true rest, a true promised land, and we begin to experience that when we turn to him, to our savior, with faith. And it is more solid than this transitory world. [00:43:34] (26 seconds)  #FaithInChaos Edit Clip

Now, every one of us, like Abraham, in our own way, in our own life, every one of us is going to be called to leave behind the home that we have known here, and to step out in faith into that heavenly city. Every one of us is going to receive that call. [00:44:31] (22 seconds)  #FaithInspiresHope Edit Clip

``And when we do that, like Abraham, like the widow woman who was coming to the end of her days with faith, like the martyrs and like all the faithful, quiet, simple people who have simply lived out their vocation without making a big deal about it. When we walk by faith, that can become an inspiration to the people around us, giving them courage, giving them hope in the midst of darkness. God uses our faith to bless others. That's what he did with Abraham. And that's how our lives get drawn up into the big, greater story of God's unfolding purposes for us, for our family, for our friends, for our neighbors, for our world. [00:48:11] (45 seconds) Edit Clip