Stepping Out in Faith: Trusting God's Provision
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound lesson Jesus imparted to his disciples by consistently placing them in situations that seemed beyond their capabilities. Jesus' approach was not to highlight their inadequacies but to teach them to trust in his power and provision. This is vividly illustrated in the story of feeding the 5,000, where Jesus asked his disciples to feed the crowd with seemingly insufficient resources. This narrative underscores the principle that God often calls us to step out in faith, even when we feel unprepared or inadequate.
Jesus' invitation to "follow me" is not merely about intellectual belief but about active, gritty faith that engages with the world. This faith is not passive; it requires us to step into situations where we must rely on God's strength rather than our own. The disciples' journey with Jesus was a series of lessons in trusting him to do what they could not. This is a call for us to bring what we have, however small, and trust God to multiply it for his purposes.
The message also emphasized the importance of personal ministry as a means of growing our faith. When we step out to serve others, we often find ourselves in over our heads, but it is in these moments that we experience God's faithfulness and provision. This active participation in God's work not only impacts those we serve but also strengthens our own faith.
Ultimately, the call is to live a life that reflects our confidence in God, stepping out in faith and trusting him to do what only he can do. This is how our faith grows and how we become part of God's transformative work in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus' Call to Active Faith: Jesus invites us to follow him, which means living out our faith actively and not just believing in our minds. This involves stepping into situations where we must rely on God's strength, just as the disciples did when they were asked to feed the 5,000. [05:51]
2. Trusting God with Our Inadequacies: God often places us in situations where we feel inadequate to teach us to rely on him. When we bring our limited resources to God, he can multiply them beyond our expectations, as seen in the feeding of the 5,000. [23:34]
3. The Role of Personal Ministry: Engaging in personal ministry, even when we feel unprepared, allows us to experience God's power in our weakness. This active participation in God's work is crucial for growing a robust and enduring faith. [15:28]
4. The Importance of Stepping Out in Faith: Our faith grows when we step out and trust God to do what we cannot. This requires us to act on the nudges we feel, even when we don't know the outcome, trusting that God will be faithful. [30:50]
5. The Impact of Our Faith on Others: Our willingness to step out in faith can have a profound impact on others. By making available to God what we have, we can be part of changing lives and growing the faith of those around us. [36:54]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Jesus' Assumption of Disciples' Abilities
[01:00] - Calling the First Disciples
[02:21] - Greater Works Than These
[03:24] - The Feeding of the 5,000
[05:07] - Faith Full Series Introduction
[06:08] - Follow Me vs. Believe in Me
[07:22] - Active Faith and God's Faithfulness
[09:01] - Developing Enduring Faith
[10:25] - Practical Teaching and Faith Growth
[12:16] - Personal Ministry and Stepping Out
[14:50] - Experiencing God's Faithfulness
[17:03] - The Disciples' Test of Faith
[23:34] - Bring What You Have to Jesus
[30:50] - Trusting God to Do What Only He Can Do
[36:54] - The Impact of Our Faith on Others
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 14:13-21 - The Feeding of the 5,000
2. John 6:1-14 - The Feeding of the 5,000 (John's account)
3. Matthew 4:18-22 - Jesus Calls His First Disciples
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, what was Jesus' initial response to the disciples' suggestion to send the crowd away to buy food? ([04:36])
2. How did the disciples react when Jesus asked them to feed the crowd, and what resources did they find available? ([23:00])
3. What was the significance of Jesus asking the disciples to "bring them here to me" in reference to the loaves and fish? ([24:38])
4. How did Jesus' invitation to "follow me" differ from simply believing in him, according to the sermon? ([06:08])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the story of the feeding of the 5,000 teach about the relationship between human inadequacy and divine provision? How does this apply to personal challenges? ([23:34])
2. How does Jesus' approach to teaching his disciples through challenging situations reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God? ([02:58])
3. In what ways does personal ministry serve as a catalyst for growing one's faith, according to the sermon? ([15:28])
4. How does the concept of "bringing what you have" to Jesus challenge common perceptions of resourcefulness and capability in serving others? ([25:34])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate in a situation. How did you respond, and what role did faith play in your response? How might you approach a similar situation differently now? ([15:28])
2. Jesus invited his disciples to follow him actively. What is one area of your life where you feel called to step out in faith, and what practical steps can you take to act on that call? ([06:08])
3. Consider a personal ministry opportunity that you have been hesitant to pursue. What fears or inadequacies are holding you back, and how can you overcome them to say "yes" to God's nudge? ([16:14])
4. Identify a situation where you can "bring what you have" to God, even if it seems small. What specific action can you take this week to offer your resources or talents for God's purposes? ([25:34])
5. Think about a person or group in your community who could benefit from your active faith. How can you engage with them in a way that reflects trust in God's provision and strength? ([34:18])
6. How can you cultivate a mindset of trusting God to do what only He can do, especially in areas where you feel most challenged or stretched? ([31:09])
7. Reflect on the impact of your faith on others. How can you be more intentional about living out your faith in a way that inspires and encourages those around you? ([36:54])
Devotional
Day 1: Active Faith in Action
Description: Jesus' call to "follow me" is an invitation to live out our faith actively, not just intellectually. This involves stepping into situations where we must rely on God's strength, as demonstrated when Jesus asked his disciples to feed the 5,000 with limited resources. This act of faith is not passive; it requires us to engage with the world and trust in God's power to work through us. By stepping out in faith, we learn to depend on God to do what we cannot, just as the disciples did. [05:51]
Matthew 14:16-18 (ESV): "But Jesus said, 'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.' They said to him, 'We have only five loaves here and two fish.' And he said, 'Bring them here to me.'"
Reflection: What is one specific situation in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you actively engage with this challenge today, trusting in His strength?
Day 2: Trusting God with Our Limitations
Description: God often places us in situations where we feel inadequate to teach us to rely on Him. The story of feeding the 5,000 illustrates how Jesus used seemingly insufficient resources to accomplish His purposes. When we bring our limited resources to God, He can multiply them beyond our expectations. This teaches us to trust God with our inadequacies and to believe that He can work through our weaknesses to achieve His plans. [23:34]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you offer this area to God today, trusting Him to work through your limitations?
Day 3: The Growth of Faith Through Personal Ministry
Description: Engaging in personal ministry, even when we feel unprepared, allows us to experience God's power in our weakness. This active participation in God's work is crucial for growing a robust and enduring faith. When we step out to serve others, we often find ourselves in over our heads, but it is in these moments that we experience God's faithfulness and provision. This not only impacts those we serve but also strengthens our own faith. [15:28]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can you step out in faith to minister to them, trusting God to provide what you need?
Day 4: Stepping Out in Faith
Description: Our faith grows when we step out and trust God to do what we cannot. This requires us to act on the nudges we feel, even when we don't know the outcome, trusting that God will be faithful. By taking these steps of faith, we learn to rely on God's strength and provision, allowing Him to work through us in ways we never imagined. This is how our faith matures and becomes more resilient. [30:50]
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is prompting you to take a step of faith? How can you act on this nudge today, trusting in His faithfulness?
Day 5: The Impact of Faith on Others
Description: Our willingness to step out in faith can have a profound impact on others. By making available to God what we have, we can be part of changing lives and growing the faith of those around us. When we trust God to use our small offerings, He can multiply them to achieve His purposes, influencing not only our lives but also the lives of those we encounter. [36:54]
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: Consider someone in your life who might be encouraged by your faith. How can you intentionally share your faith journey with them this week, allowing God to use your story to impact their life?
Quotes
"Jesus was consistently pushing the 12 apostles in particular into situations that they weren't ready for, that they weren't prepared for, and they were really in over their head, and as you read, it's a little bit funny at times, they find themselves kind of flailing around, trying to figure stuff out, and in some cases just flat out failing, just failing. Like, Jesus says, 'Go do this,' or he puts them in a situation, and they just are like, 'We just, we can't do this,' and they fail." [00:00:25]
"Jesus' agenda for his first century followers, and his 21st century followers, is that we would not simply be people who believe things, but we would be people with a very active, all in, gritty, daily, relational, you know, in the thick of things faith, that basically our faith would not simply be cerebral. It wouldn't be just, we believe things about God or believe things about Jesus, that we would have an active, very activated faith." [00:05:19]
"Jesus invited people to follow him before he invited them to believe in him, because the follow part was the gritty part, the follow part was the active part, and the follow part is what he knew would ultimately build and confirm their belief in him. But believe, just believe is easy. It's much easier than follow, right? It's safer, it's less demanding. It doesn't require any change at all. You just make a decision in your head." [00:06:36]
"When our active faith intersects with God's faithfulness on the backend, our faith grows. But believing without doing, believing without doing results in a frail, failing, flailing, fragile faith. So people, I mean, Jesus didn't invite people to simply believe things. He invited people and he invites us to follow him. He invites us to ask this question, and a couple of weeks ago, somebody took the screenshot from the message and posted it and said this is the question they wanna wake up to everyday." [00:07:57]
"When we step out and do what we think God wants us to do with no guarantee of how things are gonna turn out, and then after we step out and obey God, whatever that is, and then we experience God's faithfulness on the back end, you know what happens to your faith? It grows. It's like a muscle. If you don't exercise it, you have the muscle, but if you don't exercise it, it doesn't get bigger. And our exercised active faith grows our faith." [00:10:45]
"People always talk about the first time they stepped out of their comfort zone to serve someone else or some someone else's in a way that they didn't feel prepared for, they didn't feel adequate, but they just knew they were supposed to do it. They stepped out and they served somebody in Jesus' name because they just felt that internal nudge. They, essentially, they tell the story of stepping into someone else's story or stepping into a group of people's story, a neighbor, maybe a nonprofit, a nonprofit that was doing something significant in the world and they had a burden for that, and they thought, 'I wanna help, but what can I do?'" [00:12:32]
"Pushing through, pushing through our inadequacy, pushing through our inadequacy in order to say yes to God for the benefit of other people, it just grows our faith. It grows enduring, strong, you know, gonna get through the next one as well, faith. When we push through our inadequacy, 'I don't have time, I'm scared, I don't have the resources, I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm not educated enough,' whatever it is, 'but I feel like God's nudging me,' when we push through our inadequacy, on the other side of that, that's when we experience God's faithfulness and our faith gets bigger." [00:15:17]
"You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision if you say yes or no. You have no idea what hangs in the balance in terms of what's gonna happen. But here is something I know for sure hangs in balance, the quality and the strength of your faith, the quality and the strength of your faith. Because saying yes to God is stepping to serve other people, it's one of the five things God always uses to grow our faith. If you don't believe me, just ask the disciples." [00:16:41]
"Five loaves of bread, two fishes for thousands of people, I love what Jesus says next. This, are you looking? This is how big problems are solved. This is how macro community-wide, city-wide, nationwide problems are addressed, and this is an invitation to all of us. And Jesus smiles and he says, 'Bring them here to me. I know it's one kid with one lunch. Bring them here to me.' And there I stand, and there you stand, with our loaves and our fish." [00:24:29]
"They did what they knew how to do, and they trusted that Jesus knew what he was up to. That's it. They did what they knew how to do, and they trusted that somehow Jesus was going to come through. They literally, we use this phrase out of context all the time, it drives me crazy. We don't, but I hear it all the time out of context. This is literally what they did. They walked by faith." [00:27:26]
"And their active, activated faith, intersected with God's faithfulness, and something remarkable happened. They were all, they all ate, and they all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up 12 baskets of broken pieces that were leftover. Now, this whole concept is so personal for me, and I so want it to be personal for you. It's so personal for me when I talk about it in this room, because 25 and a half years ago, a group of us felt the nudge to start a different kind of church that we were told wouldn't work in the southeast." [00:28:23]
"Somewhere in the world there is someone whose life, whose child, whose marriage, who's grandchild, whose faith will be changed once you step up and make available to God what's in your lunchbox. Again, there's a story that is yet to be told, and your Heavenly Father is sayin' 'Just bring me what you got. You do what only you can do, and I'll do what only I can do, and you'll be amazed at what we can do together. You give them, you give them, something to eat.'" [00:36:43]
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