Trusting God: A Journey Beyond Belief
Summary
In today's gathering at Five Rivers Church, we embarked on a new series titled "Mission 316," focusing on the profound message of John 3:16. This verse, a cornerstone of Christian faith, emphasizes the depth of God's love for the world and the call for believers to not only acknowledge His existence but to place their trust in Him. We explored the concept of belief, distinguishing between mere acknowledgment of God's existence and a deeper, trust-filled faith that compels us to act and live according to His will.
The analogy of a chair was used to illustrate the difference between believing in something's existence and trusting it to support us. Just as we might recognize a chair but hesitate to sit in it if it appears flimsy, we can acknowledge God without fully trusting Him. The Greek word "pistou," meaning to believe to the extent of trust, was highlighted to emphasize that true belief in God involves a commitment to trust Him with our lives.
Trusting God is not a one-time event but a continuous journey that varies for each individual and changes with different life stages. It requires us to lean into God, even when it means stepping into the unknown. This message was particularly personal as I shared my own journey of trust, announcing my decision to step down from my pastoral role and return to the secular workforce. This decision, while challenging, is a step of faith, trusting that God has a plan for me, my family, and Five Rivers Church.
Key Takeaways:
- Belief vs. Trust: Understanding the difference between believing in God's existence and trusting Him with our lives is crucial. True faith involves a commitment to trust God, which compels us to act and live according to His will. [06:25]
- Continuous Trust: Trusting God is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. It requires daily commitment and sometimes moment-by-moment reliance on God, especially during challenging times. [12:07]
- Individual Paths: Trusting God looks different for each person. What God asks of one person may differ from what He asks of another, and this can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances and life stages. [14:16]
- Evolving Trust: As we grow and our life circumstances change, the way we trust God may also change. Trusting God with young children is different from trusting Him with teenagers or adult children, reflecting the evolving nature of our faith journey. [18:25]
- Stepping into the Unknown: Sometimes, trusting God means stepping into the unknown and making difficult decisions. This requires relinquishing control and believing that God has a plan, even when the path is unclear. [21:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:46] - Introduction to Mission 316
- [06:25] - Belief vs. Trust: The Chair Analogy
- [12:07] - Understanding True Belief
- [14:16] - Trusting God: A Continuous Journey
- [18:25] - Personal Journey of Trust
- [21:09] - Announcing a New Chapter
- [24:00] - Trusting God with the Future
- [27:00] - Closing Thoughts and Song
- [30:00] - Final Remarks and Farewell
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Mission 316
Bible Reading:
- John 3:16
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Observation Questions:
1. What analogy was used in the sermon to illustrate the difference between believing in something's existence and trusting it? How does this relate to our faith in God? [06:25]
2. According to the sermon, what is the Greek word for "believe," and what deeper meaning does it convey about our relationship with God? [06:25]
3. How did the pastor describe his personal journey of trust, and what decision did he announce during the sermon? [18:25]
4. What are the three key points about trust that were highlighted in the sermon? [14:16]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the analogy of the chair help us understand the difference between acknowledging God's existence and truly trusting Him with our lives? [06:25]
2. In what ways does the Greek word "pistou" challenge our understanding of belief in God? How does it call us to a deeper level of faith? [06:25]
3. The pastor shared a personal decision to step down from his pastoral role. How does this illustrate the concept of "stepping into the unknown" in trusting God? [21:09]
4. How might the evolving nature of trust in God be reflected in different life stages, such as parenting young children versus adult children? [14:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you acknowledged God's existence but struggled to trust Him fully. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in God this week? [06:25]
2. The sermon emphasized that trusting God is a continuous journey. What daily practices can you implement to cultivate a moment-by-moment reliance on God, especially during challenging times? [12:07]
3. Consider the pastor's decision to step down from his role. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step into the unknown? How can you prepare yourself to take that step of faith? [21:09]
4. Trusting God looks different for each person. Identify a specific area in your life where God is asking you to trust Him differently than before. How can you embrace this new way of trusting? [14:16]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of evolving trust as life circumstances change. How can you adapt your trust in God as you transition through different life stages or challenges? [18:25]
6. Reflect on the concept of "belief vs. trust" in your spiritual journey. How can you move from merely believing in God to actively trusting Him with your decisions and actions? [06:25]
7. The pastor mentioned the need to relinquish control and trust God's plan. What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How can you practice surrendering it to God this week? [21:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Belief Transformed into Trust
True belief in God goes beyond acknowledging His existence; it involves a deep trust that compels us to act according to His will. This trust is akin to the confidence we place in a sturdy chair, knowing it will support us when we sit. Similarly, trusting God means relying on Him to guide and sustain us through life's challenges. The Greek word "pistou" highlights this concept of belief that extends to trust, urging believers to commit their lives to God fully. This commitment is not passive but active, requiring us to live out our faith in tangible ways. [06:25]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you acknowledge God's presence but struggle to trust Him fully. What steps can you take today to deepen your trust in Him in that area?
Day 2: The Journey of Continuous Trust
Trusting God is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey. It requires daily commitment and sometimes moment-by-moment reliance on God, especially during difficult times. This ongoing process of trust is dynamic, adapting to the various stages and challenges of life. As believers, we are called to lean into God continually, seeking His guidance and strength in every situation. This journey of trust is personal and unique to each individual, reflecting the diverse ways God works in our lives. [12:07]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a current challenge you are facing. How can you practice moment-by-moment reliance on God today, rather than relying on your own understanding?
Day 3: Unique Paths of Trust
Each person's journey of trusting God is distinct, shaped by individual circumstances and life stages. What God asks of one person may differ from what He asks of another, highlighting the personal nature of our faith journey. This diversity in trust reflects the unique relationship each believer has with God, as He guides us according to His plan for our lives. Understanding that our paths are different can help us embrace our own journey without comparing it to others, trusting that God knows what is best for us. [14:16]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God leading you in a direction different from others. How can you embrace your unique path of trust today, without comparing it to someone else's journey?
Day 4: Evolving Trust Through Life's Changes
As we grow and our life circumstances change, the way we trust God may also evolve. Trusting God with young children is different from trusting Him with teenagers or adult children, reflecting the evolving nature of our faith journey. This adaptability in trust is essential as it allows us to navigate the complexities of life with God's guidance. Embracing this evolving trust helps us remain open to God's leading, even when the path is unclear or challenging. [18:25]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a recent change in your life. How can you adapt your trust in God to align with this new circumstance, and what steps can you take to commit your way to Him?
Day 5: Stepping into the Unknown
Sometimes, trusting God means stepping into the unknown and making difficult decisions. This requires relinquishing control and believing that God has a plan, even when the path is unclear. Such steps of faith can be challenging, but they are opportunities to deepen our trust in God and experience His faithfulness. By embracing the unknown with confidence in God's plan, we can navigate life's uncertainties with peace and assurance. [21:09]
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a decision or situation where you feel uncertain about the future. How can you step into the unknown with courage today, trusting that God is with you and has a plan for your life?
Quotes
"Can you believe in a chair that this is a chair without believing in the chair? Yes, yes you can. Can you believe in the idea or the concept of God without believing in God? Sure you can. Because you can wrap your head around a concept of something out there that is a God without really believing in God to the point where it would affect your behavior or your trust or your willingness to lean into." [00:08:43] (34 seconds)
"Trusting God is not a one -off experience. Number two, trusting God. Let's see if I can get number two to come up. Trusting God is going to look different for different people. What it means for you to trust God today might look different than it will look for me to trust God today. You all follow?" [00:13:23] (17 seconds)
"And that doesn't mean that there's some disagreement with you. Like, I can remember when Dawn had a brain aneurysm, okay? Like, I'm at the house. I have no idea what's happening. She kind of knows what's happening, but I don't. My trust in God in that moment looked different from her trust in God at that moment." [00:13:57] (17 seconds)
"Trust will look different for different people. And finally, the third thing, trusting God at one point in your life will likely look different from what it means to trust God at another point in time in your life. So when you're in your younger stages and you have little children, how many of you have parented young children? Right?" [00:14:23] (22 seconds)
"Is it different trusting God with your infant than it is trusting him with your teenager or your adult child? Oh my goodness, you better believe it. Now you're trusting in the same God, right? You're trusting the same thing to the same God. But what that trust looks like at that point in time in your life will likely look different." [00:14:58] (24 seconds)
"So you have to like understand that the ways God might be asking you to trust him today might look different than they did at another point in time in your life. So when we talk about this idea of trust, John 3, 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes, and we want to replace that word, don't replace, but think of that word in the sense of trust, who trusts in him." [00:15:14] (24 seconds)
"Like, that's strong language, and again, please don't think that I'm up here trying to beat y 'all up this morning, like, whoa, what are you saying, Brian, that I don't trust God enough? No, I'm not talking, I'm really not trying to talk about you at all. I'm just trying to help you understand when God has this idea of trust in him, it is not a one -off experience, it will look different from person to person, and it will look different from season to season in your life." [00:16:05] (29 seconds)
"And the journey has shown us different ways to trust God in different moments and in different seasons. And today, I've said all of this to you because I want you to understand how God is asking me and my family to trust him in ways that he has not trusted him before. Twenty -three years ago, 2002 to be exact, January, I was working as a market research analyst at a bank." [00:17:24] (28 seconds)
"I mean, don't hear this wrong, church, but to come and work at a church where you don't get any of that. Okay? That was tough. And there were some really hard moments in that journey. And here I stand before you now, 23 years later, almost to the month even, and God is asking me to trust him in such a way that he is calling me." [00:18:24] (22 seconds)
"But God is calling me and my family to trust him by stepping out. Thank you. of vocational ministry and returning back to the secular workforce. And so for those of you who are connecting the dots, what that means for me today is that I am announcing my resignation as one of the leading pastors here at Five Rivers Church. And I need you all to understand that God has been working on me for a long, long time." [00:18:57] (34 seconds)
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