Wyndham Hobsons Bay Lutheran Church Service 05/10/2025 - 17th Sunday After Pentecost

Today, we gathered to reflect on the nature and power of faith, drawing from Jesus’ words in Luke 17 and the wisdom of Psalm 37. Faith is not a mystical force or a measure of our own spiritual strength, but rather a deep trust in God’s character and promises. Even faith as small as a mustard seed, Jesus says, can accomplish the impossible—not because of the size of our faith, but because of the greatness of the God in whom we trust. Faith is the key that unlocks God’s presence and power in our lives, enabling us to receive forgiveness, resist sin, love our neighbors, and serve the world as Christ’s hands and feet.

We explored how faith is exercised and strengthened, much like a muscle, through practices such as reading Scripture, prayer, serving others, and participating in the life of the church. These are not mere religious duties, but means by which the Holy Spirit grows our trust and shapes us into Christ’s likeness. The true miracle of faith is not in dramatic displays, but in the quiet, daily acts of sacrificial love and service that reflect Jesus’ own humility.

We also considered the challenge of waiting on God, especially when life is difficult or when evil seems to prosper. Like the prophet Habakkuk, we are called to trust that God’s story is still unfolding, even when we cannot see the ending. Faith means holding on to God’s promises, persevering in hope, and trusting that, in the end, all will be well.

Finally, we were reminded that our service to God and others is not a way to earn God’s favor or put Him in our debt. All that we have and all that we do is a response to God’s unearned grace. We serve not for gain, but because we have already received everything in Christ. Our calling is to trust, obey, and serve with humility, knowing that our faith—however small—connects us to the limitless love and power of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith is not about its size or strength, but about its object. The power of faith lies not in how much we can muster, but in the God to whom we cling. Even the smallest faith, when placed in Christ, is enough to move mountains because it is God who acts, not us. [25:14]
• 2. The daily exercise of faith—through prayer, Scripture, service, and worship—strengthens our trust in God. These practices are not just spiritual disciplines, but lifelines that connect us to the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts, growing us in love and resilience. [18:16]
• 3. True greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in spectacular miracles, but in humble, sacrificial service. The most powerful acts of faith are often unseen: forgiving others, loving our neighbors, and serving without seeking recognition, just as Christ served us. [27:32]
• 4. Faith is often tested in seasons of waiting and suffering. Like Habakkuk, we may not understand why God allows hardship, but faith calls us to trust that God’s story is still being written and that His promises will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. [31:27]
• 5. Our service to God does not earn us favor or reward; it is a grateful response to grace already given. We are called to serve with humility, recognizing that all we have and all we do is by God’s Spirit, and that our worth is found in Christ alone, not in our achievements. [35:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:48] - Opening Liturgy and Confession
• [05:09] - Confession of Sins and Absolution
• [06:11] - Psalm 37: Trust and Patience
• [08:09] - Prayer for Faithfulness
• [12:33] - Gospel Acclamation and Reading (Luke 17)
• [14:22] - Children’s Message: The Key of Faith
• [18:04] - Exercising Faith: Prayer, Scripture, Service
• [23:18] - Reflections on Faith and Trust
• [25:14] - The Object of Faith: Christ
• [27:32] - Humble Service in God’s Kingdom
• [31:27] - Waiting on God in Suffering
• [34:28] - Humility in Service and Grace
• [37:16] - Confession of Faith: Apostles’ Creed
• [41:04] - Prayers for the Church and World
• [47:30] - Holy Communion and Thanksgiving
• [59:43] - Song: Give Us Hearts to Bless You
• [61:29] - Farewell and Blessing for Departing Members
• [63:46] - Final Blessing and Sending
• [68:34] - Announcements and New Service Launch

Bible Reading

Luke 17:5-10 (ESV) — > 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Psalm 37:3-7 (ESV) — > 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Habakkuk 2:2-4 (ESV) — > 2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 17, what do the apostles ask Jesus for, and how does he respond to their request?
2. According to Psalm 37, what are we told to do while we wait for God to act?
3. In the parable Jesus tells in Luke 17, what attitude does he say servants should have after doing their duty?
4. What does God promise in Habakkuk 2 about waiting for his vision to be fulfilled?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the image of a mustard seed to describe faith? What does this say about the nature of faith and its effectiveness? [25:14]
2. The sermon said, “Faith is the glue that sticks our hearts to God.” How does this image help us understand what faith really is? [24:32]
3. The message pointed out that true greatness in God’s kingdom is found in humble, sacrificial service, not in dramatic miracles. Why do you think God values these “quiet, daily acts” so highly? [27:32]
4. When life is hard or evil seems to win, what does it look like to “wait patiently for the Lord” as Psalm 37 and Habakkuk encourage? [31:27]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that faith is not about how strong we feel, but about the God we trust. When have you felt like your faith was “small”? How did God show himself strong in that time? [25:14]
2. The pastor compared faith to a muscle that grows through exercise—like reading Scripture, praying, serving, and worshipping. Which of these “exercises” comes most naturally to you? Which one is hardest, and why? [18:16]
3. Think about a time when you had to wait for God to answer a prayer or fix a situation. How did you handle the waiting? What helped you keep trusting God? [31:27]
4. The sermon said our service to God doesn’t earn us anything, but is a response to grace. Are there times when you’ve served God or others hoping for recognition or reward? How can you shift your mindset to serve out of gratitude instead? [35:12]
5. Jesus says we are “unworthy servants” who have only done our duty. How does this challenge the way you think about your good deeds or your role in the church? [35:12]
6. The message highlighted that the most powerful acts of faith are often unseen—like forgiving, loving, and serving without recognition. Is there someone you need to forgive or serve quietly this week? What would that look like? [27:32]
7. The sermon encouraged us to “hold on to God’s promises, persevering in hope.” Is there a specific promise of God you need to cling to right now? How can the group support you in this? [31:27]