We can develop and strengthen our faith
- Luke 17:5 – The apostles said to the Lord, “increase our faith.”
- John 20:24-29 – Thomas believed with evidence. Jesus said those who believed without seeing were blessed.
- Christ expects our faith to grow
Why study faith? Why build our faith?
- Faith is challenging because it is under attack in our age. Some view faith as opposed to fact and reality.
- It is important for new Christians to help them grow.
- It is important to those who grew up in the church. I’ve seen many that take their faith for granted.
Goals for this quarter
- Study examples of faith and make application.
- Use these lessons to strengthen our relationship with God.
- John 3:16; Hebrews 11:6 – Two parts: belief and action
- Hebrews 10:35-39
- Jesus is looking for us to have faith. Will he find it? Luke 18:7-8; 17:11-19
Building our faith requires action
- II Peter 1:5 – This process to build our faith ends in love!
- Faith is active!
- James 2:18-19, 20-24
- Not just an intellectual assent to the promises laid out by God.
- It is an embracing of those promises in their fully glory and detail, and the effect that has on our lives!
- Faith is more than simple belief; it is an active trust in the future God has assured us. Hebrews 10:39
- Faith is active and it should be active in our lives.
Faith establishes trust
- Trust: the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.
- Matthew 6:25-30 (worry)
- Matthew 14:28-31 (doubt)