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
  • Matthew 16:8-12; Hebrews 5:12-14

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)