The Journey of Faith // September 24, 2023

Bible Passage: Gen 12:4-13:4

Even though Abraham lived thousands of years before Jesus Christ, the New Testament presents his story like a map for Christians to use to follow in his footsteps as our father in the faith (Rom 4:12). Without a good map (or any map), we might find ourselves disoriented, confused, or lost along the way. This passage doesn’t give us the whole map, but it does give us three things we must know about living by faith.

Expect a Journey

What did it look like for Abram after he heard the call of God, took a radical step of faith to obey, and left everything behind? These verses tell us what it looked like – “he set out” (v. 5), “he passed through the land” (v. 6), he “moved on” (v. 8), and “journeyed by stages to the Negev” (v. 9). The passage reveals something we should expect: a “journeying-by-stages faith”. Faith is not just for the beginning of the Christian life; it’s for the whole journey. The faith that begins the journey grows, matures, and deepens as we journey through stages.

So much spiritual discouragement and disappointment comes from losing sight of the journey for the enticing idea of arrival. When Abram obeyed in faith, he did not immediately arrive in the Promised Land as if his faith was accomplished. We will see that his journey is anything but straightforward – he sinned, doubted, failed, feared, and even questioned God. For Abram, the journey of faith was a learning to trust God that lasted his whole life. The same is true for us.

Expect Trials on the Journey

What happens after Abram responds to the call of God with a radical step of faith? In our passage, we read that “there was a famine in the land” (v. 10). So Abram stays and faces it head-on with the power of faith, right? Not even close. He went to Egypt, which is never a positive step in the Bible. He also lied about his wife, Sarai, to protect himself and jeopardized her and his offspring by letting her be kidnapped. As a whole, this short passage paints a picture of a lack of faith in an unexpected trial. Instead of being a blessing to the nations, he brought further affliction to them (v. 17-20).

We might not rejoice when faced with trial, but we can certainly be encouraged by the Bible’s honesty. One of the greatest acts of faith by the “father of faith” was followed by an immediate lack of faith and failure. Like Abraham, we can expect trials and even failure, but this is never a disqualification. We are told that he resumed his journey by returning to where he started (13:1-3). On a map, we would call this a U-turn or repentance. As Christians today, we must not forget that our map does not teach that we will avoid trials but will go through them for the refining of our faith.

Expect God’s Faithfulness Throughout the Journey

This is a story of Abram and his journey, but more importantly, it’s a story about God and his faithfulness. God wasn’t going to allow Abram’s failure to thwart his covenant promise. He used Pharoah and Abram’s fearful disobedience to accomplish his purpose and advance His promise. He rescued Sarai, gave Abram more resources to get him back on track, and, more importantly, back to Him. Our God can use our lack of faith, fear, and sin to teach us, deepen our faith, and show us his grace. We see a transformation in Abram, who not only came back but “there he called upon the name of the Lord” (13:4). The Lord heard and received him back.

Expect God’s faithfulness throughout the journey. When all you can see is famine - bank on it. When you drift into a whole new territory - count on it. Even when you cave into deceit, lying, and selfishness - receive it. When we enter into a relationship with God by faith in his promise, our lives are joined to Him forever. No matter what happens, it’s never just about us but about His faithfulness.

When Paul faced his final trial, he told Timothy, "Remember Jesus Christ… This is my gospel… if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Tim 2:8, 13). For Jesus not to be faithful to his promise would be for Jesus to disown himself, which is impossible! To be united to Jesus by faith in the gospel is to have the greatest guarantee of God's faithfulness we could ever imagine. Our lives become a demonstration of his faithfulness. We are inseparably joined to Jesus. No matter what happens on the journey, we can always expect God’s faithfulness in his promise to us, through Christ, will bring us to the end.

QUESTIONS

1. What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2. Try to examine your own faith as a “journeying-by-stages.” What stages can you identify that (a) took you off course? (b) changed your outlook? (c) strengthened your faith? How would you describe the stage you are in now?

3. How do you feel the pressure to “arrive” spiritually? How can this mindset be damaging to our faith? How can expecting a journey help?

4. How does expecting trials in your faith help you prepare for trials in your faith?

5. It was said in the sermon that God allows trials (or tests) of faith in order to 1) show us what our faith/trust is really in and 2) to prove his faithfulness to us. Have you found this true in your journey? How so?

6. When we experience failure, why do we tend to focus on our own faithlessness instead of God’s faithfulness? How does it change things to read this story as a story of God’s faithfulness to Abram and his promise?

7. When our lives are united to Jesus by faith in the gospel, we have an astounding promise - Jesus is faithful to us even when we are faithless (lacking trust in him). To not be faithful to us would be for Jesus to disown himself.

8. What would it look like for you to believe this for the trial you are in now? for the whole (unknown) journey ahead of you? What difference would it make?

Listen to the sermon on SoundCloud here.

What Faith Is // September 17, 2023

Bible Passage: Gen 12:1-9

For most people, faith is just a common word used in a positive spiritual context. Perhaps someone has told you to have “more faith” in a situation as if it were akin to magical power. Even for Christians who claim to be saved by faith, justified by faith, and called to walk by faith, can we even describe it clearly? A great definition would help, but nothing beats a living, breathing example of faith in action. That’s where Abraham comes in. In this text, we will explore what faith is and how Abraham’s example directs us not inward but outward to the powerful promise of God’s Word. 

1. Where Does It Come From?

Last week, we learned about Abraham’s background. His family worshipped the moon god, and there were no apparent signs of faith in the one true God. Where did his faith come from suddenly at this turning point in Genesis? In 12:1, we see that it came from the call of God, who commanded him to “go.” Heb 11:8 clarifies, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed…” Abraham’s faith wasn’t the result of an inward search. In the same way, we don’t work it up or generate it. The source of genuine faith is the powerful, personal call of God in His Word. 

Don’t think to yourself, “Well, if God spoke to me as he did to Abraham…” The apostle Paul reminds us that we are in a better place now! “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The Bible tells us not to expect faith or find it magically within if there is no hearing or listening to the Word- the message of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. By His word, God calls us and calls forth faith in Him.

2. What Are Its Qualities?

How do we know if faith is genuine? We must test its qualities or what makes it up, like trying to determine if something colored gold is real gold. Two essential qualities in Abraham’s initial act of faith are the same for us:

Go From - Our modern context might prevent us from seeing that Abraham’s choice to obey cost him everything - his land, his relatives, and his father’s house. Faith in God would mean faith in Him alone. Lest we think this is only the case for poor Abraham, consider Prov 3:5, “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Or look to Jesus, who called his disciples to follow him and lose their livelihoods and lives for his mission. Faith always has a going from, and this turning of trust we call repentance - turning our faith from anything that is not God to God alone.

Go To - Where are we going, Lord? “To the land I will show you” (12:1). Heb 11:8 tells us Abraham “went out, even though he did not know where he was going.” Can’t we have a picture, a timeline, or maybe a well-delivered PowerPoint presentation? No. The only faith worth having is one whose quality has been tested. If God had shown Abraham everything he would have gone through, there is a good chance you would not be reading this today. Only in the “go to” and the “go through” do we learn to trust in God alone. 

3. How Do I Get It (And Grow It)? 

Biblical faith is not a floating spiritual force we tap into to increase obedience, force success, or generate a positive attitude. Nor is it a blind leap devoid of a reasonable nature. By definition, every instance of faith requires an object, and the strength or depth of faith depends upon that object. That object makes a promise or covenant with us, leading to a promised future. So how did Abraham have faith to “go from” and “go to?” By sheer grace, God gave Abraham the strongest possible object for his faith: a perfect promise (12:2-3) given by a perfect Promiser. 

All Abraham had to do was receive what was promised. Today, we have even more reasons to trust the Promiser and receive the promise. Gal 3:8-9 reminds us that our gracious God “proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham” so that “those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.” The perfect promise is yours by faith in Christ, for “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29). You don’t need to “get faith” because you already have faith in something. The question is what is the object of your faith? What promises are you trusted will deliver you the future you want? The gospel offers us an unparalleled promise guaranteed by a Promiser who came to fulfill and guarantee it’s completion. 

QUESTIONS

1. What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2. The way we often talk about faith, it seems many believe the source of our faith is within us. How does Abram’s story point us to a different source? How does this speak to us when we feel we can’t “garner up” the faith we want?  

3. If the source of faith is the powerful and personal call of God’s Word, then how could you be more receptive to hearing God’s Word in your life? 

4. John Newton describes faith as “a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own.” What are some ways God is calling you to “go from” in your faith? What’s holding you back? 

5. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Is this encouraging blind faith? Why or why not? Where is God calling you to go to something unknown in faith? 

6. The power of sin often draws us into false promises that can only be countered by a greater promise. What is a false promise or a faulty object of faith you have given into before? How is the Gospel of Jesus a far better promise? What reasons do we have to trust the promise of the gospel?

Where Faith Begins (and Revives) // September 10, 2023

What is it about Abraham and his story that speaks to so many people throughout human history? The apostle Paul tells us clearly that it is his faith (Rom 4:11-12). Perhaps more than any other place in the Bible, Abraham shows us what it looks like to live by faith in real, everyday life. This Fall, we look to the story of Abraham to bring us into a season of new and renewed faith. We begin by looking at where such a model and example of faith came from. By looking at Abraham’s “origin story”, we can learn some surprising lessons on where God brings about and renews our faith when we ask: Where (ie in what kind of place, in what kind of people, through what kind of plans) does faith begin, get strengthened, go deeper, and revive?

1. In Places of No (or Little) Faith

The story of Abram (later renamed Abraham) begins at a turning point in the book of Genesis. After the Fall into sin, the Flood, and the scattering after the Tower of Babel, it is no surprise to find humanity is in a very depressing place. But our God loves to work in such places. David Clines reminds us that “no matter how drastic man’s sin [or situation] becomes, destroying what God has made good and bringing the world to the brink of uncreation, God’s grace never fails to deliver man from the consequences of his sin… God’s commitment to his world stands firm.” God called Abram and his family out of a place of no (or little) faith, right where most of us would not expect. God can bring about faith in places where we see none. 

2. In People without Resources

If God were to pick any couple to begin a great nation of people, it certainly doesn’t seem Abram and Sarai (later renamed Sarah) fit the description. Something painfully emphasized in v. 30 is Sarai’s barrenness. Anytime the Bible mentions barrenness, it points to something very personal and painful but also to something very central about how faith works. As George Mueller once proclaimed, “Faith begins where our power ends.” Abram and Sarai could not look to their own situation, power, or resources for help. God blessed them with His resources. We might be prone to forget this today, especially for people who have a lot of resources. We must become “barren” (poor in spirit) for our faith to turn away from self to God.

3. In Plans that Didn’t Work Out

We must never forget that this is a family story, albeit a troubled one. Their origin story could be called a  “dark introduction.” We see a family of confused religious convictions, a father who failed to take them where he intended, a marriage without the promise of children, and even death among family members. However, what seemed to Abram like a failed plan for a troubled family was an essential part of God’s plan for a bright future. As we have seen elsewhere in the Bible, God loves to act where human plans have failed. God can work in plans that look like failures to us to bring about renewed faith and preparation for His plans.

4. Through Someone Willing to Pioneer

It wouldn’t be a turning point without Abram’s response to a hopeless situation. The Lord told Abram to “go,” and we read the action that changed human history forever: “So Abram went” (Gen 12:1, 4). All it takes is one willing to pioneer, to blaze a trail of faith when everything seems wrong. Abram did this not by looking inside himself but outside to God. The first lesson of faith is that it begins or revives by looking beyond ourselves. 

Hebrews reminds us that Abraham was the pioneer of faith and that he points us to a greater pioneer, Jesus Christ. God the Father commanded Jesus the Son to “go” to a place of no faith, letting go of all his resources in order to carry out a plan that would appear to be an utter failure. So Jesus went. Should we find ourselves discouraged, we need not look to our place, resources, or plans. We look to Jesus, whose joy in enduring the cross was to pioneer for us a faith that will endure forever.

QUESTIONS

1. What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?

2. How would you describe the place you are right now in your faith? struggling faith? strong faith? doubting faith? no faith? How does it encourage you to know Abram’s “backstory” that he came from a place of no (or very little) faith in God? 

3. How would you describe the place our culture is at when it comes to the Christian faith? How can Abram’s story give us hope when living in a place that is hostile or indifferent to faith in Christ? 

4. Why does the text emphasize the barrenness of Sarai? Why does God choose a couple that can’t have children to be ones he will through whom he will build a great nation? What does this teach us about the nature of faith?

5. Do you have an example of a “Plan A” of yours that isn’t working out now or didn’t work out (in the past)? How does Abram and Sarai’s story help us gain perspective on what God might be doing? 

6. Out of such a bleak situation, Abram became a pioneer. How did he go in faith despite it all? He looked outside of himself. How is Jesus the greater Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)? What difference does it make when our faith is weak and struggling to know he’s gone before us and blazed a trail? What might this look like to do this for you now?

The Benediction (February 27th, 2022)

This is the eighth sermon in the ‘Liturgy for Life’ series.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Introduction: When we gather together, there comes a point that someone must end the gathering. Sometimes we say a prayer, give a final word, shake hands, etc. The way we part with each other ends our gathering and sends us to our next experience.

There is something the Bible gives us– a practice and a liturgy for ending our worship gatherings that goes back at least 5000 years. We call it a benediction.

Read through Numbers 6:22-27. In this passage, God tells Moses to tell Aaron – the high priest who is also the worship leader – that this is what he should say to the people of Israel to end their gatherings and to send them out. The book of Numbers is about Israel’s journey in the wilderness, but before Israel is sent out into the wilderness, God gives them these words of blessing to give them boldness, endurance, and hope.

We desire something like this– something that enables us to go out into the world and face anything. This is why the benediction is a part of our Sunday liturgy.

1. Our Search For It

We need to realize that a benediction is something that every single human being is in search of. We long for more than a “take care” or “have a good day.” A benediction is unique because when we give it we speak goodness over or into someone. 

Humans being blessed by God began back in the creation story:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. – Genesis 1:27-28

When God blesses Adam and Eve, he does more than just speak good words over them. God also empowers them. To bless is to confer/give the ability to be and do what God has made them to do and be. Blessing is 1) affirmation of good and 2) empowerment to do good.  

Every person needs the affirmation that are loved and that they can do good. People search for this in all sorts of ways but what we’re all ultimately searching for is our Creator to give us this blessing of affirmation. God gives us this in Numbers 6. It is part of our liturgy to affirm believers of God’s favor upon their lives and empower believers to do the good works which God has set before them

2. How We Find It

The story of Jacob in Genesis is the story of someone who desperately sought for a blessing for most of his life. He did not have a blessing from his father, Isaac, but he desired it so much that he cheated his brother Esau out of his blessing and tore their family apart. Jacob did not get the blessing that he needed until he encountered God, wrestled with him, and finally sought a blessing from him as opposed to that of anyone else. 

When God blessed Jacob, he gave him a new identity. He went from being Jacob, a name which implies that he is a trickster, to being Israel which means “he who strives/wrestles with God.” In the same way, the blessing that we need the most is God’s blessing. His blessing gives us the strength to be who he says we are: namely, that we are his children and have his favor. 

The blessing that we most need is one from God, but the reality is that we have not earned a blessing from God. How can God bless someone who has earned the opposite, a curse? The reason God can bless people who have not earned it is revealed in how the benediction is placed at the end of the service. The benediction comes after God tells us that he has redeemed us from our sin. Galatians 3:13-14 tells us that on the cross Jesus received the curse which we deserve and in return gave us the blessing which he deserves. 

God can bless us because Jesus has earned his blessing and has freely given that blessing to us. When our faith is in Christ we can confidently take hold of the blessings of God knowing that what Jesus has given to us is truly ours.

3. When We Have It

There are two things to do when we have taken hold of God’s blessing:

1. Take it with you.

A blessing is received at the end of a gathering or meeting not simply as a pleasant word of goodbye, but as a pronouncement of reality. In the same way that two people are considered married when the priest pronounces them husband and wife, the blessing of the benediction effectively pronounces something true for us. The benediction is like the north star which you can look to for assurance and guidance throughout your daily life. It personally anchors us to God and reminds us that even if we fail and lose our way, the blood of Jesus covers us always and that God is always working to sanctify us and give us peace.

1. Give it to others.

Perhaps one of the most radical teachings of Christianity is that we are taught to bless those who curse us. Not just people who pronounce curses upon us in word, but also deed. We are called to bless those who actively work against us. This is taught multiple times across scripture: Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14, and 1 Peter 3:9, but how can we do this? We are only truly able to bless those who curse us when we have received God’s blessing and his Holy Spirit. When Jesus was cursed by those who crucified him, he did not return their behavior in kind. Instead, he trusted himself to God the Father whose blessing he already had (1 Peter 2:23 & Matthew 3:17). In the same way, we are not only able to endure the curses which people send our way, but we can bless them in return by entrusting ourselves to God’s blessing.

REFLECT OR DISCUSS

1. What did you think of the benediction before this sermon?

2. Do you think that you deserve a curse or a blessing? How can knowing that Jesus offers you his blessing change your life?

3. Is there anything that prevents you from blessing other people whether they curse you or not?

4. In what ways has the benediction been significant for you?

5. Why do you personally need the benediction?

6. In what ways do you search for affirmation or empowerment apart from God?

7. The benediction should give us more confidence, boldness, strength, and endurance in the Lord. Which of these could you use more of in your day-to-day life?

YOUR DAILY LITURGY 

In this series, we will be encouraged to “take ownership” of our daily liturgies (patterns, habits). Saying, “I’m so busy,” “I go with the flow,” or “I just go about my day” are examples of not taking ownership of the shape and structure of our lives. How can the shape and pattern of my daily life be built around the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

1. How can you take the benediction with you throughout the week?

2. How can you use the liturgy of the benediction to bless others?

Click here for the full pdf version.

Click here to watch the sermon on YouTube.

The Lord's Supper (February 20th, 2022)

This is the seventh sermon in the ‘Liturgy for Life’ series.

Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:17-26

In the sacraments, God has given us signs and seals for our spiritual growth and nourishment. Last week we studied baptism, and this week we will study something that we do bi-weekly at Trinity: The Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion.

The Priority of the Lord’s Supper

There are many gray areas in scripture concerning what we do when we gather for worship, but the priority of the Lord’s Supper being a liturgy in the life of the Christian is not one of them. Three of the Gospels record the Lord’s Supper. At this meal, Jesus commands his disciples to eat this meal together again and to do it in remembrance of him as often as they do. The Lord’s Supper is nonnegotiable for the Christian.

In 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, Paul shows how the Lord’s Supper is a counter liturgy to the sinful liturgies which the Corinthians haven’t broken free from– this included suing, irreconcilable conflict, sexual immorality, disorder within the church. Taking the Lord’s Supper habitually can transform all areas of life. 

Eating and Drinking…

… in the biblical context

Eating and drinking in biblical times did not have the same connotation that eating and drinking have in modern, Western society. To eat and drink with someone meant you accepted their friendship and were unified with them. Jewish people of the time would never eat with Gentiles or a fellow Jew that they thought was living an unfaithful or unrighteous life. To eat and drink with them would mean you approved of their life and status before God, and that you shared status.

The act of eating and drinking is everywhere in the Bible. In Isaiah 55 the invitation to come to God is pictured as an invitation to eat and drink with Him. Jesus shocks the Jews when He eats with tax collectors and sinners in Luke 5. When Jesus returns, He plans to have a wedding feast with His bride. The end goal of the Bible is for us to eat and drink with God. This means fellowship and communion as we share in who He is. 

..the Lord’s Supper

At the Lord’s Supper, the Lord is the host and He is the one serving us. This meal is not about what we do to prepare ourselves to take it. It’s not our supper, but His supper– and He is present at His supper. What happens at the Lord’s Supper happens – not because of what’s in our mind, our heart, our actions. Jesus is truly spiritually present at His Supper.

…the Body and the Blood

Recounting the words of Jesus when he establishes this meal, Paul writes: 

“This is my body…this cup is the new covenant in my blood” – 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

We call these the words of institution because these words that Jesus spoke over the bread and wine are what make this meal special and powerful. 

During Jesus’ time, bread and wine represented the two main staples of human sustenance and the two gifts of God to sustain human life. Just as bread and wine are God’s gifts to nourish and strengthen us physically, this meal is God’s gift to nourish and strengthen us spiritually. The Lord’s Supper is how the life and death of Jesus get inside us.

…in Remembrance

The background for the Lord’s Supper is the Jewish Passover feast. At the Passover meal with his disciples before he died, Jesus transformed the most important biblical feast/meal into His supper. At the institution of the Passover, God told the people of Israel:

“This day is to be a memorial (Day of remembrance) for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.”  – Exodus 12:14 

In scripture, remembering is not just mentally recalling facts and information. When we remember the words of God we remember who Jesus is and who we are. We fix our eyes on something true for us. 

…the One Bread

In 1 Corinthians 10:17, Paul encourages the church to share in one bread, yet in chapter 11 Paul writes about wealthier people who were eating and drinking with each other before the poor could arrive. Rather than partaking as a family and as equals, some Christians in Corinth were showing partiality. Paul is clear that those who divide the church are unworthy to come to the Lord’s Supper and are eating and drinking judgment upon themselves. We must partake together and allow the Lord’s Supper to build unity among us as we remember our reconciliation to God and man.

… until He Comes

As we wait for the second coming of Christ and the wedding feast, we remember what Christ has accomplished in the past and what he has given to us in the present to spiritually nourish and strengthen us.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  – 1 Corinthians 11:26

REFLECT OR DISCUSS

1. Did not taking the Lord’s Supper during Covid-19 make a difference in your life? Do you miss the Lord’s Supper when you go for a while without taking it?

2. How does this overview of the Lord’s Supper change your thinking about it? how might it change your experience of it? 

3. How can our need for physical nourishment teach us about our need for the Lord’s Supper?

4. How is the Lord’s Supper a sign and seal? How does this  assure us?

5. Which aspect of the Lord’s Supper – as described above – do you most need at this time in your life your right now? 

YOUR DAILY LITURGY 

In this series, we will be encouraged to “take ownership” of our daily liturgies (patterns, habits). Saying, “I’m so busy,” “I go with the flow,” or “I just go about my day” are examples of not taking ownership of the shape and structure of our lives. How can the shape and pattern of my daily life be built around the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

1. What are some ways you can let the Lord’s Supper nourish you during the service?

2. What is an aspect of your identity that can be strengthened by remembering Christ when you take the Lord’s Supper?

3. Have you ever talked about the importance of the Lord’s Supper with your friends or family? If not, have a conversation about this.

Click here for the full pdf version.

Click here to watch the sermon on YouTube.