Practices #3 - Study
3.1 – Where does faith come from?
3.1 – Where does faith come from?
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
We live by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Romans 14:23 (NIV)
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Faith is hard to define because we live in a culture of feelings.
Some definitions of faith:
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Where does that kind of faith come from?
Romans 10:14-17 (NIV)
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
How do I get the Bible in me?
Read
Listen to the Bible on CD
Surround yourself with Friends that will help
Watch the Bible in DVD’s
Listen to sermons
Listen to the radio
Listen to Christian music
Attend a CARE Group
Attend another type of small group
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
3 Critical Phrases in this verse:
1. “Do your best…”
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men
2. “…a workman who does not need to be ashamed…”
Ezra 9:6
and prayed: “O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.”
Leviticus 26:14-17 (NIV)
But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
3. “…who correctly handles the word of truth.”
John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
What does faith look like?
Psalm 15 (NIV)
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
No comments:
Post a Comment