Stumo Oct 19': Just A Little Faith

I want to ask a question, share a few examples, play a game, sit in a chair, fall on a friend, and then finish by telling you a story… does that sound good? Y’all ready? Let’s go.

QUESTION: How can I believe in God if I can’t see him?

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SHARE A FEW EXAMPLES:

Everyone believes in something they cannot see. Everyone. Don’t believe me… I’ll prove it.

Example: Have you ever talked to someone with stinky breath? You can’t see it, but you know it’s there! It affects you and can even change your life.

Example: Have you ever been locked in the car with a friend that passes gas? You can’t see it, but it can negatively affect your relationships and mental space.

Example: Have you ever used wifi? You can’t see it, but you put your trust in it every day. Some of you way more than others! C’mon, am I speaking to anybody today?

Everyone believes in something they can’t see.

If you’re an atheist, you still trust things you can’t see or prove

If you’re agnostic, you’re saying you can’t see enough to know either way

If you’re a Christian, then your belief is in a God that you cannot see.

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Let’s Play A Game:

What’s the opposite of good? Bad.

What’s the opposite of light? Dark.

What’s the opposite of faith? Doubt? Fear? No, it’s sight.

Passage: Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

It’s not faith if you can see it

It’s not faith if it was not once a hope

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SIT IN A CHAIR:

Definition of Faith: Trusting in something that you cannot explicitly prove.

Belief (intellectual agreement) + Trust (full dependence) = Faith

FALL ON A FRIEND:

Where are you on the faith journey?

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Story: Faith for the future

High school (worship & preaching) - college (rock climbing) - starting a business (entrepreneurship) - foster care (suffering) - missions (discipleship & outreach) - church planting

Let’s talk about trust…

Trust is at the center of relationship. You cannot have a relationship without trust. Am I right? Nobody ever says “I don’t trust him, but I love him, so it’s all good.”

Trust can be both a decision and a process.

Trust is going all in. Trust is taking what was once a belief and setting it in motion with all of your heart, soul, and mind.

Let me help somebody right now and tell you that God is trustworthy. He never leaves you, never fails you, never gives bad gifts. God is a good Father. He is there in the good times and the bad.

Closing:

Faith is trust in God and confidence that He will fulfill His promises.

It is by faith you can do the impossible

“if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. - Matthew 17:20

And it is by faith the impossible is done in you

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith comes from hearing

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” - Romans 10:17