The Life of Faith

Mike Sullivan

Galatians 4:21-5:10

The same humble faith that is required for justification (or salvation) is required for sanctification (or spiritual growth). While Christians may be tempted to define themselves by their mistakes, clinging to this view of self is not conducive to spiritual maturity and contrary to God's view. Instead, when God looks at a Christian, He sees someone who: 1) has been redeemed and made righteous; 2) has been adopted as His child into His family; and 3) has His life indwelling within through the Holy Spirit. Just as Abraham had a choice between the free woman and the slave woman, Christians have the choice between depending on God's promise and self-effort for spiritual growth.

The Love Equation

Ryan Lowery

Ephesians 3:13-21

Paul stands strong in his faith despite his circumstances. He is imprisoned yet confident that God is powerful and his mission to spread the love of Christ will continue. Paul's focus on eternity and God's promises help him recognize his circumstances are temporary. This challenges us on how we tend to deal with our difficult circumstances. Often we seek sympathy or try to disconnect from our problems rather than focusing on eternity and God's strength.

Profiles in Grace (Part 1)

Jim Leffel

Luke 7:1-50

In three events Jesus reveals his identity and mission as the Messiah. He displays his authority in three areas: 1) his authority to heal when he revives a centurion's slave who is near death; 2) his authority over death by bringing widow's dead son back to life; and 3) his authority to forgive when a sinful woman anoints his feet with oil. These miracles serve as a prelude to Christ's ultimate rule and illustrate the compassionate heart of God.

The Antediluvian Heroes of Faith

Conrad Hilario

Genesis 6:5-6

The author of Hebrews presents three heroes of faith from the time before the Flood: Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Each of these three men demonstrated Biblical faith through their actions - Abel, through his sacrifice offered to God; Enoch, by walking with God for his whole life; and Noah by building an ark to save his family from the flood. It is clear through these historical accounts of Old Testament figures that God accepts only our faith for salvation and that trusting in God's promises is a sign of Biblical faith.

Living Faith From Ancient Lives

Dennis McCallum

Genesis 6:11-14

Chapter 11 began by describing what faith is: confidence in what is yet to come. Now the author dives into examples of men and women of the Old Testament who acted in obedience in this type of faith. He begins his list of faithful people with Abel, Enoch and Noah. All of them obeyed God in faith even though they did not have any firm assurance and proof of what God asked of them. In the end, their faithful obedience was rewarded with righteousness and a relationship with God.

What is Faith?

Conrad Hilario

2 Corinthians 4:18

The world presents faith as a form of wishful thinking based on emotions and human will. The biblical perspective on faith, however, is that it is an active choice to trust God based in facts and evidence. Science does not contradict biblical faith but instead affirms the creation account in Hebrews 11:3 and the need for a worldview that answers the bigger questions of life. Anyone can exercise biblical faith by starting a relationship with God or humbling themselves to trust in His plan.

What is Faith?

Scott Risley

Hebrews 11:1-6

We have two versions of reality in front of us: 1) what we feel is true and 2) what God says is true. Biblical faith is the rational confidence based on evidence, that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Because God gives us evidence of His existence, we can be assured of His presence, and therefore, exercise faith in the claims of the Bible. When we grow in faith, we also grow in our relationship with God. Includes video clips from "The Secret" and on the cosmological argument from William Lane Craig's website.\r\n

What Is Faith?

Dennis McCallum

John 20:27-29

Chapter 11 begins by describing faith as having confidence in what is yet to come. The Bible's definition of faith differs from today's culture, where faith is more like a feeling or wishful thinking. The passage continues to describe what believers have faith in, one of those being how God created the world by his command. The Biblical perspective of the universe's origin is then contrasted to modern beliefs of the world's starting point. Lastly, we look at why God has faith in a high priority and that faith is the only requirement needed to connect and start a relationship with God.

Two Indicatives and Five Imperatives

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 10:19-31

After thoroughly explaining how the cross was more than sufficient, the author now moves on in his argument to results of the cross. These results benefit humanity immensely. People can now: 1) come to God in prayer with confidence, 2) have assurance of the future, 3) think of others before themselves, 4) fellowship with one another, and 5) give and receive encouragement. At the end of chapter 10, the author of Hebrews makes claims that at first glance seem contradictory to his previous arguments regarding grace. The end of the teaching addresses this problem passage.