Calvary Church
Calvary Church | Mosaic: The Enduring Faith
Pastor Tim Bowman January 10th, 2021 Main Idea: In this teaching we’ll learn how to have enduring faith. Homework Assignment: What usually happens to your faith when facing good times? How about difficult times?
Locations & Times
Calvary Church
4700 53rd St, Moline, IL 61265, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Circumstantial faith says, “I believe in God based on my ability to see God in my circumstances.”
Times are pleasing (job is steady, friends, health, kids behaving) = God is good…all the time…
Times are bad (laid off, lack of funds, spouse leaves, health is poor) = God is uncaring…if He even exists at all!
Circumstantial Faith is Incredibly Fragile. Why?
a) Life is inconsistent and things don’t always turn out like we want. Unexpected things happen.
b) We’re not good at interpreting events. Something we think is the end of the world one day might end up being the best thing that’s ever happened to us the next day.
c) Our timeframe isn’t long enough. We pray about something on Monday and if God hasn’t answered it by Tuesday we’re like, “Where are You, God?”
a) Life is inconsistent and things don’t always turn out like we want. Unexpected things happen.
b) We’re not good at interpreting events. Something we think is the end of the world one day might end up being the best thing that’s ever happened to us the next day.
c) Our timeframe isn’t long enough. We pray about something on Monday and if God hasn’t answered it by Tuesday we’re like, “Where are You, God?”
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were going all out for God and this was causing them to be attacked with lots of persecution and adversity.
Hebrews is a letter written to encourage them, saying: No matter how bad your situation is, PERSEVERE! Don’t abandon your faith based on your circumstances!
The writer of Hebrews presents us with the opposite of circumstantial faith which is ENDURING faith that looks at Jesus alone.
Two Keys to an Enduring Faith
1. Fix Your Focus on the Son (vs1-4)
1. Fix Your Focus on the Son (vs1-4)
Our attitude should NOT be, “How many sins can I avoid?” but rather, “How many weights can I lay aside so I can run as fast as possible toward Jesus?”
We may be carrying something that’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not God’s best.
Two Keys to an Enduring Faith
2. Appreciate Discipline from the Father (vs 5-13)
2. Appreciate Discipline from the Father (vs 5-13)
God’s discipline is proof He has NOT given up on us!
While God may let others alone in their sins, He’ll always correct sin in His own children.
Father God is not negligent or absent. He’s promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He’s never late. He never breaks his commitments.
God is the perfect father and there’s no other. We can trust Him NO matter what we’ve gone through in this life.
The question for today is simple: does your faith change – does your view of God change – based on your circumstances?
TALK ABOUT IT
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever wondered if God knew what was going on in your life at certain times? What was your answer then and now?
2. Would you say that circumstantial faith is fragile? If so, how?
3. Why is persevering faith so important to a child of God?
Next Step:
What would you say is something that you need to do to see your faith increase?
1. Have you ever wondered if God knew what was going on in your life at certain times? What was your answer then and now?
2. Would you say that circumstantial faith is fragile? If so, how?
3. Why is persevering faith so important to a child of God?
Next Step:
What would you say is something that you need to do to see your faith increase?