Faith is believing that God is who He says He is, will do what He says He will do, and living your life accordingly. That means despite what many of us were told, faith just isn't about the life to come. It is about the life that now is. According to the New Testament, faith is the starting point of both eternal life and a better life. This better life is experienced as our faith grows, as we manage the balance between what we believe and how we behave.
1. Was faith ever presented to you as the finishing line rather than the starting point? Were you taught that faith was something that you either had or didn't have, or that faith was something that could always be growing and increasing?
2. Growing our faith is found in balancing right beliefs and right behaviors. Which was presented to you as more important earlier in life? Which is hardest for you?
3. Four categories of faith were discussed this morning: counterfeit faith, no faith, little faith, and big faith. Which feels more in line with where you currently are? Explain why.
4. Following Jesus often means taking a single step that may not seem very significant at the time but made a difference in the end. For example, Peter went with Andrew to meet Jesus, then followed Him that day on the beach. Can you think of a time when you took a small and seemingly insignificant step that later proved to be instrumental in growing your faith? Share.
5. If faith is the means to please God, faith changes outcomes, and faith makes the impossible possible, why do you think many still don't spend much time working on their faith?
6. Much of Peter's life was ups and downs. Do you think our expectation about faith are in line with what we read in New Testament? Do we expect an easy path forward? How do the ups and downs actually help to grow our faith?
7. Jesus told his disciples that following him meant they would have to deny themselves. Have you ever considered that your greatest enemy might be yourself? In what ways have you ever had to say no to yourself in order to say yes to God?
8. Falling down and getting back up is a part of growing faith. Why do you think falling down seems so final in some people's minds that they stay down and no longer grow ?
Ask God to show you your best next step and take it, no matter how small it seems.
Matthew 16:24 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
