Big God - Faith Working

Hebrews 11:7, April 28, 2024

May 01, 2024

What’s this?

It’s a section of this Stack that reflects the content of a weekly small group Bible study that I lead. These posts primarily consist of a sermon outline used as notes during the meeting. A longer description can be found on the About page. If you subscribe to this Substack but don’t wish to receive notifications for this section, select Manage Subscription from the upper-right menu and turn the notification off there.

Audience

I prepare and present these outlines for an on-campus small group audience, adding explanations and additional questions during the meeting itself. Members of the group vary in their understanding, but are familiar with the Bible, can find references fairly quickly, and tend to believe what they read there. The beliefs we hold vary individually.

I have no particular expectations with regard to an online audience. Curiosity is enough, and perhaps patience if you understand things differently. The same goes for visitors to the church itself.

Questions and comments are encouraged.

Small Group Setting

Meetings are informal and conversational, although there is structure. We begin by taking time to arrive and connect, open in prayer, and then review a portion the message from the previous Sunday. There isn’t time to go through everything, but we go where we are drawn, following the outline or not.

There is considerably more to each message than what appears in the outline, and I suggest viewing it if you have the time and interest. Sermon videos typically run about 30-35 minutes. Take a few notes. Comment below.

Toward the end of our time we look at the “fill-in” sermon points, published with blanks in the bulletin but presented in full within the message and here. We also may glance at the questions for reflection (also from the bulletin) if there is time, and we close with extended prayer.

Note About This Session

We didn’t actually meet on campus as a small group this week — everybody canceled and my quorum is me and one other — but I prepared the outline anyway, and we will use it here at home tonight. I may combine this material into a future small group meeting.

Note About This Series

This “Big God” sermon series is based on the book Big God — What Happens When We Trust Him, by Britt Merrick.

Pre-Message Anthem

We Believe

Message Video

Optional but recommended.1

Sermon YouTube Livestream Link
Full Service YouTube Livestream Link

Sermon Outline

Scripture Reading
1. Hebrews 11:7 (ESV) - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
2. Genesis 6:5-8 (ESV) - The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
(Weightlifting story -- is this the end of me?)
1. Put faith in the wrong person.
2. Who or what is your faith in? Jesus? Children? Grandchildren? Sports team?
3. Only important thing that truly matters is Jesus.
Series summary up to this point
1. A Big God requires big faith
2. Abraham/worship, Enoch/walking, Noah/working
Looking now at the life of Noah
1. God gave him a warning
2. Noah put the warning into action
3. God considered that faith.
4. This is known as “faith working”.
(Comments about Hebrews chapter 11)
1. Hebrews assumes the reader knows the backstory for each Old Testament (OT) character. Chapter 11 provides a summary of these individuals who lived a life of faith.
2. Hebrews 11:7 (see Scripture Reading text above)
3. Backstory details not explicit in this passage:
  1. Noah building the ark; condemnation to world but righteousness for Noah.
  2. Slide: Gen. 6:5 - The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
  3. How many chapters before this was the creation of the world? Only five; humanity relatively young. Already they are evil in the eyes of God. Every motive, action, thought.
    We are not living in any different days.2
  4. We are likewise similar to people in Noah’s time. Like Noah, we have a call to action.3
  5. Slide: Gen. 6:6-8 - And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
  6. God was grieved to his heart.
  7. At first glance, may look like God made a mistake — “regret”. It is outside of God’s character to make a mistake. This is an expression of “Hebraic grief”, extreme grief.4
  8. But Noah… set apart. “Are you set apart in the wicked culture place?”
4. Miraculous events: 1. Creation of world. 2. Destruction of world, sparing 1 man and his family because he put his faith into action. God warns of flood; Noah builds ark; eight saved.
Followers of Jesus Christ ar commanded to live out their faith. Not recommendation or suggestion. Tragic to come and hear the word of God, then leave doing nothing about it. Jesus says, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).
1. The world outside these walls is engulfed in wickedness. Warning to humanity: people will perish once more, at the end of the age. We have an obligation to live in such a way that people ask the question, “is Jesus really who he says he is?” Are called to live like Noah did, to be set apart amidst a wicked generation. Are we standing apart or joining in?
2. How to live this way? Do we trust Jesus? Seeking out the Father’s will every single day. Rejecting wickedness in our hearts, pursuing righteousness instead? Having hard conversations with people that are not followers, telling them about the gospel? Every ear needs to hear. God wants our attention, allegiance, and affiliation.
3. We don’t feel this way because we feel compelled, but because of God’s great mercy on us. Many can attest to that. Be a disciple, teach others about Jesus. It’s our job, calling, of all the church.
4. How to live out God’s will personally? Believe and trust in Jesus Christ, the most important thing.
Slide: Our faith should lead us to live out God's will. Believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

Noah’s story points to a greater event. Ultimately, the ark is not construction of a boat but in the form of a man who himself is God, Jesus Christ, savior of the world, to a world that will perish.
Although the savior also is the one condemning the world.
1. (Comments about studying book of Revelation with Blake’s high school students)
2. “You may be missing out if you are not reading Revelation.”
3. In Revelation, the character of Jesus is the same but almost seems new. Now he will return as a roaring lion, devouring sin and wickedness once and for all.
4. Coming to judge the world. Believe or not. It’s his book, his character. Should lead us to live out our faith even more, to invite the brokenhearted one in.
5. (Invitation to non-believers.) There is nothing special to do first. Kneel before him and confess that Jesus is king. Receive the free gift of grace.
6. Jesus does not require all that much to receive the gift. After that, for believers, “take your faith to the next level. Go out and make disciples of all nations, with a heart that is broken because you have seen those that are going to perish. Wide is the path that leads to destruction, but narrow is the path that leads to life.”
7. Stop rejecting the grace of Jesus Christ; receive him today. When doing so, we begin making adjustments in our lives. Belong-believe-change behavior. Get rid of the crud in our lives.
8. Slide: Our faith should lead us to live out God's will. Make Adjustments in your life.
  1. (Earlier life example, still living in sin.)
  2. Had no understanding of God’s word, how to live according to it.
  3. Other people placed in Blake’s life to call out his sin, pray for him.
  4. New temptations. Flesh wants what is wicked; spirit wants God, longing for the better, a holy God.
  5. Constantly told to make adjustments.
9. Is God touching your heart to make adjustments in your life? Don’t become complacent with sin. Go to war with it. Watch the Holy Spirit move. Cannot become complacent. Will constantly make adjustments to realign with the Father. Don’t do it alone. We will fail trying to get over sin by ourselves.
10. Sitting down with a close friend, sharing deepest, darkest secrets. Ever done that? (Not actually recommended.) But put faith into action. “Don’t just tell me; show me.”
11. Slide: Our faith should lead us to live out God's will. Put your faith into action.
  1. Big issue in the church. Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works so that no one can boast. Many may have understanding, but not necessarily faith. True faith is a deep trust in someone or something that leads you to action. It is what Jesus wants of you.
  2. (“pew” example. Trust it will hold you up.)
  3. Being a disciple of Jesus means following him, literally. Not just gaining knowledge about God’s word. Living according to how Jesus would live.
  4. What is Noah commended for? His faith. Put into action. Works do not save, but if saved, should naturally flow from you if you are in Christ. If not, big red flag.
Slide: James 2:14-26 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
1. There is a world out there in desperate need of the gospel. Free gift of grace needs to be extended to others. Holding back, not sharing?
2. Remember, the world will perish. Wide is the path that leads to destruction. Think about people you know.Be bold in your faith. Don't wait… Tell about the good news.
3. Forgive your enemies. Don't waste a breath on hate. Enemies that cause you grief, forgive them.
4. A step of faith we can all take: trust in the Lord. Don't get hung up on the next pastor. Don't question God's choice/anointed. Pray for them.
5. Jesus is the leader of this church. Get on board with what he is doing. You’re not alone in that battle.
6. Repent always, forgive quickly, grow in your love for Jesus, help the needy to take the leap of faith.

[Prayer]

Sermon Points

Our faith should lead us to live out God’s will

Believe and trust in Jesus Christ.
Make Adjustments in your life.
Put your faith into action
Questions for Reflection

What does it mean to “live out your faith”?
What does it mean to “put your faith into action”?
How can you “grow in your faith working”

This was our Choir/Bells/Orchestra Sunday where the choir remains on the chancel for the entire service. I was sitting on the top row directly behind Blake, looking like I was preoccupied with something else and not paying attention. In reality, I was taking preliminary notes for this outline, so that it would require less time to complete it. Sitting in that spot is not my idea. It’s how things work when the altos are on the center isle, and that’s where we were.

Viewing collective behavior. Greater numbers of people are not participating in the evil today, but there are vastly more people.

These may seem like extreme statements. I’ve been saying much the same thing for quite some time — in person, not online — and getting eye rolls and looks of disbelief sometimes. I find our situation extreme, not these statements, and I am glad to finally hear one of our pastors say it.

My Wenham WBC Genesis 1-15 commentary affirms this statement about extreme grief, although using different words.

ClearMiddle’s Clarifications

Discussion about this post