Sunday, September 15, 2024
In case you missed it… September 15, 2024
Do you truly live as God’s Ambassador? That’s the idea that we covered in worship this week. As part of this exploration, we looked at the profound connection between faith and works, emphasizing that true faith naturally leads to actions that reflect God’s character and kingdom. The concept of “works” encompasses the importance of community involvement and of Bible study, and encourages everyone to participate in Wednesday night sessions and Sunday classes. We also highlighted the upcoming Madison cleanup day as an opportunity to serve and build relationships within our community. Are you helping with that important community work?
A main focus was on the symbiotic relationship between faith and works, as illustrated in James 2. We examined how faith without deeds is dead, using examples like Abraham and Rahab to show that genuine faith compels us to act in ways that align with God’s will. Specifically, Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac and Rahab’s assistance to the spies were acts of faith that demonstrated their trust in God.
We also touched on the dangers of making evangelism itself an idol, stressing that our primary focus should be on Jesus and living out our faith authentically. This means our actions should naturally flow from our faith, and not be driven by a desire for personal recognition or validation. Further, we must be cautious not to judge others based on the works we think they should be doing, but rather encourage each other to follow the Spirit’s leading in their lives to the utmost of our ability.
Further, we discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us to perform good works, emphasizing that the Spirit’s presence in our lives can move us to actions that we wouldn’t undertake on our own. This divine guidance helps us to live out our faith in practical, impactful ways. We just have to be open to letting the Spirit work within us.
In closing, we reflected on the importance of combining faith and works to truly live as God’s ambassadors. We were reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and this love should be the driving force behind our faith and actions.
Key Takeaways
1. Faith and Works are Inseparable: Genuine faith naturally leads to actions that reflect God’s character and kingdom. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab’s assistance to the spies are prime examples of how faith compels us to act in alignment with God’s will. Faith without deeds is dead, and deeds without faith are meaningless. [38:26]
2. Avoid Making Evangelism an Idol: While sharing the good news is crucial, it should not itself become an idol. Our primary focus should be on Jesus and living out our faith authentically. Our actions should flow naturally from our faith, not be driven by a desire for recognition or validation. [35:45]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides us to perform good works, moving us to actions that we wouldn’t conciously undertake on our own. This divine guidance helps us to live out our faith in practical, impactful ways. Believing in the Spirit’s power is essential for a vibrant faith that leads to meaningful works. [52:44]
4. Judging Others’ Works: We must be cautious not to judge others based on the works we believe that they should be doing. Each person’s faith journey is unique, and the Spirit leads us all in different ways. Encouraging each other to follow the Spirit’s leading is more important than imposing our expectations on others. [41:37]
5. Living as God’s Ambassadors: Combining faith and works is essential to truly live as God’s ambassadors. Our actions should demonstrate the love of God through Christ Jesus. Nothing can separate us from this love, and it should be the driving force behind our faith and actions, calling people to the love of Jesus. [01:03:57]
Enjoy the live stream from this past Sunday here: