Acts of Faith Part 1

Message Review

Main points and scriptures from this week's message.

• Big things happen when we Act in Faith

Our tendency is to only make decisions that are comfortable with and do what we feel is rational. But God has called us to Acts of Faith.

2 Kings 3:15-20 (NKJV)

Background: There were three Kings that were attempting to defeat a common enemy, but due to them underestimating their enemy they did not bring enough water. Out of desperation they called for the prophet Elisha, and this was his and God's response to their situation:

"But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, "Thus says the Lord, 'Make this valley full of ditches.' For thus says that Lord: 'You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.' And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones." Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.

So the instructions that God gave them were to dig some ditches. However, we know that God could have filled the land with water without them. He could have spoke ditches into existence or just filled the valley with water without the ditches. But God wanted them to be part of the process and to ACT IN FAITH. 

• When we show God our faith, God shows us His faithfulness. 

This is common in scripture. Here are some examples:

• Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, "stretch out your hand."
• Jesus said to a crippled man, "pick up your mat and walk."
• Jesus made mud, put it on a blind man's eyes, and said, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam."

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God...

James 2:17 (ESV)

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

• Maybe you have assumed that God will do what He wants to do, regardless of what you do. 
• Maybe you have assumed that God will do what He wants to do in our church, regardless of our Acts of Faith. 

Our mission as a church is to "Move Life Forward." And everything we do as a church is a form of digging ditches for what we know God wants to do in people's lives. 

Our progress icon represents our mission. In the middle of the icon is a "C". This stands for Christ. He is the center of our church and everything we do is built on Jesus. 

We know that there are many things we can do to move life forward and reach levels of success, but if it is not built on Christ, then eventually it will all fail. 

We believe Christ should be the foundation for all areas of our lives.

1. Relationally
2. Emotionally
3. Physically
4. Spiritually

For us, moving life forward means digging ditches.

Message Discussion Questions

Read the following guidelines before starting your group discussion.

• Answer the question specifically. Avoid tangents and try to stay on target.
• Limit your responses to 1-2 minutes per question.
• Use I, me, or we statements. This is a time for personal reflection, not a time to fix others.
• Each person is free to share without interruptions when sharing within the suggested guidelines. 

The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.

• When you hear "Acts of Faith," what comes to mind?
• Tell about times that you have stepped out and acted in faith.
• What area of your life do you think God is calling you to "dig some ditches"?
• What prevents you from "digging ditches"?
• In terms of growing in your relationships, what does acting in faith look like to you?
• What holds you back from inviting people to church? What motivates you to invite people to church?

Live It Out

Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.

• This week Act in Faith and use a touch card to invite someone to church. Take another step and invite someone from church to your small group.
• Dig a ditch financially by stepping out in faith in your giving, saving, and planning. 
• Get onto a Bible reading plan. You can do so via the YouVersion Bible App. 

Closing Thoughts

• Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
• More resources always available here: Small Group Resources