Lesson 4:  The Christian and Faith

 

 

1.  Into Your History

 

Suggested Ice Breakers: 

    • Describe a time when your faith felt like a leap?
    • Describe a time when your faith was severely tested?
    • Describe a time when you would not have made it without faith?

 

2.  Into the Bible

  1. Discussion:  What are some misconceptions of faith?

 

 - Here are some prominent misconceptions.

 

v     Faith is a leap in the dark –

 

“Faith is belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge of things without parallel.”

 - Ambrose Bierce’s

 

“Faith is believing what you know isn’t true.”

                         - One child’s definition

 

v     Faith is a force –

 

“Faith is a power force.  It is a tangible force.  It is a conductive force”

            - Kenneth Copeland

 

v     Faith is just believing (mental assent).

 

“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19).

 

  1. Discussion:  What is the Biblical definition of faith?:

 

    1. What is Biblical “Faith” in General:

      a.       Faith is an agreement with, reliance upon, and confidence in certain knowledge revealed by God about himself and the world. (Hebrews 11:1, 6).

      b.      Faith is an activity, not merely a belief (James 2:14-17).

      c.       Suggested Acronym:  F.A.I.T.H

 

 

F          –         Forfeiting

A         –          All

I           –          Independence

T          –          To

H         -           Him

 

d.      Faith Illustrated (Hebrews 11:7?) 

e.       Discussion:  How does Noah illustrate this definition of faith (Hebrews 11:7)?

 

    1. Given our definition of faith, what does it mean to have faith in Jesus?

 

“Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel” (John 1:12; Isa. 26:3,4; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16).

 

                        - Westminster Confession

 

  1. What is the origin of our faith in Jesus?

 

Faith in Jesus is not merely an exercise of the mind or will, but it is something that is given by God out of sheer grace (Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:29, 2:13; Acts 16:14)

 

3.   Into Our Lives

 

What should we be doing with our faith?

 

a.       Building On (Jude 1:20)

Discussion:  How is faith like a foundation to a building?  How do we build upon it?

 

b.      Acting Out (James 1:22-25)

Discussion:  How might we act out our faith this week?

 

c.       Taking Up (Ephesians 6:16)  

Discussion:  How might we defeat doubt this week by taking up faith?