Showing posts with label Luke 17. Show all posts

Thankfulness in Good and Bad

How do we feel when we have helped people and they don’t bother to show thanks? Have we met people who are thankful under the most difficult circumstances? What’s their secret? Let’s learn the importance of giving thanks in all circumstances. Let’s look at Jeremiah 29:1-7 and Luke 17:11-19.

Jeremiah 29:1-7

Jeremiah 29:11 is not a direct promise to us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s not about changing circumstances, but God’s blessing in bad circumstances.

Jeremiah 29:4-10 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” ... 10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.”

Moderns often doubt biblical history, but archaeology repeatedly proves it. Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem is corroborated in the Babylonian Chronicles. Hundreds of Babylonian cuneiform tablets detail trade, taxes, debits and credits for exiled Jews. Tablets even include details about one exiled Jewish family over four generations, with their Hebrew names.

Jeremiah wrote a letter to Jews who had been deported to Babylon, advising them that their time of captivity will be more than a generation. They must cope, make homes, marry, have children and raise them. They would need to multiply greatly or the Jews could possibly cease to exist.

How do lifers in prison survive? How do the terminally ill live? How do people living in constant disaster, war, poverty, or stateless refugees live without losing hope? Hope for these Jews was found in in the lives of their children and grandchildren, in a future they would never see.

Can we be thankful in difficult circumstances. Even though we may not see God’s hand for many years, we are never alone. God has not abandoned us. Even though terrible things may happen, we can find comfort in knowing we are the beloved children of a God who loves us.

Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-14 11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

Quarantine was not rediscovered until the fourteenth century in Italy. Our word quarantine comes from old Venetian meaning forty days. Leprosy was quarantined in Old Testament law long before that. The quarantine experts were the priests, and they had to examine a person for the disease to be declared healed.

Luke 17:15-16 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Exclusivism was never God’s intent for the Jews. It is a perversion of what God promised through Abraham. God promised that He would bless the whole world through the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 22:18), but over time the Jews saw it as God only blessing them and not others.
We were helping survivors of a local natural disaster. One elderly lady sought out the aid-givers to thank every single person. We worked hard, provided accommodation, gave thousands of dollars in financial aid and most turned their backs on us without a word of thanks. One amazing lady stood out.

Luke 17:17-19 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

In Greek, Jesus said the one leper was saved. Was there something more going on? Is salvation both physical and spiritual, for today and eternity? Can Jesus save us every day from our earthly troubles as well as for eternity? Could it be that salvation includes body, mind and spirit?
Let’s learn to be thankful in all circumstances, in good times and bad. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Luke 17:11-19 in Rhyme

As Jesus entered a small town

Ten lepers just hanging around

Said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

“Go show yourselves to the priests” thus

They were cleansed while they were going

But one returned overflowing

“Praise God!” he shouted to Jesus

And thanked Him for the catharsis

That man was a Samaritan

Christ asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men?”

And then, “Where are the other nine?”

None but a foreigner in line?

And Jesus said, “Stand up and go.”

And He said, “Your faith has saved you.”

Putting Faith to Work

How can anyone have enough faith to follow Jesus all the way? Let’s learn that we already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams. Let’s see what Jesus says in Luke 17:5-10.

Tiny Faith Big Action

Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” 6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

Jesus contrasted a small seed with a large tree. The smallest faith is powerful and can accomplish much. Faith can be used for really big things including living lives of radical self-sacrifice for others. How much bigger is a tree compared to a mustard seed? That’s the power of faith.

Jesus said to talk to the tree and tell it to move. Faith must be put to work because faith without good works is dead (James 2:14-26). Do circumstances keep us from doing good? What circumstances do we need to move out of our way? Faith removes large obstacles.

Faith to Go Beyond

Luke 17:7-10 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Noah spent decades building a large barge. How could an ancient man have known about the optimal shape without an engineering degree? Abraham was 75 years old and moved his entire family to another country. Sarah was way past childbearing age and believed what God had promised and was faithful.

How much faith does it take to obey Jesus? How much faith is needed to go above and beyond? How much faith does it take to build a church that is a bright light and not another museum to past generations? Is it faith the size of a mustard seed?

The disciples were like us. They had a little faith, and just needed to put it to work. The smallest amount of faith, like what we have, can be used by God to accomplish great things. What are we afraid of? Let’s do it.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lamentations 1:1-6

Every community faces times of sorrow. Lamentations was written by a survivor of a crumbled nation, as a book of mourning. Let’s be honest about grief. Weeping is good. What do we mourn in our community? Do we deplore the sin all around us? How can lament in our worship?

Lamentations mourns Jerusalem’s plight. It begins as a funeral song, sung by a city who lost her children and her husband. Jerusalem sinned. The people ask for God’s mercy. The book ends without an answer. By weeping with those who are suffering, perhaps we can come to love them more.

Psalm 137

This brutally honest Psalm gives us permission to pray even wrongful thoughts. Jesus corrects such sentiments, teaching us to love our enemies. How can we sing joyful songs in a broken world? Does Christ meet us in our darkest places? Hasn’t He already met us in the darkest place, death?

2 Timothy 1:1-14

This is a farewell letter (2 Timothy 4:6-8) about Paul’s legacy. It encourages Timothy to confront false teachings and preserve the Christian heritage. It sees Christian faith and ministry in community. It is a conservative letter. The faith is to be guarded (see 2 Timothy 1:14) from corruption.

The defeat of death and the promise of blissful immortality are consequences of God’s wonderful grace. Suffering endured as a result of being persecuted for one’s faith has eternal rewards. Paul is about to die a martyr’s death. He teaches us how to live confidently. Paul wants to die well.

Luke 17:5-10 in Rhyme

5 The apostles said to the Lord
“Add to us faith.”
6 Then said the Lord
“If mustard seed size is your faith
You could tell this sycamore tree
‘Be pulled up and set in the sea’
It would listen to you and heed”

7 “When a farmhand comes from the lea
From plowing or tending sheep
Does the boss say, ‘Come eat with me’?
8 When his job is a meal complete
No, he says, ‘Cook me up some meat
Then, serve me while I drink and eat.
Later on, you can take a seat.’

9 “And does the boss praise the hired hand
Who does just the least by command?
10 Of course not! In the same way
When you obey me you should say,
‘We’re unprofitable servants
[Undeserving and worthless]
Who’ve just done minimal service.’”

You Will Long to See

This week several stories of firefighters and a police chief losing their homes to wildfires have emerged. They had no time to mourn their losses, because they had a job to do in continuing to fight. Something greater than personal loss drove them on, they longed to see others saved.

When times are tough, what do we long to see? Do we long to hear once more the stories of Jesus? In Luke 17:20-37 Jesus prophesied a time of trouble after the cross and what we should focus on as most important. What is the most important thing in our lives?

No Signs

In Luke 17:20 what did Jesus mean that “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed”? The Greek implies Jesus was describing both the careful and anxious watching, with which the hostile Pharisees had been observing Him and others, who were looking for a sign that He was the Messiah king. His kingdom is not one of worldly pomp but God’s reign in men’s hearts.

In Luke 17:21 speaking of the kingdom of God, Jesus says, “nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” We too can focus so much on the visible coming of the king of kings, that we miss the kingdom of God in our midst. It reigns in our hearts and its king was already here.

Long to See

In Luke 17:22 Jesus said to His disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.” This wording looks both backwards to the disciples’ joy in His earthly ministry and forward to their eagerly awaiting His return. During difficult times let’s also remember our days hearing Jesus’ teachings and His healing people.

In Luke 17:23 we read, “They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them.” In those days many false Christ’s began to appear. Even today false prophets attempt to tell people they will find Christ here or there among their deceptive doctrines. We must constantly focus on doctrines that Jesus taught, not enticing things which He did not teach.

Like Lightning

Luke 17:24 “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.” Though the kingdom of God is in the hearts of all who submit to God’s rule in their lives, Jesus points to His bright and visible return and conquest of earth by that kingdom.

Luke 17:25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” As the ultimate Patriarch of both Old and New Testaments, Jesus set the example of true self-sacrificial leadership for the world He loves. So, before coming in glory, He would suffer in shame. We see in Jesus a loving God who mourns for the world’s suffering and is willing to suffer along with it.

Lot’s Wife

Luke 17:26-27 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” In the dark days ahead, life will continue in many respects as normal.

Luke 17:28-29 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” A perverse society that cared nothing for the poor was suddenly judged, abruptly as will Jesus return.

Luke 17:30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” In rich countries we are so proud. We ignore countries that we have exploited, the poor that we have oppressed to gain our wealth and we take pride in our sins. Like Sodom we live in lands that are “ well watered everywhere… like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10).

Luke 17:31-32 “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.” We get so attached to things, yet unlike Lot’s wife we must live as if ready to walk away from our worldly possessions without looking back.

Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” The pillar of salt is a memorial to the failure of a counterfeit gospel about wealth. As Lot’s wife was told not to look back, let us learn not to mourn for the materialism of a dying world, but forward to the things that will last forever.

Carcass

Luke 17:34-36 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.]” Is this reminiscent of the final judgment?

Luke 17:37 “And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, Where the body [carcass] is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” This is not the Body of Christ, but the rotting carcass of a sinful nation about to be taken and destroyed. But Jesus’ words also prophesy of our time and are deliberately vague enough not to be limited by where or when?

Postlude

Let’s not be like Lot’s wife, but live as if we are ready and willing at a moment’s notice to abandon all our material possessions for the kingdom of God. Because, all of those things will pass away, and only the kingdom remains.

Luke 17:20-37; Genesis 13:10

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Thankfulness

Intro

How do we feel when we have helped people and they don’t even bother to show thanks?

Purpose

Let’s learn how important giving thanks is and the kind of thanksgiving that pleases God.

Plan

We will look at two thanksgiving prayers, one right and one wrong from Luke 17:11-19 and Luke 18:11.

One in Ten Thankful

Nothing is more hurtful than to put yourself out for others, provide accommodation, give them thousands of dollars in financial aid and then they turn their backs on you without a word of thanks. In a local natural disaster, one elderly lady stood out as a shining light. She sought out her aid-givers in order to thank every single person.

Jesus saves us from our earthly troubles now and forever from death. Eternal salvation is pictured in the Bible as eternal healing. In the story of the thankful Samaritan, ten were healed but only one was thankful. Are we completely healed without thankfulness? Is our faith complete without thanksgiving? Could it be that complete wellness includes body, mind and spirit?

Eucharist Thanks

One of the two main rites of Christianity is the bread and wine. A word for this is the Eucharist. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for thanks, eucharisteo. Jesus gave thanks when instituting communion the night he was betrayed (Matthew 26:27). Some call communion the Great Thanksgiving. Praise and thanksgiving are vital parts of Christian worship.

Contrasting Thanks

Our two passages contrast two thanksgiving prayers, a Samaritan leper and a Jewish Pharisee. The Pharisee was physically pure and believed he was better than everyone else. The Samaritan was unclean and knew he was not. The Pharisee praised himself, thankful for what he had done. The Samaritan praised Jesus, thankful for what he had done.

Luke 18:11 reveals wrong thanksgiving, filled with pride and arrogance. It is a deluded prayer like, “Thank you God that we are the best.” The right kind of thanksgiving is the enthusiastic and loud thanks to God we read in Psalm 107 (:1, 8, 15, 21, 31) thanking God for his goodness, unfailing love and wonderful deeds for us.

Outro

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

Intro

Jesus had described true discipleship. The Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head. Those who put family first need to put the kingdom first. Wavering or looking back makes one not fit. The cost of following him is everything. We must carry our cross and give up possessions. How could anyone have the faith to do these things?

Goal

Let’s learn that we already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams.

Sermon Plan

We will discuss faith and duty in Luke 17:5-10.

Tiny Faith Big Action

Jesus contrasted a small seed and a large tree. Faith is powerful. The smallest amount can accomplish much. Faith has to be used for really big things and even living lives of radical self-sacrifice for others. Ants can carry 10-50 times their body weight. How much bigger is a tree compared to a mustard seed? That’s the power of faith.

Jesus said to talk to the tree and tell it to move. Faith must be put to work because faith without good works is dead (James 2:14-26). Do we let circumstances keep us from doing good? What circumstances do we need to move out of the way? How do we move a tree? One small task at a time.

Faith to Go Beyond

Noah took 120 years to build a barge as long as 5 football fields. Naval architects and structural engineers have concluded that the shape was optimal for the stresses involved. Abraham was 75 years old and had to move his entire family to another country. Sarah was way past childbearing age and believed what God had promised and was faithful.

How much faith does it take to be a Christian and obey Jesus? How much faith is needed to go beyond mere duty and do really big things? How much faith does it take to build a church that is a bright light and not just another museum to generations long dead? Is it faith the size of a mustard seed?

Outro/Take Home

It was not that the disciples lacked faith, but simply needed to put it to work. The smallest amount of faith can accomplish great things. We can be afraid or we can take action. We already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams. Let’s just do it.

Good News for the Thankful

Intro

Festivals and offerings of thanksgiving go back thousands of years into Old Testament worship practices. As we celebrate our festival of thanks, let us ask ourselves what kind of Thanksgiving ought we to have?

Purpose

Let us learn the kind of thanksgiving that pleases God.

Plan

We will look at two thanksgiving prayers, one right, one wrong from Luke 17 and 18.

10 Healed, 1 Saved

In the story of the thankful Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19), ten were healed but only one was pronounced saved by his faith. Were the other nine healed apart from their own faith? Without thankfulness are we not completely well, even though our disease is cured? Is giving praise to God part of being completely healed or saved and not just physical healing alone? Could it be that faith is part of being completely well? Could it be that without thanksgiving our faith is not complete? Could it be that there is a spiritual component to wellness that goes beyond mere physical healing alone? Could it be that complete wellness includes body, mind and spirit? Jesus saves us now from earthly troubles and forever from death. Eternal salvation is pictured in the Bible as eternal healing, wellness far beyond medical science?

Eucharist Thanks

One of the words used by Christians for the partaking of the bread and wine is Eucharist. It comes from the Greek word for what Jesus did that night he instituted one of Christianity’s most sacred rituals, he gave thanks (Matthew 26:27). The Greek word for thanks is from eucharisteo. It is in one sense a thanksgiving “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup.” Thanksgiving is part and parcel of the Christian life every day of the year, not just once a week or once a year. Praise and thanksgiving are vital parts of Christian worship. In the story of the thankful Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19) we can see how only one demonstrated any thanks. The other nine may have been thankful in heart, but they did not show it. In worshiping God we also give thanks.

Contrasting Thanks

In Luke 17:11-19 and 18:11 contrasts two thanksgiving prayers, a Jewish Pharisee and a Samaritan leper. Samaria contained a mixed-race people who only recognized the books of Moses. There was racial and religious tension between the two groups. Luke recorded James and John wanting to punish them, the Good Samaritan story and this thankful Samaritan. He also wrote Acts and recorded Philip’s Gospel work in Samaria. The Pharisee was physically pure. The Samaritan was unclean. The Pharisee believed he was better than everyone else. The Samaritan knew he was not. The Pharisee gave thanks in the holy temple. The Samaritan was on a road but also at Jesus’ feet. The Pharisee was thankful for what he has done. The Samaritan was thankful for what Jesus had done. The Pharisee praised himself. The Samaritan praised Jesus. What about us?

Wrong & Right Thanksgiving

In Luke 18:11 we see the wrong kind of thanksgiving, filled with pride and arrogance. It is the kind of thanksgiving we hear people pray sometimes even in church. It is praying like, “Thank you God that we are the best.” Such lack of humility is a kind of self-delusion, a lack of willingness to face the truth. In Luke 17:11-19 is the exact opposite, the right kind of thanksgiving. It is exuberant, enthusiastic and demonstrative thanksgiving. How many of our more reserved church members go wild when their favorite sports team wins, but express unenthusiastic, halfhearted and passionless thanks to God, unlike the Samaritan who gave thanks? Psalm 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31 helps us see the right kind of thanks. We thank God for he and his goodness, unfailing love and wonderful deeds for humanity.

Outro

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Where are the other nine?

Intro

Do we give thanks to God? If so, do we thank God for our good deeds or for his grace and mercy?

Goal

I want us to learn that we ought to thank God for him.

Sermon Plan

We will discuss good and bad thanks, and how that relates to complete healing.

Wrong and right thanksgiving

In Luke 18:11 Jesus spoke of the wrong kind of thanksgiving. It is the kind that is filled with national or personal or racial pride and arrogance. It is the kind of thanksgiving we hear people pray sometimes even in church. I remember hearing prayers similar to, “Thank you God that I was born a [you name the country or sex or race or social status], the best there is.” Such lack of humility is really a kind of self-delusion, a lack of willingness to face the truth. In Luke 17:11-19 is the exact opposite, the right kind of thanksgiving. It is exuberant, enthusiastic and demonstrative thanksgiving. How many of our more reserved church members go wild when their favorite sports team wins, but express unenthusiastic, halfhearted and passionless thanks to God, unlike the Samaritan who gave thanks?

Contrasting thanks

Eucharist thanks

One of the words used by Christians for the partaking of the bread and wine is Eucharist. It comes from the Greek word for what Jesus did that night he instituted one of Christianity’s most sacred rituals, he gave thanks (Matthew 26:27). The Greek word for thanks is from eucharisteo. It is in one sense a thanksgiving “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup.” Thanksgiving is part and parcel of the Christian life every day of the year, not just once a week or once a year. Praise and thanksgiving are vital parts of Christian worship. In the story of the thankful Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19) we are see how only one demonstrated any thanks. The other nine may have been thankful in heart, but they did not show it. In worshiping God we also give thanks.

Ten healed, one is well

A strange thought comes from the story of the thankful Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19), ten were healed but only one was pronounced well. What could that mean? Could it be that without thankfulness we are not completely well, even though our disease is cured? Could it be that giving praise to God is part of being completely well and not just physical healing alone? Could it be that faith is part of being completely well? Could it be that without thanksgiving our faith is not complete? Could it be that there is a spiritual component to wellness that goes beyond mere physical healing alone? Could it be that complete wellness includes body, mind and spirit? Physical healing is temporary. We will all die eventually. Salvation is often pictured in the Bible as eternal healing, a wellness far beyond medical science?

Outro/Take Home

We thank God weekly in song, prayers and other forms of worship. Do we know what it means? Do we mean it from the heart?

Faith & duty

Intro

How much faith do we need? Are we afraid that if we had more faith we would be successful, self-sacrificing or fanatical?

Goal

I want us to learn that we already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams.

Sermon Plan

We will discuss faith and duty.

Dissatisfied with Faith

Have we ever experienced dissatisfaction with our faith? Have we ever wished that our faith could be increased much larger than it already is? Why do we so often seem to think that bigger is better? Which is more important, quality or quantity? Bigger in size is often less in quality. The apostles seem to have had a similar desire in Luke 17:5-10. The reply is encouraging for those of us who doubt our own faith. Even a small amount can be used in dramatic ways. Our faith may be small in our own eyes, perhaps like a mustard seed. Faith is confidence, loyalty and commitment all in one. Jesus mocks their self doubt or perhaps their attitude of spiritual competitiveness by saying that they, not he, already have enough faith to move a tree. A little is enough.

Enough faith for big things

In Luke 17:5-10 the apostles recognized two things about faith: 1) that faith can grow and 2) that we depend on God for faith. Their request suggested that they did not believe that they had enough faith for the job at hand. However, when Jesus replied to their request the Greek grammar implied they already had the necessary faith, they just needed to use it. As the mulberry or sycamore tree obeys our order to be uprooted and planted in the sea by our faith, so too does a slave obey his master. We cannot earn God’s favor by merely doing what he expects. We must have faith, but asking God for more faith could be dangerous. We might become so Christ-like that we begin to do really big things and even live lives of radical self-sacrifice for others.

After prayer, talk & action

In Luke 17:5-10 is a prayer or petition to Jesus. The disciples asked for more faith. Have we ever prayed for faith? If we prayed to Jesus would he give us the same answer? Jesus likened life’s challenges to a mulberry or sycamore tree. Elsewhere, he likened them to a mountain. Then he said something remarkable. He did not say to keep praying, or even fast and study the Bible more. Instead, Jesus said to talk to the tree or mountain, and tell it to move. Is that strange? Is there any more to do? Faith without works is dead, so then after we have told our circumstances to move out of the way we get to work. How do we move a tree or mountain? One shovel full at a time. How do we talk to our challenges?

Moving obstacles

What obstacle in your life seems too big to move? Is it tree-sized or mountain-sized? It can be conquered in faith the size of a mustard seed. Do you have a spouse who has been unfaithful, and are frozen in place because forgiveness seems too big an obstacle? Start with one small step, a word of faith. Do you have a dream business you want to begin? Are you frozen in place because it seems to big to build? Make a word of faith your first step. Do you have a messy house that just discourages you? Don’t look at the mess, start doing something small and make a word of faith the first step. How do we move a tree or a mountain? One step at a time and the very first step is to speak a positive word.

Faith circumstances

Jesus spoke of faith the size of a mustard seed moving tree-sized or mountain-sized challenges. What if you had to build a large barge as huge as a ship? That was Noah’s challenge. He stepped out in faith. Very little detail is given us, but that it took 120 years and was as long as 5 football fields. Too big? Naval architects and structural engineers concluded that the shape was optimal for the stresses involved. What if you were 75 years old and had to move your entire family to another country? Abraham did just that, he stepped out in faith. What if you were past child-bearing age and still wanted a family? Sarah believed that God had promised and was faithful. If it’s God’s will, it may often look like too big a challenge. Take the first step anyway.

Faith & duty

How much faith does it take to just do our duty towards God? It takes faith to provide for our families today. It takes faith to be a Christian and go against the world and obey Jesus. But all that is just doing our duty to God. How much faith is needed go beyond mere duty? How much faith is needed for really big things? How much faith does it take to build a business to provide for other people’s families? How much faith does it take to build a church that is a light in the community and not just another museum to generations long dead? How much faith does it take to do something really big for God? It is the kind of faith to move trees and mountains. It is faith the size of a mustard seed.

Outro/Take Home

It only takes a small amount of faith live an exciting, adventurous life? We can be afraid or we can take that first step? We already have enough faith to fulfill big dreams. Let’s start. Let’s do it.