What is faith?
A Sunday-School teacher asked her class one day, “What is faith?” the class sat there quietly - which was a surprise in itself, so the teacher asked again, “can anyone tell me what is faith?” You could see the little minds working and one boy stuck up his hand. The teacher said, ‘Ok Johnny, what is faith?” Johnny answered, “believing something you know isn’t true.”
We may laugh, but the sad truth is that many non-Christians would probably define our Christianity in the same way. Maybe its stated using different words, but many today believe that there is self-deception or unreliability in biblical Christianity. There are even many prominent so-called Christians who publically deny the very basis of true biblical Christian faith.
Knowing Christ is where true faith begins. From there we grow through the essentials of discipleship: Bible study, prayer, preaching, worship and Christian friendship and fellowship.
Maybe you have heard someone say that the Bible is the most amazing book ever written, perhaps you find parts of it difficult to understand, perhaps you want a greater understanding of the context in which it was written, maybe you desire to learn more about God’s Word to strengthen your faith, maybe you just feel you need to know more. Whatever the reason that you have chosen to join this growth group, welcome.
As we learn together, God will lead each of us to a deeper understanding of His truth and how we can apply it to our lives.
Billy Graham said, “Millions of people today are searching for a reliable voice of authority. The Word of God is the only real authority we have.
His Word sheds light on human nature, world problems and human suffering. But beyond that, it clearly reveals the way to God.
The message of the Bible is the message of Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). It is the story of salvation; the story of your redemption and mine through Christ; the story of life, of peace, of eternity.
Our faith is not dependent upon human knowledge and scientific advance, but upon the unmistakable message of the Word of God.”
There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds.
These sessions are not about opinion, they are about learning truth, the truth contained in the Bible, together we are going to focus on how we apply God’s truth, black & white in a grey world. To set godly priorities, grow in Christian character and live according to God’s standards so that we are a living witness to others.
I think its safe to assume that we all consider ourselves intelligent people, maybe you have a different opinion, but the truth is when we became Christians we did not kiss our brains goodbye as we put them in a jar in the cupboard under the stairs.
Let me be clear from the start. Our sessions together require participation – we are going to discover the truth together – you are not passengers - you are participants. I expect questions, comments, opinions and observations from everyone of you. Ok?
Ice Breaker
What shapes/shaped your faith?
(1 is most influence and 10 is least)
__ Parents
__ Television / Radio
__ Bible
__ Teachers
__ Pastor
__ Experience
__ Friends
__ History
__ Music / Worship
__ Books
How did you find that? Anyone willing to share their top 3?
We use faith everyday.
Set aside religious faith, it is impossible for us to get through a day without using some kind of faith.
The driver has faith the car will start in the morning. The commuter has faith that the train will get them to work. The scientist has faith in scientific methods learned from other scientists who assumed they were right. You have faith that when you need bread or milk your usual shop will be open and sell them to you.
Faith, simply put is trust, we all trust in something everyday.
Faith is also only as valid as what it is placed in. Trust an untested food, an unqualified doctor, or a double glazing salesman and the faith may not be valid.
Faith may be well intentioned but misplaced.
Meagre faith placed in something reliable will bring results – if you have weak faith in thick ice the result is positive the ice will hold your weight regardless of the strength of your faith.
Testing the reliability of faith is rational and sensible. C.S. Lewis said “Wisdom leads us to investigate and know the true facts about our faith. If a clock is wrong, we adjust it. It’s the sensible thing to do.”
C.S. Lewis also said “It is easy to say we believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as we are mearly using it to wrap a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. You would really want to first discover how trustworthy that rope was.”
Faith is a normal part of our lives.
Our Christian faith is often coloured by our prior thinking. What facts do we know about it? Do we view it as rational or irrational? Relevant or not
relevant enough?
First things first
Are there any situations where you have been asked about your faith or challenged about what you believe?
Where did you turn to for answers to theses questions or challenges?
Maybe you’ve heard it said “That’s your truth – not mine!” The world today has a broad spectrum of ideas about religion and faith, does the multitude of beliefs that exist make your own intellectual understanding of God more difficult or easier to resolve?
Does the diversity of religion in the world make it easier or more difficult to experience a personal relationship with God in your life?
Sometimes our certainties become diluted and our belief system can wobble – the modern world we live in increases the need to know why we believe and to examine and understand the truth that supports our faith.
In which areas are you crystal clear about your Christian faith and where is your thinking a little muddy?
We live in a world where pluralism is expected. The dictionary defines pluralism as: The belief that there are multiple opinions about an issue, each of which contains part of the truth, but none that contain the whole truth. Pluralism teaches that:
1 All religions are valid equally.
2 Contradictions between belief systems are acceptable.
3 Absolute truth does not exist.
This evening we are going to be looking at a passage from the book of Acts, Acts 17:16-34 – You will find it in your bible study sheet.
This passage in the book of Acts shows that intelligent reasoning underpins a true Christian faith.
The word
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
24“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28’For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Digging deep
1. Can you describe the situation that Paul found himself in when in spoke in Athens (v16-21)
2. Briefly summarize Paul’s message to Athenians (v21-31)
3. What steps does Paul take to engage with (connect with) the audience on their own terms?
4. As you talk to people about your faith (or listen to others), what ways have you found to connect with others?
5. What were the reactions to Paul’s sermon? What could account for the different reactions?
6. Some of the people of Athens did not accept what Paul said about the resurrection. Are there specific elements of biblical Christianity that are difficult for you to understand or accept?
Application
Is your faith rational or emotional?
There are two perspectives that could be used to answer this question.
The first is to focus only on experience of God – excluding reason. Someone may say “Just have faith,” not realising that a reasoned presentation of gospel is not a substitute for faith but a solid basis for faith.
The second is to place all of the emphasis on the mind and try to convince people into believing using logical argument.
Which perspective do you tend to follow the most? Why?
Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind” Matthew 22:37
Our whole person, heart and mind are involved in putting our faith in Jesus, mind, emotions and will.
We need a balanced faith – both heart and mind to truly follow Jesus, using the grid below write down some ways in which you can experience a more balanced perspective.
Growing intellectually Growing in relationship to Jesus
Strengths
Weaknesses
Goals
1 Peter 3:15 says But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
What are some of the reasons you have for this hope?
Conclusion
If Christianity is rational and true, why is it that many educated people don’t believe it? The answer is simple. They don’t believe it for the same reason uneducated people don’t believe it. They don’t want to believe it. It’s not a matter of brainpower, for there are outstanding Christians in every field of the arts and sciences. Belief is ultimately a matter of the will.
“Belief does not create truth. Unbelief doesn’t destroy truth. Christian faith goes beyond reason but not against reason.”
Ask God to help you to have a clear understanding of biblical truth, pray that your personal faith, trust and knowledge will be strengthened.
