### **INTRO: Faith That Moves or Faith That Sits?**
Video Ill.: Sermon Bumper
### **Opening Illustration: Asleep in the Pews**
Drawn from: https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2017/february/sloth-seriously.html
Sloth? Seriously?
Brian Wilkerson
Imagine sitting in church week after week—same padded pew, same routine. You stand when it is time to sing, you sit when it is time to listen, you bow your head when it is time to pray. But inside, something has quietly slipped away.
It is not that you do not believe. It is not even that you are hostile toward God.
It is just... easier this way.
Easier to come, sit, nod, and leave—without letting anything really change.
Spiritually, you are awake enough to show up, but asleep enough not to be moved.
And the tragedy is—you might not even realize it.
Spiritual apathy, is not just laziness. It is resistance to action.
It is when God nudges you to forgive, to serve, to reach out—and you whisper back, “Maybe later.”
It is when the Word challenges you to change, but you excuse yourself: "That was a good sermon—for someone else."
You see, faith is not just about being present in a pew.
Faith is about being transformed in the presence of Christ.
True faith wakes us up. It moves us from *hearing* to *doing,* from *attending* to *living.*
### **Transition Illustration: Faith Beyond the Pew**
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/04/12/religion-in-everyday-life/
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2018/08/01/why-americans-go-to-religious-services/
Recent studies show that many people still attend church—some even every week.
They sing the songs. They hear the sermons.
But when asked if their faith impacts their daily decisions, their relationships, their priorities—many are not so sure.
Faith, for many, has been confined to an hour on Sunday morning.
It has become a scheduled event… instead of a living relationship.
The danger is not that we stop going to church.
The danger is that we stop letting Christ transform us.
Faith is not meant to be a Sunday habit. It is meant to be a daily life change.
And that is what this new series is all about:
**Transformative Faith: Living Beyond Belief.**
Many in our world today“believe in God” and even go to church, but still live with unchanged attitudes, unchanged habits, and unchanged reactions.
We need to have a faith that moves beyond the pew… and into how we live, love, and respond every single day.
This morning, the faith to which Jesus calls us transforms everything, starting with how we respond to the world around us.*
Transformation starts when we stop sitting and start surrendering.
---
### **Point 1: Faith Changes Our Reactions**
The World Is Watching: How Do You Respond?* by Christine Lailani Ginete
https://www.thegoodchristian.co/blog/the-world-is-watching-how-do-you-respond
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### **Illustration: The World Is Watching**
Every day, life throws all kinds of challenges at us—addiction in our family, a cancer diagnosis, the betrayal of an affair, natural disasters, the sudden loss of a loved one, witnessing wrongdoing at work, the tragedy of a young life lost, political turmoil, theft, or facing persecution for our beliefs. These are real, painful situations we or those around us may experience.
But here is a certainty in these moments: the world is watching. How we react and respond become a testament to our faith. Do we respond with anger, despair, or indifference? Or do we embody the hope and love that our faith teaches us?
This morning, our faith, or lack thereof, shapes our reactions and responses. Are we living in a way that points others to Christ, even when life gets tough?
Paul writes to the Ephesians and shares with them that we should be different — in our thoughts, in our actions, in our example to the world. Follow along as we read his encouragement in chapter 4:
17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4, NLT)
Did you notice those last few verses? Paul is trying to guide us.
The world says that we need to do whatever we have to do in order to get ahead. Go ahead and get revenge, settle the score, protect our pride, flex our muscles and show our strength.
But Paul outlines how we should respond to the challenges of life:
Tell the truth.
Let the words you use be good and helpful.
Be an encouragement to each other.
Be tenderhearted.
Be forgiving.
Our faith in Jesus should produce kindness instead of cruelty, grace instead of grudges, and peace instead of pettiness.
James writes in James 1:
22 … [D]on’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says…. (James 1, NLT)
It is not enough for us to just read all of those things Paul said. There must be a change in our life. We cannot go through life each day, claiming to have faith, and then having that faith be reflected in our lives.
If our faith does not change how we speak, how we handle conflict, or how we treat others, it is not living faith.
**Illustration: The Sponge Test**
We are to be like a sponge.
Video Ill.: Wringing Out a Sponge
(As it is playing say): When you squeeze a sponge, whatever is inside comes out. Soap. Water. Whatever it is. You can easily see what that sponge soaked up.
When life squeezes us, what do people see in us? Do they see us, or do they see Jesus?
**Application:**
This morning, is our faith active enough to show up in stressful moments?
Do our words build up or tear down?
Would your family, coworkers, or neighbors describe you as a person of grace and peace… or just a person who goes to church?
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### **Point 2: Faith Renews Our Filters**
Paul writes in Romans 12:
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…. (Romans 12, NLT)
Paul’s message is simple but powerful:
Do not copy the world. Let God change you.
Let Him change the way you see, think, and live.
You see, our default lens—our natural filter—is worldly.
We are born self-focused. We look at life through the lens of *me, myself, and I*.
We interpret people and problems based on what they do to us or for us.
That is the world’s way.
But faith gives us a new filter.
A new mindset. A renewed mind.
God changes how we see everything—because we begin to see as He sees.
Through faith, we start to view the world not through fear, frustration, or selfishness…
but through grace, purpose, and love.
We begin to see people as Jesus sees them—not as interruptions, threats, or opponents,
but as children of the living God—made in His image, loved deeply, and created with purpose.
Where the world may see chaos, decay, and destruction, God sees redemption in progress—a creation He still calls good, still holds with care, and still works to renew.
Faith trains our eyes to see the beauty, not just the brokenness.
### **Illustration: Fogged-Up Vision**
This time of year can be a little frustrating—especially if you have to drive early in the morning.
The cool morning air clashes with the warmth inside your car, and before long, your windshield fogs up.
Suddenly, it is difficult to see where you are going.
You crank up the defroster, run the wipers, and hope it clears enough to make the drive safely.
And if you have ever driven through heavy morning fog, you know how unsettling it can be.
Fog forms when overnight rain and cool air combine, pulling moisture from the atmosphere into thick, low-hanging clouds that seem to sit right on the road.
Your surroundings become a blur.
You slow down, straining to see just a few feet ahead, unsure of what obstacles might be hidden.
But given enough time, something changes.
The sun rises, burns through the fog, and the road becomes clear again.
You can finally see the path ahead.
That is what faith does for us.
Without faith, we are navigating life with fogged-up vision.
We react based on fear, frustration, or self-interest—because we cannot clearly see what lies ahead or who is walking alongside us.
But faith, like the rising sun, clears our sight.
It changes how we see the world, how we see people, and how we interpret every challenge and opportunity.
Faith allows us to move forward—not with fear, but with clarity, patience, and love.
—-
Faith is not just believing in God.
It is seeing the world as He sees it—and allowing that vision to shape how we live.
**Application:**
This morning, are we filtering life through faith, or through feelings?
Are we more influenced by social media or the Word of God?
Faith does not just change what you believe—it changes how you see everything.
---
### **Point 3: Faith Shapes Our Witness**
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### **Illustration: Living Scripture**
https://christianchronicle.org/a-person-of-faith-is-the-only-bible-some-people-may-ever-read/
A person of faith is ‘the only Bible some people may ever read’
Melody Shaw
December 18, 2020
The Christian Chronicle
In an article for The Christian Chronicle, Melody Shaw talks about a book by Mark Batterson, called “Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More”. Through the book, Melody brings out some points related to how we live our lives every day.
For example, not everyone is going to open a Bible.
Not everyone is going to sit in a worship service or listen to a sermon.
For many people, their only exposure to the gospel is us—how we live, how we love, how we react.
In the book, Batterson studied coaches, authors, theologians, poets and celebrities like Michael Phelps and Elon Musk. He took the habits, practices and philosophies from these studies and found the common denominators of success to form his combined method.
He weaves his personal story with those of the people he studied. He also uses Scripture to emphasize his points and show how God is using every person’s experience in God’s ultimate story — even our past failures.
Melody says that Batterson goes on to say this: "The Bible is our backstory. Your life is the rest of the story. In fact, you are the only Bible some people may ever read."
"A person of faith may be the only Bible some people ever read."
Our lives—the way we walk through pain, the way we respond to others, the way we live day by day—is telling a story.
The question is: *What story are you telling?*
Are people seeing the grace, the patience, the kindness, and the love of Christ in you?
Faith that is real must show itself in love.
Love that is visible, active, and undeniable.
A living faith is a loving faith—and it may be the clearest Bible some people ever encounter.
Paul said it this way in Galatians 5:
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5, NLT)
Do not misunderstand. People do not need to see perfect Christians. They need to see Christ in us—especially when we are under pressure.
---
### **Illustration: Shine in the Storm**
It’s like lighthouses. Lighthouses are not built for calm, sunny days. They are not necessary when the skies are clear and the seas are still.
Lighthouses are built for the storms.
For the nights when the waves are crashing, the wind is howling, and the shoreline is hidden by darkness. When visibility is low and the dangers are high—that is when a lighthouse becomes absolutely vital.
And so it is with us. Anyone can be kind when life is easy. Anyone can be patient when nothing is pressing them. Anyone can be gracious when everything is going their way.
But the world is not looking to see how we act when life is easy.
The world is watching to see how we respond when life is hard — when we are wronged — when we are stressed — when we are suffering — when the storms hit.
It is then—when the darkness settles in—that our faith has the greatest chance to shine.
Our gentle, gracious reaction may be the light someone else desperately needs to see in their darkness.
The way we love when it would be easier to hate.
The joy we show when life gives us every reason to be bitter.
The peace we hold onto when everything around us is falling apart.
The patience we practice when people frustrate and disappoint us.
The kindness we extend when the world would tell us to be harsh.
The goodness we demonstrate when no one else is watching.
The faithfulness we live out when it would be easier to give up.
The gentleness we offer when we are provoked.
The self-control we exhibit when everything in us wants to lash out.
This is the fruit of the Spirit.
This is the evidence of a faith that is real.
This is how our life shines like a lighthouse in the storm, pointing others toward Jesus.
We may be the lighthouse God has placed in someone else's darkness.
---
**Application:**
This morning, do our reactions draw people toward Jesus or push them away?
What do our kids, coworkers, and neighbors learn about Christ by how we respond to frustration, disappointment, or stress?
Faith that stays quiet in our heart will never change the world—but faith that shows up in our words and actions can.
---
### **Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Faith Be a Sunday Habit**
This morning, I hope that we have seen that real faith is not about being “religious”. Real faith is about a transformation in our lives.
I pray that we can join with Paul, when he expressed these thoughts in Galatians 2:
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2, NLT)
If we are truly crucified with Christ, then our reactions, responses, and relationships should look different than the world’s.
**Challenge:**
Today, we must examine our hearts: Are we living with routine religion, coming each Sunday, sitting in the same padded pews, following the same routine? Do we stand when it is time to sing, sit when it is time to listen, bow our heads when it is time to pray? Or have we experienced a true transformation?
I hope that this week, we will live out Galatians 2:20. Let your reactions preach before your words ever do.
