A Living Faith: action in an age of sentimentality

11/09/2022 - Matt Destry

The future is now. 

The world speaks to this mystery and to this ache with sentimentality.

Where did you learn faith? 

In this way, faith is transmitted not just by ideas and not just even by words, but by ACTIONS. 

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What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (Jas 2:14–19).

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The problem is real

the response was pious

the result was death 

Religious behaviour can sometimes get in the way of Christian living 

a/ Following Jesus in your “sitz im leben”

b/ Accountable and supportive relationships

c/ Celebration, story and symbol

Communion – a celebration, a story, a symbol

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1. Make discipleship a lifestyle

2. Be a doer of the word

3. Let God know – “we need to talk”

Questions: 

who showed you how to live for Jesus? 

what’s out of place?  

where can you engage? 

who can you encourage?