Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
I like road trips—the adventure of not just the destination, but the experience of getting there.
ILLUSTRATION: When I was sixteen years old, me and my seventeen year old friend, Mike, went on a road trip from L.A. to Iowa.
Car breaks down the second day of the trip.
We need not carefully look at making sure the car was ready for the trip.
We should have checked the oil, the batter, the air filter...
Are you ready for the adventure that God has called you to experience?
Being ready is an important theme in the ministry of Jesus.
He teaches about the end times primarily so that His followers can know how to be ready for His coming.
Paul writes about the importance of being ready.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
If we want to know that we are roadworthy for our adventure with God—then ask yourself:
Am I alert to dangers that may affect my life in Christ?
Am I fully trusting in God and His Word to direct my way?
Am I living with confidence—facing challenges and threats with the spiritual reality of knowing who I am in Christ?
Am I doing everything in life in the context of loving God and love people?
Your answers will disclose the quality of your faith in Christ.
So, how do you know that your faith is where it needs to be to live life following Christ?
Critically Scrutinize the Quality of Your Faith.
The quality of our faith depends on what we allow into our lives.
The story of Christ’s invitation for Peter to walk with Him on the water (Matthew 14:22-33).
Jesus said to Peter: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Peter: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’”
Jesus: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.”
Peter’s experience highlights a significant challenge to our faith.
Peter believed—but only to a point.
It is not about how big or small one’s faith is, it is about whether or not we place limits and exceptions to our faith—to our trust in God.
“I will trust God if...” “I will believe God, unless...”
We must critically (honestly) evaluate the quality (the condition) of our faith.
And, it begins with God!
I think you will be shocked at what the Holy Spirit points out in your life.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Right now you may be tempted to assume that your faith is just find—thank you very much.
But, the truth is that our faith is always under threat.
Just like a car engine needs clean air, free from impurities (dirt), we need a faith that is free from dysfunctions that hurt and hinder our faith in God.
The problem is that we have become so comfortable playing the part of a person of faith—but when no one is looking, we act as if everything depends on us rather than God.
Too many professing Christians live with dysfunctional faith—a faith that elevates us and limits God.
What must we do?
Identify Your Faith Dysfunctions.
The people of the church in Corinth were prone to ignore problems with their relationship with God.
Although they believed in the Spiritual Gifts, the Prophetic, the Supernatural—they routinely made it into a competition—inflating their own abilities rather than living in genuine faith.
They turned Communion into a drunken party.
They turned the worship service into a chaotic free-for-all—using spiritual gifts to draw attention to themselves rather than to God.
They ignored sexual sin—an in doing do condoned marital strife, incest, and adultery.
They wanted to live by their own rules and reject Paul’s authority as a God-called leader in the church.
They were questioning the quality of Paul’s faith, but ignored there own dysfunctions.
So, Paul admonished the Corinthians to look within!
2 Corinthians 13:5
Although their are many issues that effect the quality of our faith in Christ, there are five that I see in so many professing Christians today!
A Dysfunctional Faith is a Faith Influenced by Fear.
Not the fear of God—but the fear of others; the fear of failure; the fear of not being in control.
Fear looks at the circumstances rather than God.
A Dysfunctional Faith is a Faith Hindered by Ignorance.
Ignorance is rooted in the lack of knowledge of God’s Word.
Ignorance leans on emotions (what feels good), people who speak impressively (what sounds good), and what we see (what looks good).
A Dysfunctional Faith is a Faith Distorted by False Teaching.
Ever since sin entered into this world, humanity has always been subject to people teaching what is false—what is contrary to God’s truth (His Word).
Humanity is always looking for the shortcut—the secret way—the solution for suffering—the opportunity to get rich—the way we can get what we want by manipulating God.
A Dysfunctional Faith is a Faith Stuck by Past Experiences.
Our past has a powerful influence —and can adversely affect our faith.
Abuse, humiliation, failure, sorrow, rejection, betrayal.
Every event in your life can impact they way you trust in God— and the choices you make.
A Dysfunctional Faith is a Faith Wrecked by Sin.
Ultimately, faith is affected by sin.
Pride, lust, coveting, hate, deception, jealousy, idolatry.
Sin distorts, confuses, destroys, limits, robs, and devastates your life and your ability to believe God and follow Him.
Everyone of us is susceptible to have dysfunctional faith.
Left alone, it will lead you to hopelessness.
But, that does not need to be the end of your story!
There is something that can be done to turn the quality of your faith around!
Align Your Faith with the Lordship of Christ.
There is something you can do that can change your faith, your hope, and your life.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Lay aside the dysfunctions!
This is called repentance.
Turn away from the fear, the ignorance, the false teaching, the past experiences, and the sin!
Run with endurance!
This is called obedience: the belief that God is in control and that you are going to follow Him!
Look to Jesus!
This is called genuine faith: Jesus is enough—the One who gives the hope you need—the purpose you need—the joy you need to not just survive, but thrive.
Altar Call
Faith is essential to live the life God has called you to live.
Today is the day in which you can begin the adventure by jettisoning the dysfunctions affecting your faith in Christ.
ALTAR CALL: Today I want God to heal me from the dysfunctions that has hindered and hurt my faith, my trust, my obedience to Christ.
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