There are many things that can cause us to lose confidence in our faith, that can cause us to doubt the reliability of what we believe in. Some things that can weaken our faith include: suffering, growing up, alternative ideas, guilt, inconvenience or distraction. What can help us have confidence in our faith?
Terry Wiens was our guest speaker and he continued with the series on Adventures in Faith. Terry Wiens has been attending Westheights Church for 18 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious studies. Terry works in the financial sector, enjoys technology and continues to study theology in his spare time. He has been married to his wife Jenn for 20 years and together they have three children: Katie, Emylea and Griffin.
CONFIDENT FAITH
Message by Terry Wiens – September 23, 2018
THREE THINGS THAT HELP US ACHIEVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR FAITH
1. CONFIDENT FAITH IS BASED ON EVIDENCE
1 John 1:1-4 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
1 John 1:3a We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard…
a. Following Jesus is not following a philosophy, teaching, religion
b. Following Jesus is … following a person
c. The first followers of Jesus did not die for what they believed; they died for what they saw, heard and touched
2. CONFIDENT FAITH IS OTHER-CENTRED
According to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, your neighbour is the person you cannot stand.
A confident trust in Jesus understands that sacrifice and sometimes suffering is part of the plan.
3. CONFIDENT FAITH IS A FAITH THAT FOCUSES ON JESUS
Luke 10:38-42 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.
PETER’S MESS-UPS…
Matthew 14:29, Matthew 16:22-23, Matthew 26:69-75
John 21:1-8 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
John 21:7a When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic …, jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT THIS WEEK
1. How will you “sit at the feet of Jesus”?
2. How will you “jump out of the boat?”
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