Step-by-Step with Jesus

August 12, 2001

John Wesley United Methodist Church, Falmouth, Massachusetts

Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16

Introduction: (In 10:30 service this will be the children's sermon) The Hayford St. gang story ... the big kid who came alongside and saved me from a beating. A true story, but a metaphor for my walk with God. We have a God who comes alongside when we need Him.

Abraham is a BIG man in the Bible. As a matter of fact he is a big man in human history. He is known as the Father of Faith. He was a friend of God. The three great monotheistic religions of the world claim him. (I have been to his tomb-cave in Hebron, and sure enough the Jews and the Arabs as well as the Christians venerate and honor the memory of this man who walked with God.

Abraham is venerated because he DID walk with God by faith. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going."(text) He left a civilized place, Ur of the Chaldee, to take up a nomadic life in search of his true home, the Promised Land which God would show him. His life and the struggles and growth and sacrifices he made are recorded in Genesis, chapters twelve through twenty-two, and are referred to over and over in the new Testament as well.

The walk of faith is not less frightening in our time. God calls. We hear- and then we pull back. Plenty of people are ready to tell us what we should do. How can we hear God's voice and be sure? How can we walk with God in this modern age? Do we really dare to go across the current?

What IS faith anyway? " Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen ..." (text) WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

1. Faith is mysterious:

one side is very SIMPLE: any child can understand. Great philosophers and gifted teachers as well as mentally retarded and little children have the privilege of coming to God through Jesus Christ, our crucified, risen Savior. (Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so was supposed to have been quoted by Karl Barth, the great theologian as the essence of our faith.)

one side is very PERSONAL: it is a response to God that no one else can make for you. Faith is not first of all a system, or even propositional truth. Faith is hearing Jesus Christ saying "Follow Me!" and responding, "Here I am! Help me follow!"

faith is A GIFT of God: Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God lest anyone should boast."

2. Faith is heuristic

(I LOVE that word "heuristic".The dictionary definition of heuristic is: "Serving to discover or stimulate investigation.")

Faith ALWAYS leads us onward and upward toward HOME. The HOME of faith is God Himself! Faith is an adventure in living that takes us through life's good times and hard times on our journey home.

THIS WALK OF FAITH INHERITS THE KINGDOM "It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" But the inheritance is a life-long process that extends into eternity. Nearly 4,000 years later we are still amazed at Abraham, who is very much alive and enjoying God's Presence.

In following God's call to live by faith Abraham both became very rich and very poor. He had great possessions on earth, but lived in a tent with a dirt floor. He talked with God face to face, and yet looked for a city yet to come. He made mistakes, and even did a few foolish things, but God gave him the child of promise, Isaac. And that Isaac was given back to God. The way of faith is so mysterious, and yet so wonderful.

(A PRACTICAL CLOSING)

A PERSPECTIVE ON VALUES

A HEART FOR GOD

HOW? HOW CAN WE BE SURE WE ARE WALKING BY FAITH?

(The channel to the yacht club . . . markers lined up . . .)

  1. You can trust the bible
  2. You have the gifts of God's peace, his Word his name
  3. You can have that Presence! The God who comes alongside.