Worship 101: Living Faith

MONDAY

Probably the hardest thing to do in our Christian walk is to live a balanced life. Balancing faith and works is a tough thing to do! The Bible teaches us that we are not saved by works, but by faith Ephesians 2:8,9. At the same time, the Bible teaches us that faith without works is dead! (See James 2:20-26). This week we will be examining passages that will teach us about striking the spiritual balance in our lives that will lead us to growth in Jesus Christ. Examine Ecclesiastes 7:15-18. What extremes do you believe Solomon is talking about? Look specifically at verse 16. How can someone be classified as overrighteous? How about overwise? Could this be referred to as a condition known as being “superspiritual” or “the church cop”? Have you ever been overrighteous? Read Matthew 18:23-35. Can you identify with the wicked servant who had no mercy? This man apparently forgot he was cleansed from past sins. Write down your thoughts on 2 Peter 1:5-9. Write Micah 6:8 down on an index card and meditate upon it throughout the day.

TUESDAY

Let’s first take a look at faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the faith chapter. The Hebrew writer uses the patriarchs as examples of men that were called righteous by God because they showed great faith in their lives. Notice verse 6. What must you have in order to please God? Notice that the writer gives us a definition of faith in this verse as well. How does the writer define faith? Look up faith in a good dictionary and compare definitions. How are the definitions similar? Different? Keeping these definitions in mind, read over chapter 11 in Hebrews and describe how each patriarch showed his faith. As you see from these examples, faith is shown by what you do. You don’t do to get faith; but rather faith causes you to do. Carefully examine James 2:14-26. What must accompany your faith? Is it possible to have faith without having any deeds to show for it? Look at verse 14. Can such a faith save you? Read verse 22. What must work together with faith? What happens to your faith when it works together with actions? Write James 2:17 on an index card and meditate upon it throughout the day.

WEDNESDAY

Now we’re going to examine works. Examine closely Ephesians 2:8-10. Notice that, though we are not saved by righteous deeds, we have been created to do good works, which God prepared in advanced for us to do! That’s why he commands us to let our light so shine before men! Whatever works we do are not even our own; for we have been transformed to do them in Christ Jesus. What is it that saves us then? Have we earned salvation or is it a gift of God? Can you boast about your own works? Why or why not? Is this saving grace conditional upon your obedience to the gospel? (Justify the answer to this question using Scripture). Read carefully 2 Kings 5:1-15. Did Naaman have to follow God’s instructions to healed of his leprosy? Was it the works that cleansed him, or was it God’s grace? Was the healing power in the water or in God? Is your forgiveness of sins conditional on your obedience of the gospel? As you can see from these Scriptures, even though we are not saved by our own deeds (thank God!), we have been created for the purpose of doing good things in the name of God. Also we cannot forget our cleansing of sin--the fact that we received grace upon our obedience to the gospel by faith in Jesus Christ! Praise His everlasting name! Write Titus 2:11-14 down on an index card and meditate upon it throughout the day.

THURSDAY

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! Read Titus 3:5-7. Is salvation based on righteous works? Why has God saved you? Notice how our redemption comes by the Holy Spirit, whom we received as a gift! Notice also, from verse 7, that we have been justified (look up this word in a good dictionary) by God’s grace, not by anything that we have done or ever will do. By the way, what is the result of this justification? Again, is this justification and the gift of the Spirit conditional on your obedience to the gospel? Remember Naaman’s story! Write Ephesians 2:8,9 down on an index card and meditate upon it throughout the day.

FRIDAY

Let’s put all of it together: faith, grace and good works! Highlight these three words in Ephesians 2:8-10. Read Jude 4. Have you used grace as a license to sin? How does God view this licentiousness (look this word up in a dictionary)? Read carefully Titus 2:11-14. What has grace taught you? Make a list of the things you need grace to still teach you. Look at verse 13-14. What must you be eager to do? If our lives are well balanced with grace, faith and works, His appearing should be what we eagerly and hopefully await! Write Romans 6:1-2 down on an index card and meditate upon it throughout the day.

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