This week, Pastor Chris taught us that walking by faith is an intimate trust in a powerful yet deeply personal God who leads with love, even when the path ahead is unclear. Using the example of Abraham, this sermon highlights how faith strengthens believers to trust God fully, make sacrifices, choose eternal priorities, and remain patient, persistent, and joyful in the waiting. Ultimately, a life of faith produces lasting spiritual fruit, shaping us into generous, wise stewards who reflect God’s glory and become a blessing to others.
Faith ~ intimate trust in an almighty yet personal God who loves us.
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading; that was the secret of Abraham.” Oswald Chambers
Romans 4:3 (ESV)
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:20–21 (ESV)
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Personal Benefits Walking by Faith:
Trust God
Hebrews 11:8 (NLT)
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
Psalm 115:3–8 (ESV)
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Matthew 6:24–25a (ESV)
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious
“Where is our treasure? Is it on earth, or in heaven? What are we doing? What is the aim of our lives? Are we just living to accumulate money, or to get a position in the world for our children? Or, are we trying to secure those treasures, which we can safely lay up in heaven, becoming rich toward God?” D.L. Moody
Sacrifice
Hebrews 11:9 (NLT)
9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.
2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV)
24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Romans 12:1 (MSG)
1 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Make Eternal Choices
Hebrews 11:10 (NLT)
10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
Luke 12:15, 21 (ESV)
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Be Patient
Hebrews 11:11 (NLT)
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
Isaiah 40:30–31 (ESV)
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Be a Blessing
Hebrews 11:12 (NLT)
12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
Genesis 12:2 (ESV)
I will bless you…so that you will be a blessing.
Acts 20:35 (ESV)
…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Be Persistent
Hebrews 11:13a (NLT)
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them.
Maintain Joy
Hebrews 11:13b (NLT)
Did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.
Welcomed ~ to be happy about, to anticipate with pleasure.
Be Wise Stewards
Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
Haggai 2:8 (ESV)
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (ESV)
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Discussion Questions:
- What stands out to you about Abraham’s faith in Romans 4:20–21?
- According to Matthew 6:24–25, what competes with your trust in God? How can you address that?
- What does it look like to offer your “everyday life” to God (Romans 12:1)?
Application Questions:
- What is one area where you can grow in stewardship?