Alpha Session 3: How can we have faith?
We used to ask ourselves questions relating to our faith in God and sometimes even asked doubtful questions about Jesus existence.
However later on we found ourselves asking these qns:
1. People asked me to pray for peace in my heart but I don't think anything will change even if I pray
2. My family is going through Financial ($$) problems , I need God to help but He's taking too long
3. I need to spend time studying for exams and don't have time to go for Church service and have quiet time with God, it's ok right?
When we ask such questions , do we place our faith in
GOD or Personal Feelings?
Let's take a look at the : Cola Challenge
We test the different Colas on the table but did we all get the same answers? ?
Some groups had similar answers but still not every group was sure of their answers although they tasted the colas.
In our Christian walk, some of us have already tasted what Christianity is like but we still have difficulty being sure. Do we base our beliefs in our Personal Feelings or what people tell us? Or do we base it on factual knowledge?
What about placing our faith in GOD ?
Specifically - THE HOLY TRINITY – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Think about what our beverages 3-in-1 coffee or tea..
These have been specifically researched and measured to fit the average consumers taste. It is an almost perfect mix with all 3 elements, coffee, creamer and sugar.
THE HOLY TRINITY is an even more perfect 3-in-1.
How can we base our faith on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
1. God the Father offers us promises
(of authority) John 10: 27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand
(of love) Isiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"says the LORD,
who has compassion on you
Jeremiah 31:3
I have loved you with an everlasting Love, I have drawn you with
Loving Kindness
(of Reassurance)
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart -
Deuteronomy 31:23 Be strong and courageous, for …I myself will be with you.
Let’s Discuss:
a) Do you think u can believe these promises of God??
b) Which would you rather believe in, feelings only or God? Why?
c) What would it take for you to believe in God? Think about someone u know who is a non-believer, do u think the person will believe in God after understanding all of this??
2. What Jesus did?
This is so simple to be told and yet so difficult to feel.
We watched a segment from the movie “Passion of Christ” and saw how Jesus carried the cross after being whipped and eventually very painfully nailed to the cross. Jesus cruxificion was a sign of God’s love for us. That God the Father sent His son to die for us so that we are forgiven.
3. What the Spirit does?
The Holy Spirit as a person of God and a presence within you.
Romans 8:9 “ When we invite Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us.”
The Witness of the Spirit frees us from our sinful self.
Romans 8:2-4
“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering .And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
This verse also tells us that we are set free from a spirit of bondage.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit bears fruit when we invite Jesus into our hearts and the fruit is seen in the verses in Galations, Love, Joy, Peace Patience, Kindness etc.. Remember how some of us went to Philippines and we were able to do God’s work with a sprit of love, joy, peace, patience.
The Fruit Of The Spirit
Galations 5:22 - 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
The Spirit is able to work within us, to transform us, relationships change and we start being conscious about being a better person, being better brothers and sisters in Christ and we start touching lives around us.
Let’s Discus:
1. Does faith have to be a leap in darkness or are there reasons we can be sure of our faith??
2. The talk mentioned that being a Christian changes us, what sort of a person would u like to be.. (Which of those maybe from Galations?)
3. Do you think you can do it on your own or do you think you need God’s presence in your life?
We used to ask ourselves questions relating to our faith in God and sometimes even asked doubtful questions about Jesus existence.
However later on we found ourselves asking these qns:
1. People asked me to pray for peace in my heart but I don't think anything will change even if I pray
2. My family is going through Financial ($$) problems , I need God to help but He's taking too long
3. I need to spend time studying for exams and don't have time to go for Church service and have quiet time with God, it's ok right?
When we ask such questions , do we place our faith in
GOD or Personal Feelings?
Let's take a look at the : Cola Challenge
We test the different Colas on the table but did we all get the same answers? ?
Some groups had similar answers but still not every group was sure of their answers although they tasted the colas.
In our Christian walk, some of us have already tasted what Christianity is like but we still have difficulty being sure. Do we base our beliefs in our Personal Feelings or what people tell us? Or do we base it on factual knowledge?
What about placing our faith in GOD ?
Specifically - THE HOLY TRINITY – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Think about what our beverages 3-in-1 coffee or tea..
These have been specifically researched and measured to fit the average consumers taste. It is an almost perfect mix with all 3 elements, coffee, creamer and sugar.
THE HOLY TRINITY is an even more perfect 3-in-1.
How can we base our faith on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
1. God the Father offers us promises
(of authority) John 10: 27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand
(of love) Isiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"says the LORD,
who has compassion on you
Jeremiah 31:3
I have loved you with an everlasting Love, I have drawn you with
Loving Kindness
(of Reassurance)
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart -
Deuteronomy 31:23 Be strong and courageous, for …I myself will be with you.
Let’s Discuss:
a) Do you think u can believe these promises of God??
b) Which would you rather believe in, feelings only or God? Why?
c) What would it take for you to believe in God? Think about someone u know who is a non-believer, do u think the person will believe in God after understanding all of this??
2. What Jesus did?
This is so simple to be told and yet so difficult to feel.
We watched a segment from the movie “Passion of Christ” and saw how Jesus carried the cross after being whipped and eventually very painfully nailed to the cross. Jesus cruxificion was a sign of God’s love for us. That God the Father sent His son to die for us so that we are forgiven.
3. What the Spirit does?
The Holy Spirit as a person of God and a presence within you.
Romans 8:9 “ When we invite Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us.”
The Witness of the Spirit frees us from our sinful self.
Romans 8:2-4
“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering .And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”
This verse also tells us that we are set free from a spirit of bondage.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit bears fruit when we invite Jesus into our hearts and the fruit is seen in the verses in Galations, Love, Joy, Peace Patience, Kindness etc.. Remember how some of us went to Philippines and we were able to do God’s work with a sprit of love, joy, peace, patience.
The Fruit Of The Spirit
Galations 5:22 - 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
The Spirit is able to work within us, to transform us, relationships change and we start being conscious about being a better person, being better brothers and sisters in Christ and we start touching lives around us.
Let’s Discus:
1. Does faith have to be a leap in darkness or are there reasons we can be sure of our faith??
2. The talk mentioned that being a Christian changes us, what sort of a person would u like to be.. (Which of those maybe from Galations?)
3. Do you think you can do it on your own or do you think you need God’s presence in your life?
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