{"id":6512,"date":"2016-01-16T11:12:48","date_gmt":"2016-01-16T17:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/christiancrier\/?p=6512"},"modified":"2016-01-23T14:36:58","modified_gmt":"2016-01-23T20:36:58","slug":"a-sunday-school-lesson-on-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/christiancrier\/2016\/01\/16\/a-sunday-school-lesson-on-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"A Sunday School Lesson On Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Here is a Sunday school or Bible study lesson on faith that may prove helpful.<\/p>\n

Faith Defined<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Bible itself defines what faith is and it \u201cis the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen<\/span>\u201d (Heb 11:1). There is an assurance in our faith and a conviction of things not seen yet known to be true. Faith is not blind but sees the evidence of the creation (Psalm 19:1-2) which makes it foolish to not believe in God (Psalm 14:1). Those who don\u2019t believe in God actually have no excuse or as Paul writes, \u201cwhat can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse<\/span>\u201d (Rom 1:19-20). They can deny God but the evidence of the creation is so clear but they still, \u201cby their unrighteousness suppress the truth<\/span>\u201d (Rom 1:18b) however, \u201cThe righteous shall live by faith<\/span>\u201d (Rom 1:17b).<\/p>\n

What is faith?<\/p>\n

Is faith tangible?<\/p>\n

How do the unrighteous suppress the truth?<\/p>\n

Why do they deny the obvious existence of God?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fearing God<\/span><\/h2>\n

Luke 8:25 \u201cHe said to them, \u201cWhere is your faith?\u201d And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, \u201cWho then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him<\/span>?\u201d<\/p>\n

This verse was just after Jesus had commanded the storm to cease and everything instantly became calm. This made the disciples even more afraid as they said that He \u201ccommands even wind and waters, and they obey him<\/span>.\u201d Why shouldn\u2019t they obey the One Who created them? God is sovereign over nature and it is nothing for Him to supernaturally suspend the laws of nature for they are not really the laws of nature but God\u2019s laws instilled within His creation. Jesus would ask us, \u201cWhere is your faith?\u201d<\/p>\n

Why did they fear Jesus even more after He calmed the storm?<\/p>\n

What type of fear did they have of Jesus?<\/p>\n

Why did Jesus say \u201cWhere is your faith?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Now-faith-is-the<\/a><\/p>\n

Dead or Alive Faith?<\/span><\/h2>\n

James 2:14 \u201cSo also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone has faith in something but for the Christian, saving faith will produce fruits of righteousness or works for God\u2019s glory. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and has no works is lying to himself or herself because genuine faith has works that are a byproduct of their salvation. They are not saved by works but a saving faith will necessarily produce works. James goes on to explain why a faith without works is dead or not real saving faith by writing \u201cIf a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, \u201cGo in peace, be warmed and filled,\u201d without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead<\/span>\u201d (James 2:15-17). James never says that we\u2019re saved by works but is saying that \u201cfaith apart from works is dead<\/span>\u201d (James 2:26b) so \u201cWhat good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him<\/span>\u201d (James 2:14)? No, that is not real faith and we\u2019re only saved by trusting in Christ and those who trust in Christ will do things for Him (Matt 25).<\/p>\n

How can we be sure our faith is real?<\/p>\n

Why type of works does our faith produce?<\/p>\n

Do you know a Christian that professes faith but doesn\u2019t produce any good works?<\/p>\n

What would you tell them?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shrinking Back in Faith<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hebrews 10:39 \u201cBut we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those who claim to have faith but shrink back or fall away, they are not really saved because only \u201cthose who have faith<\/span> [will] preserve their souls<\/span>\u201d because their faith is real. The author of Hebrews writes that \u201cif he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him<\/span>\u201d (Heb 10:38b) because the \u201crighteous one shall live by faith<\/span>\u201d (Heb 10:38a). The author advises us to \u201cdraw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water<\/span> [so] let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful<\/span>\u201d (Heb 10:22-23).<\/p>\n

Why can we have assurance in drawing near to God?<\/p>\n

Is our faith from us or from God?<\/p>\n

What does \u201cshrink back\u201d or \u201cfall away\u201d mean?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pleasing God<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hebrews 11:6 \u201cAnd without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Imagine that I am going to pick you up at your house and take you somewhere. If I told you that I was coming but you didn\u2019t believe me, that would hurt my feelings because you didn\u2019t believe what I told you. That\u2019s basically calling me a liar so if we have no faith in Him, we cannot please God because we don\u2019t believe Him. If someone doesn\u2019t believe what you tell them, they don\u2019t have faith in what you said and if you know it\u2019s true, you\u2019re not going to be happy about their not believing you. In similar fashion, we can say we believe in God but if we don\u2019t have faith in Him to do what He says He will do (e.g. John 3:16) then God is not pleased. In fact, it\u2019s impossible to please God if we don\u2019t believe Him.<\/p>\n

Why can we not please God without faith?<\/p>\n

Why is it impossible to please Him without having faith in Him?<\/p>\n

What\u2019s an example in your life where you were telling the truth and no one believed you?<\/p>\n

What did that feel like?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/p>\n

One of the greatest statements of faith shows us the original source of our faith and it\u2019s not in us but as Paul writes, it is \u201cby grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast<\/span>\u201d (Eph 2:8-9). If faith is a gift then we can\u2019t even claim responsibility for it but our faith is only as strong as our trust or belief in God. We are not saved by works but saved for works because \u201cwe are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them<\/span>\u201d (Eph 2:10).<\/p>\n

Article by Jack Wellman<\/span><\/h4>\n

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer\u2019s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is a Sunday school or Bible study lesson on faith that may prove helpful. Faith Defined The Bible itself defines what faith is and it \u201cis the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen\u201d (Heb 11:1). There is an assurance in our faith and a conviction of things not seen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1485,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[201,1420],"tags":[1414,13,899],"class_list":["post-6512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-study","category-sunday-school-lesson","tag-belief","tag-faith","tag-trust"],"yoast_head":"\nA Sunday School Lesson On Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here is a Sunday school or Bible study lesson on faith that may prove helpful. 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