Blog Post
Making Faith Goals—by Justin Renton
Justin Renton • January 16, 2023
Sermon summary:
Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it's impossible to please God. Great faith's not about being hopeful.
Verse 3 Faith involves trust.
V4 Faith calls for sacrifice.
V Faith requires reverence.
V8 Faith involves obedience.
V13 Faith brings perspective. When we look at it from an earthly perspective, it doesn't make sense.
Five reasons why you should set faith goals:
- It's a spiritual responsibility. Luke 13:32
Philippians 3:12 Paul had goals to win the prize God set before him. Without goals we drift through life. Goals stretch our faith, and make us rely on God. - Goals focus us. Lots of things distract and compete for our attention.
- Goals keep you going. Job 6:11 Life can be brutal. If you don't have something to live for, you can get depressed. Your goals don't have to be big (e.g. to serve others).
- Faith builds your character. What you become through the process is more important rather than what you achieve.
2 Peter 1:5 Keep growing, never stop. We will never become what God wants us to be without being intentional. Set a goal and have a memory scripture. ( in your marriage, parenting, leadership, or to be more like Christ). - Good goals will be rewarded. 2 Peter 1:5–8 If you add to these things you will never stumble.
Before setting goals, ask yourself:
* Will this goal honour God?
* Is this goal motivated by love? 2 Cor 14.
* Will this goal end up with me relying on God more?
To embrace Jesus's mission, I must first clothe myself with Jesus and have his character formed in me. He must become greater, I must become less. Then I"ll be able to do as Jesus did.
God's grace is with me. We need each other. Grace is a gift.
My Story, His Glory. God wants to glorify himself through our lives and always shows up when least expected. As his followers, he entrusts his flock to us. He expects us to care for one another, build one another up, eradicate gossip and slander from our lives and forgive one another.
The world longs to see our Father, and he wants to use us to show what goodness looks like. Our role is to become more like Jesus and to love him, become more like him, and intercede for people.