How to BE Faithful - July 5, 2026

How to BE Faithful - July 5, 2026

Facing It With Faith How to BE Faithful Jon Fredricks Today's Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, 6-16, 32-40 NIV   Hebrews 11:1, 6-16, 32-40 NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.   1) BEING FAITHFUL IS JESUS FOCUSED Hebrews 12:2 NIV 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…   Luke 18:40-42 NIV 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”   Matthew 7:22-24 NIV 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.   Mark 12:30 NIV 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’   2) BEING FAITHFUL IS COMMUNITY CONNECTED Hebrews 10:39 NIV 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.   1 Peter 5:9 NIV 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.   3) BEING FAITHFUL IS HEAVENLY REWARDED Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV   Philippians 3:8 NIV What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ   1 John 2:15-17 NIV   Revelation 2:10 NIV

A Decision We Need - June 28, 2026

Facing It With Faith A Decision We Need Jon Fredricks Today's Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6 NIV   Hebrews 11:1-6 NASB Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.   Hebrews 11:2 International Children’s Bible 2 People who lived in the past became famous because of faith.   1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.   2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolishstrongholds.   2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.   2 Timothy 1:7 NIV 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.   Acts 1:8 NIV 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   1) OBEDIENCE Philippians 2:13 NIV 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.   2) PRAYER EFFECTIVELY Matthew 17:19-20 NIV Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”   3) SHARE JESUS 1 Peter 3:15 NIV But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,   4) CONQUERING HABITUAL SIN Romans 6:6-7 NIV 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.   5) LOVE Galatians 5:6 NIV 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.   1 John 4:16 NIV 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.   Hebrews 11:6 NIV 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God…   Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.   Hebrews 11:1-2 NASB Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old gained approval.   6) DECIDE TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS - TODAY, FOR NOW, AND ALWAYS John 3:16 NIV 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Don't Shrink! - June 21, 2026

Facing It With Faith Don't Shrink! Bobby Humes Today's Scripture: Hebrews 10:38-39 NIV   Hebrews 10:38-39 NIV But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.   James 2:19 NIV You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.   Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.   Hebrews 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.   James 2:14-17 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.   Romans 12:3 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.   Mark 9:23b-24 NIV “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 1) RECOGNIZE THE RACE, THROW OFF THE WEIGHT, AVOID THE TANGLE, AND RUN BY FAITH Hebrews 12:1 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,   2) STAND UP TO SIN BY FAITH 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.    3) BE WASHED (RINSE AND REPEAT) 1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   4) TRUST GOD BY FAITH Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.   Hebrews 11:7 NIV By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.   Hebrews 11:8 NIV By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.   Hebrews 11:11 NIV And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.    Hebrews 11:35b-39 NIV There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning;  they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,   Hebrews 12:1b-3 NIV And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Sojourners: Our Eternal Hope - June 14, 2026

REAL ID: Discovering the God-made Masterpiece You Really Are Sojourners: Our Eternal Hope Jon Fredricks Today's Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV   Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.   Hebrews 11:9 ASV 9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:   Hebrews 11:10 NIV 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.   Hebrews 9:15 NIV 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.   1) SOJOURNERS HAVE A CERTAIN HOPE Hebrews 11:1 NIV 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.   1 Corinthians 15:18-20 NIV 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.   John 14:2 NIV 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?   John 14:3 NIV 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   Philippians 1:21 NIV 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.   2) SOJOURNERS COURAGEOUSLY SERVE Hebrews 11:13 NIV 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died…   John 13:3-4 NIV 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper and *laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself.   Colossians 3:23-24 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.   Matthew 25:21 NIV “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’   3) SOJOURNERS BRING OTHERS TOO! John 14:6 NIV 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   Acts 1:8 NIV 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   4) SOJOURNERS ENDURE Hebrews 13:14 NIV 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.   Hebrews 12:2-3 NASB 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Belonging - June 7, 2026

REAL ID: Discovering the God-made Masterpiece You Really Are Belonging Jon Fredricks Today's Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV   Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   John 10:30 NIV 30 I and the Father are one.   Genesis 1:26 NIV 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…”   Genesis 2:18 NIV 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone…”   Genesis 28:3 NIV 3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.   John 17:20-23 NIV 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.   1 John 4:20-21 NIV 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.   Matthew 16:18 NIV 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.   1) WE MAKE SPACE Hebrews 10:25 NIV 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   Matthew 6:33 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   2) WE TAKE RISK Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.   1 Corinthians 12:25-27 NIV 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.   Galatians 6:2 NIV 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.   3) WE TAKE OWNERSHIP Hebrews 10:24 NIV 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,   1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.   Romans 12:5 NIV 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.   4) WE CREATE ROOM FOR MORE Luke 14:23 NIV 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.   Matthew 16:19 NIV 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”   Mark 12:33 NIV 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”