Humility, Authority & Great Faith

Humility, Authority & Great Faith

Faith is absolutely central to the Christian life. Without it, we cannot become Christians, live as Christians, grow as Christians, or please God. The New Testament mentions faith and its corresponding verb "believe" over 240 times. Followers of Jesus are primarily known as "believers"—those who have faith in God. But what does great faith actually look like? Jesus encountered thousands of people during His earthly ministry. He witnessed every variety of faith imaginable—from bold confidence to paralyzing doubt. Yet only two people received His commendation for having "great faith." One was a Syrophoenician woman. The other was a Roman centurion whose story reveals the surprising conditions that produce extraordinary faith.

The Courage of Faith

What does it mean to have courage? Is it the absence of fear, or something far more profound? Throughout history, we've celebrated heroes who displayed remarkable bravery in the face of insurmountable odds. But there's a fundamental difference between natural human courage and the courage that flows from faith in God. This distinction changes everything about how we understand boldness, perseverance, and what it truly means to stand firm when the world seems to be crumbling around us.

The Longview of Faith

In the heart of New York City's financial district stands a peculiar monument to short-sighted thinking. "One Seaport," a skyscraper that will forever remain unfinished, leans noticeably to one side—a modern-day Leaning Tower of Pisa. The builders tried to save money by using untested foundation technology instead of drilling down to solid bedrock nearly two hundred feet below. They saved six million dollars and countless hours, but the building began leaning four inches north before it was even half complete. Their attempt to counterbalance the tilt only made things worse, creating what looks like a giant banana reaching toward the sky. This architectural failure serves as a powerful metaphor for how many of us approach life. In a culture obsessed with immediate gratification, quick results, and shortcuts to success, we often sacrifice long-term stability for short-term gains. But what if there's a better way?

Faith Grows by Testing

Nobody likes the word "test." It brings to mind the pressure of measuring up and the possibility of failure. But what if tests aren't designed to make you fail, but to help you grow? There's a profound difference between how Satan tests us and how God does. Satan tempts us to destroy us. God tests us to develop us. Both actions come from the same Greek word in Scripture, but the intentions couldn't be more different. One seeks to tear down; the other to build up.

The City of God

"There's no place like home." Dorothy's famous words from The Wizard of Oz resonate deeply because they touch something universal in the human heart. We all long for a place of safety, familiarity, and comfort. Yet what if God asked you to leave everything—your home, your security, your family—without even telling you where you were going? This is precisely what happened to Abraham, a man nearing what we'd call retirement age, comfortable and respected in his community. God's call came not as a gentle suggestion but as a radical disruption: "Leave everything and go to a place I will show you." And remarkably, Abraham went. His story reveals profound truths about the nature of genuine faith and how we're called to live in this world.