1.2 Faith

Ask Students about thier opening activity. Why do your friends trust you?

Video Awana ym Faith

What is blind faith? Believing something without evidence, or even opposed to evidene. Blind faith is a highschooler still holding onto Santa, knowing full well where the presents actually come from.

Misconception: Faith is opposed to evidence or believing without any evidence. (Faith is Blind)

John 20:19–31 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Lets be real, faith can be blind. But it doesn’t need to be.

Can we see God? No

Can we touch His nail scarred hands and side like Thomas did? No

John 20:29 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

for we walk by faith, not by sight.

With our physical eyes we cannot see God, But that doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

Can you see the wind? No

So how do you know it is blowing? Experiance, evidence, we can see its work.

So then, God can be witnessed like the wind.

Can we talk to Jesus? Yes

Does God still answer prayer? Yes

Can we find evidence of God in creation? Yes

Illumination: Biblical faith is trusting God in light of what we have reason to believe is true.

Think back to why your friends trust you. They have experianced your character and actions in the past, and therefore put their faith in you for the future.

God has made his presence and character known throughout history. From the stars above declaring his might and power. Psalm 19:1–2 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”

to your own consence in your heart showing your right and wrong. Romans 1:20 “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.”

He doesn’t ask for Blind faith, rather he has made himself known and wants us to build our faith on his evidence.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

God ensures his testimony through his word, so that we can know him even closer.

John 20:30–31 ESV

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Our relationship with God is built like any other relationship, upon a foundation of trust/faith.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Through that faith we have recieved our salvation...

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by 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.

Through faith we live our lives.

Romans 1:17 ESV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”