Introduction to the Fundamentals

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Getting ready for the series The Fundamentals of Faith. This week, let’s discuss what The Fundamentals of Faith means, why they are important, and why we are going over these.

In life, in sports, in work, in relationships, and in our walk with Christ Jesus, doing things well typically means doing the fundamentals well.

If you want to grow in your abilities in any part of life, you need to do the basics the right way. You need to practice them to where they are muscle memory. BUT THAT MEANS PRACTICING THEM THE RIGHT WAY, SO YOU DON’T LEARN TO DO THEM WRONG.

Being a disciple of Jesus is no different. The only difference really, is that we have the Helper that Jesus told us about - the Holy Spirit to guide us.

In basketball the fundamentals are dribbling, passing, shooting, speed, and endurance.

In soccer they are dribbling with your feet, passing, speed, and endurance.

In business (which they differ based on your type of business) they basically are communication, follow through, honesty/integrity, knowing your trade.

In relationships they are communication, communication, communication, and commitment.

In faith and in walking with Jesus, while some might have slightly different lists here, these are the fundamentals that we will be going through:

Prayer

God’s Word - Reading and/vs Studying

Trinity and Spiritual Aspects (including spiritual warfare)

The Church (and community)

Living for Jesus, it’s more than merely accepting

Service - Crawl, Walk, Run

Discipleship

Holiness (being part of CHoG)

So we are going to take the next 9 weeks and go through these fundamentals and see what walking with Jesus looks like and takes on our part. We must grow in our relationship with Him and not be satisfied staying at the starting point.

Hebrews 5:12–14 NLT

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

I’m not pointing at anyone here. This is not commentary on my part. I’m simply pointing out that people not wanting to grow in their faith and walk with Jesus has been a thing since the beginning of Christianity. And we are told to move beyond this.

And to move beyond, and to do so in a healthy way and a successful way, we need to practice the fundamentals.

Paul even points to this fact in this very section of Hebrews - “who through training, have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Or how the ESV puts it - Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

So we see that we must grow in our faith, that is part of our calling in Christ. But is there a reason? Are we to do this simply because we are told to?

Galatians 6:7–10 NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Now I’m not one to focus on the rewards of following God and doing things His way. I know for a lot of people, that’s the main driving force. But I really don’t think it should be.

I think that we should follow Jesus because we love Jesus. We should follow God because we want God and love God, not for what we can get from Him.

But again, that comes with maturing. Watch little kids, they LOVE their parents. Until their parents don’t give them what they want. The watch the temper tantrum ensue.

But as they mature and realize their parents do what they believe is best for them, then their love for their parents and family matures as well.

So in reality, we are learning these fundamentals so that we can grow in our understanding, grow in our faith, grow in our maturity with God and love Him in a more full way.

We are doing this to get closer to God, and to get closer to God as a family as well as individuals.

We are going over this together so that we are all on the same page and starting at the same point together. AND we are doing this with the hopes that we can and will hold each other accountable. Lifting one another up when we slip and fall.

We were not meant to do this life alone. Ecc4.9-10

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 ESV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

If you find that you are on milk, let’s work together to get you onto solid foods. If you are already on solid foods, let’s practice together these fundamentals and lift one another up.

We can all always improve our walk with God. Let’s do this together, as a family.

Pray - Father God, thank you for your blessings, provision, and guidance. We ask that you continue to lead us in this life, continually towards and with you. Help us to practice and work on the fundamentals of living in the Kingdom of God. Prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for the joy of these things. Prepare us for transformation and for growing ever closer to you. We ask that you continue to make us more like Jesus every single day. Pull us from temptation, prompt us to do your will in the world, and keep us strong together. Keep us safe with this weather, and help us to lean on you and lean on one another when we are in need.

Thank you Lord. In Jesus name - amen.