Faith Connects

1 Corinthians 13:13 “13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Hebrews 10:23–25 “23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Introduction

Faith connects us to Christ

Faith is the conduit by which we are joined personally to Christ.

Ephesians 3:17 “17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”

—Faith is how Christ takes residence within us.

Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

—Faith unites us to Christ’s death and resurrection.

John 15:5 “5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

—Our living connection to Christ depends on abiding faith.

Faith connects us in Christ

Faith joins believers together in Christ as one body.

Ephesians 4:4–6 “4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

—Our shared faith is the basis of unity.

Galatians 3:26–28 “26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

—Faith levels barriers and makes us one family.

Romans 12:4–5 “4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

—Faith binds diverse people into one body.

Faith is communal

Faith flourishes in shared life, not isolation.

Philippians 1:27 “27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

—Faith is meant to be pursued together.

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

—Faith expresses itself in community encouragement.

Acts 2:42 “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

—Early church faith was deeply communal.

Faith builds the Body

Faith isn’t static; it strengthens and matures the Church.

Faith calls us to encourage and strengthen one another. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

Ephesians 4:11–13 “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

—Faith leads to corporate growth and maturity.

Colossians 2:6–7 “6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

—Faith grounds and grows us.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 “12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”

—Faith assembles diverse parts into one functioning body.

Faith is active

Faith is not passive belief—it shows in obedient action.

James 2:17–18 “17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

—Living faith always acts.

Galatians 5:6 “6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

—True faith expresses itself in love.

Hebrews 11:1–6 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

—Faith acts because it trusts God.

Conclusion