A FAITH THAT WORKS IN REAL LIFE

Text: Mark 11:20–26

1. Opening – Connecting With Youth Reality

Let’s be honest tonight. A lot of young people believe in God, but live as if they’re on their own.

We pray only when things go wrong

We doubt before we even try

We carry wounds from rejection, betrayal, and disappointment

In Mark 11, Jesus is speaking to young disciples (13-20’s ) who also struggled with fear, doubt, and insecurity. And He teaches them something powerful:

Faith is not church talk — faith is for real life.

2. The Fig Tree and Fake Faith (vv. 20–21)

Mark 11:20–21 NIV

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Jesus uses this experience to teach His disciples a lesson about The Power of Biblical Faith.

When we exercise faith in a biblical way, we can expect amazing results.

The faith of God’s people allowed them to receive answers through prayer for things that seemed impossible.

• Joshua 10:12–14—Joshua commanded the sun to stand still so that Israel could defeat the Amorites.

• Isaiah 38:1–6 — King Hezekiah was told that he would die. He prayed to the Lord, and God added 15 years to his life.

• 1 Samuel 17:1–54 — A teenager named David believed God for power to defeat a giant named Goliath. God gave him victory.

• Daniel 3:1–30 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God for protection from the power of a pagan king and a fiery furnace. God met them in the furnace and protected them there.

Faith is not church talk — faith is for real life.

The day before… The fig tree looked alive. It had leaves, but no fruit. The fig tree became a living sermon illustration.

Today, we could call this fake faith: or “The danger of spiritual appearances”

Bible verses on Instagram

Worship playlists

Church selfies

But no real relationship with God

👉 God is not impressed by appearances. He is looking for fruit.

Honest question: Is your faith real, or is it just for show?

3. “Have Faith in God” – Faith Is Not a Feeling (v. 22)

Peter was so impressed ,…“Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!

perhaps he was wondering how can he do that!

“Jesus answered”…

Mark 11:22 NIV

22 “Have faith in God,”…

Jesus doesn’t say:

When you feel a goosebumps

When you’re hype

He din’t say…

Have faith in yourself

Have faith in your pastor

Have faith in your church

He says: “Have faith in God.”

Faith is trusting God even when you feel nothing

Illustration You don’t see Wi-Fi, but you trust it. The moment you stop trusting, you disconnect.

👉 Faith works when you stay connected to God.

4. Real Mountains in Young People’s Lives (vv. 23–24) – 8 minutes

Mark 11:23–24 NIV

23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Jesus talks about mountains — and young people know what that means:

Anxiety

Depression

Hidden addictions

Family pressure

Fear of the future

Guilt from the past

Jesus doesn’t deny the mountains. He teaches us how to face them.

👉 Pray … “say it to God what you need”… believing God can act - 👉 Talk to God before you talk to people - “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”.

Key statement

Faith doesn’t change God — faith change us to experience the miracle.

While Jesus points to the great Object of faith and reminds us of the Opportunities for faith, He also mentions some Obstacles to faith.

Although faith in God is powerful and allows us to experience the incredible and receive the impossible, this faith can be hindered.

5. Forgiveness – The Invisible Weight (vv. 25–26)

Mark 11:25–26 NIV

25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” 26

This is where Jesus gets very personal.

Many young people:

Don’t trust because they were hurt

Don’t pray because they’re bitter

Don’t move forward because they’re stuck in the past

Forgiveness doesn’t change the past, but it changes your future.

Illustration: “The scissors girl”

👉 Forgiveness is the scissors that cut the ropes.

6. Practical Applications

Stop living a fake faith

Trust God for real

Pray with expectation - “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”.

Let go of what’s holding you back - “if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them”,

7. Altar Call – A Night of Decision

Tonight is not about entertainment. It’s about decision.

If you:

Are tired of pretending

Want a real relationship with God

Need to forgive someone

Want to give your life to Jesus

Want to start over

👉 Tonight can be a turning point.

(Invite them forward or into a moment of prayer)

8. Closing Prayer

Lord, we don’t want a shallow faith.

Heal hidden wounds, break invisible chains, restore our trust in You.

Tonight we choose to believe. Tonight we choose to forgive. Tonight we choose real life in You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CLOSING SLIDE / KEY PHRASE

“Faith that doesn’t change your life isn’t real faith.”