The Greater Faith
A Faith and Hope of Certainty leads us to the Holy City of God.
Get Ready for the House of Worship!
1. We come to worship as a community.
Jonathan Kozol’s book Amazing Grace borrows its title from that old hymn. It is a narrative study of the lives of children in the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district in the United States. One of the people described in this book is Anthony, a twelve-year-old boy who has been exposed to more street violence, crime, and poverty than a young life ought to endure, but who has also experienced the tender ministries of a local church. When Kozol noticed that Anthony often spoke of “the kingdom of God,” he asked Anthony to write a description of what he meant by such language. At first the boy resisted the suggestion, but a few days later he showed Kozol three pages in his spiral notebook titled “God’s Kingdom.” There, among other things, Anthony had written:
No violence will be in heaven. There will be no guns or drags or IRS. You won’t have to pay taxes. You’ll recognize all the children who have died when they were little. Jesus will be good to them and play with them. At night he’ll come and visit at your house (Kozol, Amazing Grace, p. 238).
2. We come to worship with a sincere Heart.
3. We come to worship hoping and holding to the promise.
a) Personal Confession
b) Mutual Encouragement
c) Gathering with other Believers
d.) Keep Near
1) Remember those who have fallen
2) Remember those who have endured
Get ready for the House of Faith
1. Faith takes God at His Word
a. It anticipates the future
b. It evaluates the present
2. Faith wins God’s Approval
3. Faith recognizes God’s Power
4. Faith challenges our Cowardice
All these characters died in faith, this is, under the rule of faith, with the promises of God deeply engraved on the heart and mind, but without the joy of seeing their fulfilment.