The Faith of Others Can be a Catalyst on our Journey (HS)

Would you rather be chronically overdressed or under dressed? Why?

Who has influenced you?

Last week, we started talking about a book in the Bible called Hebrews. You could say the book of Hebrews is meant to be a catalyst for the faith of anyone who reads it. Last time, we started reading a really long list of people who were known for their faith in God. These were people who didn't just believe in God in theory — they proved they trusted God with their actions. We'll get back to the book of Hebrews in just a second, but first I want to give you a little background on someone who Hebrews talks about a lot. His name is Moses.

The full story of Moses can be found in the book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible. Here's the summary. Before Moses was ever born, God's people (the nation of Israel) was taken captive and enslaved by the nation of Egypt. After a bunch of generations in Egypt, the enslaved Israelites had grown into such a large group of people that Pharaoh (the ruler of Egypt) feared they would rebel against him. To protect his power and keep the Israelites oppressed, Pharaoh ordered all of the firstborn boys of Israel to be drowned in the Nile River. One of those firstborn boys was a baby named Moses. To save her son, Moses' mother put Moses in a basket and placed him the Nile River, trusting God to rescue him. From the river, Moses was picked up by none other than Pharaoh's own daughter, who raised him as her own. But when Moses grew up, he wasn't okay with the way Pharaoh was enslaving Moses' people.

Even though Moses had all the power and privileges that came with being a member of the royal family, he threw it all away to protect an enslaved man who was being beaten by one of Pharaoh's soldiers. Moses fled Egypt to avoid being killed, and it's then he met God in a pretty incredible way.

Anyone know how God spoke to Moses?

Burning bush. God showed up in the form of a bush that was literally on fire and spoke to Moses from the flames. Here's what God said . . .

Exodus 3:10–12 ESV

10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

You might think, after God miraculously protected Moses as a baby, that Moses would be ready to trust God with anything, but it took Moses a minute to find his faith. Moses struggled with a lot of doubt, thinking he wasn't good or talented enough for God to use. To help Moses find the faith he needed, God promised to be with him through it all — but God also gave Moses some help by sending Moses' brother Aaron along with him.

Hebrews 11:23–29 ESV

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Moses' story of faith wasn't just a catalyst for the faith of the people he helped rescue from Egypt. Moses' faith was a catalyst for faith of the earliest followers of Jesus, and continues to be a catalyst for our faith today.

Watch how this legacy of faith continues to spread from person to person (or catalyst to catalyst) throughout history

Hebrews 11:30–12:2 ESV

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

How should we view these different demonstrations of the same faith?

They all glorify God. In the old testament big names achievements done through faith, and the new testament believer’s faithful suffering and persecution without denouncing Christ. All of it is for His ultimate glory.

It doesn’t even always need to be that extreme. Stepping out and doing something in faith knowing that it is the right thing to do is still honoring to God and walking in the good works He has prepared beforehand for you to do.

Sitting with the lonely kid at lunch, not saying what is on your mind because it would be incredibly unloving. Every aspect of our lives should be lived by faith.

Know though that in my saying this, faith is not easy. While we live in America where the American gospel worships a sisified Jesus that is all love and no wrath, when you tell others of the good news of Christ, you will be persecuted, that is for sure. However, look at what the author of Hebrews calls a "great cloud of witnesses" — the people who went before us and showed us what faith can look like.

Scripture is full of the stories like these, but Scripture isn't the only place we can find catalysts like these. They're around us even now, if we know where to look! Because the faith of others can be a catalyst on our journeys.

So as we're running this race we call our faith journeys, how can we make sure we're surrounded by the kind of catalysts who can help our faith grow?

FIND YOUR CATALYSTS:

This week, what if you tried to find a few different kinds of people and asked them what they're learning? Someone whose faith journey is new. Someone whose faith journey is similar to yours. Someone who's further ahead of you in their life or on their faith journey. Someone who's faith journey you could be catalyst for.

KEEP YOUR FOCUS:

Your faith journey is like a marathon. We all get tired, frustrated, and discouraged sometimes. But all good runners know that, if you want to finish strong, you have to stay focused — and we can help each other do that. This week, what if you and a friend set a goal to learn and grow together somehow? What if you picked a devotional or reading plan on the Bible App and decided to read it together? What if you set reminders to encourage, pray for, and reach out to each other as you do?

KEEP GOING:

Yes, your faith is like a marathon, but you're not competing with the people next to you. You're not behind. You're not losing. There's no one you need to beat. You can go at your own pace — just keep going. Maybe it's easy for you to identify people who are positive influences on your faith journey, or maybe not. If you're struggling to figure out who can be a catalyst to help you grow, reach out to one of the adults here today. We'd love to help you figure that out! Moses' faith was catalyzed, in part, by the faith of his mother, the faith of his brother, and the faith of his people. The people of Israel's faith was catalyzed, in part, by the faith of Moses. And our faith today can be catalyzed by the people around us. They don't have to be perfect to have a faith that impacts ours. We're already surrounded by people who can become everyday catalysts for our faith. The race we're running can be tiring at times, but it can be pretty exciting when we realize we get to run it with other people! Because it's true — the faith of others can be a catalyst on our journey.