·      Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see – Hebrews 11:1

·      If you don’t know how faith works, you won’t know how to fix it when it breaks. 

·      Frederich Buechner - Faith is the word that describes the direction our feet start moving when we find that we are loved. Faith is stepping out into
the unknown with nothing to guide us but a hand just beyond our grasp.

·      Faith is a decision. 

·      Faith is a decision to move in God’s direction. 

·      Faith is movement. 

·      Faith is broken when you stop walking with Jesus. 

·      Romans 9:30 - 30 What then shall we say? That the
Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 

·       Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

·       Faith makes you right with God.

·       31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 

·       “I can be right with God if I am good enough.” 

·       You are too religious when you condemn and judge instead of help.

·       You are too religious when your goal is knowledge about God, instead of walking with God.

·       You are too religious when you want others to notice how good you are.

·       You are too religious when your rules keep people from Jesus.

·       You are too religious when attending church is checking off an item on your list.

·       You are too religious when baptism, baby dedication, or being an American checks an item on your list.

·       33 As it is written:

·       “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

·       The only way to be made right with God is through Jesus

·       Faith means you trust what God does for you, not what you do for yourself. 

·       If your faith is not working, check and see if you are  following Jesus or trying to be good enough. 

·       If you feel tension between you and God, accept his gift of Jesus. 

·       Heavenly Father, I confess I have sinned. Forgive me.  From now on, I will follow Jesus.  Amen.  

·       PIX – David Block

Sermon Discussion Questions

Starter:  Describe a moment when you did not feel good
enough.  What made you feel that way?

1.     Read Romans 9:30

2.     How would  you describe righteousness to an unchurched person?

3.     Why do think the Gentiles did not pursue or hunt
righteousness?

4.     Do you know someone who met Jesus and turned his
or her life around?  Was it an example of a righteousness of faith?

5.     Read Romans 9:30-32

6.     In your opinion, why would a Jewish person struggle
with the idea that righteousness did not come from keeping the law?

7.     What are the modern equivalents of “law-keepers?”

8.     Verse 32 speaks of “the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  Shame relates to not being right with God.  How would you counsel someone who feels shame for their past?