As believers, life-change should be part of our DNA. Our summer series, Lives of Faith, is an exploration of ancient life-change stories from both the Old and New Testaments. We will trace the contours of transformation in three men and three women as they come to terms with the ways that God initiates, sustains, and accomplishes salvation. While Jesus was and is the only utterly faithful person, the image of his faithfulness can be seen in the lives of both his followers and those who came before him. As we hear their voices and see God's redemptive power in their stories, we hope to reflect their faith in our own lives.
WEEK 1: Lydia
July 5 Acts 16
WEEK 2: Mary of Magdala
July 12 John 20
WEEK 3: Rahab
July 19 Joshua 2
WEEK 4: Naaman
July 26 2 Kings 5
WEEK 5: Ezra
August 2 Ezra 7
WEEK 6: Stephen
August 9 Acts 6
I Am Not The Same | Grace Midtown | Apple Music
John 16:33 • Psalm 107:13-15 • Mark 13: 24-26 • 1 John 5:4-5
God With Us | All Sons and Daughters | Apple Music
Joshua 1:9 • John 1:14 • Psalm 68:19-20
Christ Be Magnified | Cody Carnes | Apple Music
Psalm 34:1-3 • Romans 6:3-5 • Revelation 5:11-13
Faithfulness | Hillsong Worship | Apple Music
Lamentations 3:22-23 • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 • Romans 15:13
Give It All | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
Psalm 101:1 • Romans 12:1 • Romans 5:8 • Galatians 2:20
Man of Sorrows | Hillsong Worship | Apple Music
Isaiah 53 • 1 Timothy 2:5-6 • Hebrews 5:5-9
Never Be the Same | People & Songs | Apple Music
John 4:13-14 • 2 Corinthians 5:17 • Romans 8:11
The One Who Saves | Hillsong Worship | Apple Music
1 Chronicles 16:31-35 • Ezra 3:11 • Jeremiah 33:11
Sing to the Lord (Psalm 96) | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
Psalm 96 • Isaiah 49:13 • Psalm 19:1-4
King of Kings | Hillsong Worship | Apple Music
Romans 1:16-17 • Hebrews 12:1 • Acts 18
Build My Life | Passion | Apple Music
Matthew 7:24-27 • Colossians 2:6-8 • Psalm 145:3
Christ Be Magnified | Cody Carnes | Apple Music
Psalm 34:1-3 • Romans 6:3-5 • Revelation 5:11-13
Center My Life | Austin Stone Worship | Apple Music
Hebrews 12:2 • Matthew 6:21,33 • Galatians 2:20 • Colossians 3:1
Hope to Carry On | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
1 Thessalonians 3 • 1 Thessalonians 1:3 • 1 Peter 1:7
All Things Together | 10,000 Fathers | Apple Music
Revelation 22:13 • Colossians 1:17
I Will Look Up | Elevation Worship | Apple Music
Psalm 57:7-11 • Isaiah 26:1-8 • 2 Samuel 22:26-31
No Greater Love | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
John 15:13 • Romans 5:1-11 • Ephesians 5:2 • Galatians 5:13
Mighty God (Another Hallelujah) | Elevation Worship | Apple Music
Mark 4:39 • Revelation 19:6-8
More Like Jesus | Passion | Apple Music
John 3:30 • 1 Peter 2:21 • Romans 8:29 • Ephesians 4:22-24
Endless Surrender | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
Hebrews 4:12 • Philippians 3:8-11 • Titus 3:3-8
Greater Than All Our Words | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
Psalm 19:1 • Romans 12:1 • Job 40:4
I Am Not The Same | Grace Midtown | Apple Music
John 16:33 • Psalm 107:13-15 • Mark 13: 24-26 • 1 John 5:4-5
Give Me Faith | Elevation Worship | Apple Music
Psalm 73:25-26 • Isaiah 40:28-31 • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Behold | Grace Church Worship | Apple Music
1 Peter 3:18 • Isaiah 53:3-5 • Revelation 19:11-16 • Philippians 2:6-11
These daily readings will help prepare you for the upcoming teaching you will hear this weekend at Grace Church. These passages will create some context for the sermon by showing you Scriptures the teacher might be quoting and some passages that contain related ideas. Our hope is that as you follow this reading plan, it will help you become more defined and directed by Scripture.
What do you typically think of when you hear the word “hospitality”? What cultural connotations does that word have?
God created room for us through his Son, Jesus. Our only response can be to create room for others. How should this truth shape our practice of biblical hospitality?
Can you think of someone in your life who has extended true, biblical hospitality to you during a time of need? How did that affect you?
What does it look like for you to live “with open hands” with the things that are important to you? How can you leverage those resources to serve others?
How is biblical hospitality different from our cultural norm of entertaining? What are some practical ways you can move towards practicing biblical hospitality?
Although Lydia is a successful, independent businesswoman, she puts herself in a position to hear God’s truth. She does not rely on her own autonomy.
When God changes Lydia’s heart through the gospel, her entire life is transformed.
Likewise, when Jesus takes our sin and transforms our lives, we can look at everything from a different perspective. The things he has blessed us with are no longer ours—they are available for the body of Christ.
Lydia’s response of hospitality is immediate and without hesitation. In a decision of inherent risk, she opens her home and her life to people she does not know in order to further God’s kingdom.
Hospitality is about more than opening our homes. It is about opening our lives, making ourselves vulnerable, and using our most treasured resources to care for others.
We often confuse hospitality with entertaining. In our culture, entertaining is about promoting ourselves. In contrast, hospitality is about serving others and reflecting the generosity of Jesus.
Consider the continuum of propositional versus personal faith. Where do you think you land? Why?
Do you view the truths in the Bible as ideas to evaluate, or are they life, health, and joy to you? How can you grow in self-awareness of the weight of what Jesus has done for you?
Jesus does not need us to be right. Where do you tend to look for answers and a “right position”? Instead, consider how you can acknowledge the brokenness of the world and focus on being devoted to Jesus.
Where do you tend to seek comfort in distractions (social media, food, travel, politics, TV)? What are some practical ways you can move towards Jesus instead?
“You have to let go of the blessing you want in order to get the blessing that you need.” What “blessing” are you striving after? What does it look like for you to give that desire to Jesus?
While we often view the truths of Scripture as propositional, Mary’s faith is fundamentally personal. She is entirely devoted to and has an intimate faith in the person of Jesus.
Truth is not fundamentally about ideas; Truth is a person to love.
Jesus’ life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension were intensely personal. Like Mary, we must feel the weight of what Jesus has done for us.
Mary lingers in her grief and confusion over Jesus’ missing body. Although she is wrong propositionally, her heart is bent towards Jesus. He rewards her faithfulness with grace and mercy.
In the same way, we need to seek the person of Jesus above finding the right answers. We must embrace the brokenness of the world and strive to serve the body of Christ.
If we want to experience the presence of Jesus in our lives, we have to stop seeking comfort and distraction.
We must make ourselves dependent on Jesus by using our resources to serve others instead of seeking our own comfort. If we are willing to linger and love with a heart to serve, Jesus will do extraordinary things.
We know that Rahab is a person of faith because her actions are evidence of her faith. Are your actions reflective of your faith in Jesus? Why or why not?
We tend to rely on religious activities (church attendance, small groups, serving, etc) to carry us along. If those things were stripped away, how would it affect your faith? In what ways have you depended on the church to be your spiritual momentum?
How is the message of our culture different than the message of the gospel?
Rahab loses her entire culture as a result of following God. Are there things in your life that you have had to give up to follow Jesus? What did you gain?
Think about the moment you accepted God’s invitation to be a part of his story. What could your story have been if you had said “no”?
Self-sufficiency only lasts so long before it leads to despair. We can rest in the promise that faith does not lead us into despair but leads to hope on earth and eternal life to follow.
Rahab eventually becomes the great grandmother of Jesus. There is no story that is “too messy” for God to redeem. Her transformation is proof that God uses the most unlikely and humble people to carry out his plan.
Becoming one of God’s covenant people involves coming into a relationship with God’s covenant people. For God to use us, we must be sure we are connected to the body of Christ and not sitting on the sidelines.
True faith in Jesus will require us to abandon our own ways and submit to God’s authority.
God blesses those who have been faithful. He does not promise us an easy life but he does promise that our reward is in heaven.
Consider the king of Israel in this narrative—he is fearful, anxious, and unable to trust God in an overwhelming moment. Do you see these qualities in yourself? How can you cultivate a heart of trust in God?
What can we learn from Elisha’s ministry to Naaman? What are some specific ways we can challenge those around us to consider the authenticity of their faith?
Even though Naaman is in a position of power and authority, he’s able to humble himself and release his entitlement. What does it look like for you to lead a grateful life and not be entitled?
When we demand access to God on our terms, we become spiritual blacksmiths—creating idols that are simply extensions of ourselves and our desires. How have you seen this play out in your life?
Have you ever come to the end of yourself and reached a point of desperation for Jesus? If so, how has having more of Jesus and less of yourself produced life change in you?
In an uncertain circumstance, Israel’s king is fragile. He collapses under the weight of leadership and is unable to trust God. In the same way, we are often stressed and anxious because we have not previously cultivated a heart that trusts in God.
In contrast, Elisha views Naaman’s request as an opportunity to see God work. He moves towards God with a heart of trust.
Although Naaman’s initial response to Elisha’s instructions is anger, he is able to humble himself and act in faith
Likewise, we must reach the end of ourselves and release our entitlement. Demanding God on our terms doesn’t work.
In Matthew 15, we see this same desperation for Jesus play out in the life of a Gentile woman. Even in the face of repeated rejection, she pursues Jesus with endurance and faith.
You either want more of yourself or more of God. True desperation for God results in persevering pursuit of him.
Namaan’s life is radically changed by God’s healing, both physically and spiritually. He becomes gracious, kind, and easy to lead. That same change should characterize us as God’s people.
Ezra is an effective leader during a difficult time because he has readied his heart. What are some practical ways that we can lean into God and cultivate readiness in our hearts?
When you discover sin in the life of someone close to you, what is your reaction? How can you imitate the priesthood of Christ in those situations?
Although God has grace for us and Christ has redeemed us with his sacrifice, sin produces enduring consequences. How has this truth been evident in your life? How might this change the way you think about sin?
Have you ever put yourself at personal risk (financially, relationally, etc.) to further God’s kingdom? What risks do you think God may be leading you to take now? How can you prepare yourself to have the freedom to follow God’s leading?
After years of devotedly studying God’s Word, Ezra is humble and prepared to lead God’s people on a dangerous journey. Likewise, we must consider how we are preparing our hearts for difficult times.
When we do take risks for God, we must carefully examine our motives—are we testing God or trusting God?
When Ezra is faced with the devastating sin of God’s people, he owns their guilt and shame and goes to God in grief and repentance.
Ezra’s ownership of the Israelites’ sin is a picture of Christ. Jesus took on our sin in order to reconcile us to God. We cannot rely on our own abilities to solve the problem of sin; we can only seek God’s mercy.
Although the Israelites repent and make amends for their sin, the enduring consequences are serious and far-reaching.
We must be courageously dependent on God, living in such radical faith in him that we will look like fools if God is not faithful. This freedom to live out our faith at great personal risk will model God’s love to the world.
Every character in this series has been willing to lose something for the cause of Christ. Consider what you are willing to lose for God. How can you hold resources, relationships, and future plans with open hands?
Stephen’s ministry is rooted in his fullness—he is full of God’s Spirit, grace, and power. What are you full of? What are you filling your life with?
The religious leaders who opposed Stephen over-identified with good things (God’s land, law, and temple). What good things are you tempted to over-identify with? Why?
Stephen’s secure identity in Christ gives him freedom to speak God’s truth without the need for man’s approval. How do you struggle with or get victory over fear of man?
What is God calling you to lay down for his kingdom? What concrete steps can you take to move towards his calling?
In the midst of conflict and dispute, Stephen effectively speaks God’s truth to others. God’s power prevails on the lives of those around Stephen because he is full of the Holy Spirit.
Stephen faces opposition with freedom and faith. Likewise, we can be free to take risks for God when we fill our lives with his truth and Spirit.
Stephen’s life is marked by a desire to make God’s mission succeed. God uses the sacrifices of his people to move his kingdom forward.
Although Stephen is “right” in this moment, he doesn’t cling to justice. Honoring Jesus is much more important than his personal vindication.
The ultimate image of God’s love, Jesus has already lived and died for us. Therefore, we are free to live sacrificially and die faithfully for God’s kingdom.
True faith will produce a willingness to sacrifice ourselves for God.