Living Faith Authentically
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear God, as we seek to live out our faith with authenticity, help us be mindful of the next generation watching us. May our lives reflect Your love and truth in a way that inspires kids and students to know You, trust You, and follow You. Amen.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."
REFLECT:
James's exhortation to be doers of the Word is a powerful reminder of the impact our lived faith can have on the next generation. Kids and students are constantly observing the adults around them, and they learn about faith not just through formal teaching but through the everyday actions and decisions they witness. Pastor Elliott’s message emphasized that faith is more caught than taught, highlighting the importance of modeling a genuine and active faith.
Living authentically means allowing young people to see how our faith influences our daily lives. This involves being open about how we navigate challenges with God's guidance, how we celebrate His blessings, and how we make decisions based on biblical principles. When we live out our faith transparently, we provide a living example for children and students to emulate, showing them that faith is not just a set of beliefs but a way of life.
Think about how you can intentionally demonstrate your faith to the young people in your life. This might involve inviting them to join you in a service project, discussing how you apply biblical teachings to real-life situations, or simply being consistent in your actions and words. By living authentically, you create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith and inspire the next generation to develop their own relationship with God. Your example can be a guiding light, helping them to see the relevance and power of faith in everyday life.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will get off the couch and get in the game. Identify a specific way you can demonstrate your faith in action to a child or young person this week. Use these moments to spark conversations about how faith influences your life and encourage them to think about how it can influence theirs.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, help us not just to hear Your Word, but to live it out in a way that the next generation can see and follow. Let our lives reflect Your love and truth so that kids and students are drawn to You through our example. Thank You for the freedom and purpose we find in following Your ways. Amen.