Little Flock

+ Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost +
August 8, 2010
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
Luke 12:32
Faith in many different things (family, government, money, self) vs. living faith in the Triune God: Father Creator, Son Savior, Holy Spirit Sanctfier! And now to help us answer the question “what is faith?”, we offer a brief Latin lesson
fides qua creditur the faith by which it is believed-- the personal faith which apprehends,
fides quae creditur the faith which is believed -- the content of "the faith,"
Faith does not nullify reason or critical thinking but rather places them in their proper role of servant; it is neither produced by nor based on emotions, therefore it does not necessarily make you “feel good”; it leaves many questions unanswered even as it does answer the most important questions; it can be neglected, grow cold and even suffer shipwreck or it can grow stronger and bear an increasing harvest of love and good works.
1. Faith receives – it is your Father’s good pleasure to GIVE you the Kingdom!
a. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
b. What can we do? Treasure, thank and tell!
2. Faith offers/obeys God’s will
a. Abel, Noah, Abraham
b. What sacrifice will you make? what building up of the body of Christ will you seek? What faith-stretching promise of God will you believe?
3. Faith seeks a better country
a. Apostles, prophets and martyrs
b. Where is your treasure?