Transformation Church
Discussion Guide

Preparing Your Faith

Brad Livingston
|
January 12, 2025

Main Idea

The main idea of Pastor Brad's message was that preparing our faith involves trusting God and recognizing that He equips us through our challenges. We were reminded that our struggles, like David's, are opportunities to see what God can do through us. Pastor Brad urged us to focus on preparation rather than outcomes and to take steps to elevate our faith by trusting God more. He highlighted the importance of overcoming obstacles to faith, such as pain, pride, apathy, and lack of faith, to fully follow Jesus.

Scripture References

1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:32, 1 Samuel 17:40, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 9:10, John 16:33, Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6-7, Ephesians 4:17-19, Hebrews 11:1

1. How can we identify the 'lions and bears' in our lives that are preparing us for bigger battles?

We don't approach God to dictate our needs; we approach Him to receive all that we need.

2. What are some practical ways we can surrender our struggles to God and trust Him more?

Discussion Questions:

3. Can you share a time when you overcame one of the four 'brothers' that Pastor Brad mentioned?

4. How does focusing on preparation rather than outcomes change our approach to challenges?

5. What is one step you can take this week to elevate your faith and trust in God?

Our preparation is not about compensating for what God won't do; it's about partnering with Him in our actions.

Summary

In Pastor Brad's sermon titled 'PREPARING YOUR FAITH,' he encouraged us to trust God more deeply, especially in our weaknesses. He used the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17 to illustrate how God prepares us for battles through smaller tests, like David's encounters with lions and bears. Pastor Brad emphasized that our preparation is not for what God won't do, but to partner with Him in what we will do. He also warned us about four 'brothers' that can hinder our faith: the pain that stops us from trusting, the pride that blinds us to our need for God, the apathy that creates indifference, and the lack of faith that prevents full commitment to Jesus.

Call to Action

Some next steps to take this week:

Take one step to elevate your faith by trusting God more in your daily life.

Reflect on the areas where you can surrender more to God and take action to strengthen your trust in Him.

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