Sermons

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "What does authentic faith look like?

Scripture: John 4:43-54

John 1:9-12; 8:31-32

Bottom line: Authentic faith looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed belief, and a growing dependency of God.

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT

3. SERMON OUTLINE

4. CONCLUSION

5. NOTES

6. OUTLINES

7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Today we're answer the question, "What does authentic faith look like?"

When I think of the word authentic, I think of collections where value is based on the something rare being authenticated or declared the real thing.

The most valuable American coin today is a 1794 silver dollar called the Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. It has lady liberty on one side and an American eagle on the other. Many believe that it was the first coin minted by the US government. There were only 1800 made and experts think only about 120 remain. It last sold for 12 million dollars.

But it's only worth 12 million dollars if it's an authentic Flowing Hair Silver Dollar.

The question today is what does authentic faith look like. We're asking this question to setup the more important question, "Is my faith authentic?"

CONTEXT

Jesus has been talking with the woman at the well. He and the 12 got to see a whole town come to Christ. It has been an amazing day. The enemies of the Jews (the Samaritans) have trusted the Jewish Messiah! There is no earthly reason why they would do this. Only God.

John will use this town of people in Sychar to expose the contrast with the way the Jews are responding (en masse) to Jesus. (Cf. John 1:11-12)

John will also contrast the nobleman's growing faith with the hesitant faith of Nicodemus.

What does authentic faith look like?

Is my faith authentic?

SERMON

Bottom line: Authentic faith looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed belief, and a growing dependency on God.

What does authentic faith look like? (Help from Matt Carter's commentary)

I. Actual commitment--not just spiritual curiosity.

• Nobleman embraced Light of the world and Savior of the world.

• Overall response is rejection of Jews (cf. John 1:9-12); still some exceptions; not unlike us today.

• This contrast shows us what authentic faith looks like.

• Spiritual curiosity ≠ Authentic faith

• Jesus condemns them for lack of faith and desire for "signs and wonders"

• "You" is plural meaning the Jews and not just the nobleman. Maybe even in further contrast (like the Centurion)

• Samaritans have authentic faith in that town--they took Jesus as his word. No signs and wonders needed.

II. Informed belief--not just emotional feelings.

• Requires understanding certain truths about Jesus.

• Content of our faith. Word > Experience

• Are you a follower? Why? For what he did or who he is?

• Nobleman looking for a miracle? Yes, but takes Jesus at his word instead of having to see it happen instantly. Similar to Samaritans.

• We aren't called to a blind faith or emotional faith, though it can be emotional. We have a reasonable faith. 

• Who is Jesus? Title so far in John include:

  • Son of God

  • Son of Man

  • Messiah/Christ

  • Word of God

  • King of Israel

  • Lamb of God

III. Growing dependence--not just a single decision.

• 2X it says nobleman "believed." (4:51-53)

• Same with Samaritans. (39-41)

• In neither case are we told WHEN they were saved. John shows it's a continual belief that truly saves or demonstrates authentic faith. It starts with a moment and decision--but it never ends. We persevere in the faith over time.

• Pointing to a past decision isn't enough if not walking in it. We'll know your status based on your fruit. Cf. Hebrews 3:12-14; Galatians 5:23-24

• John 1:!2 those who are believing (present tense) in his name.

• John 8:31 if you "continue" in my word.

• To "continue" or "hold to" his word is to "abide" or "remain" in Christ.

Applications/questions:

1. Are you spiritually curious? That's fine. Just don't think you're secure and good with the Lord just because you're spiritual or open. Christ calls us to follow him the rest of our life. Until you surrender to that, you're just curious. It's not a convenient faith that he calls us to--it's a costly faith. He calls us to ultimately come and die.

2. Is your faith rooted on how you feel? I feel close to God today but not tomorrow. Emotions are a legitimate part of the human experience--even in our spiritual life. But we root our faith in truth--God's word is truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth..." We have an informed faith; a reasonable faith; not a blind faith.

3. Is your faith growing? Are you abiding in Jesus daily? Are you walking with God daily? These are different ways of asking the question, am I growing in dependence on the Lord?

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Authentic faith starts with an actual commitment, and an informed belief on the word, and a growing dependence.

What about you? Is your faith authentic?

Here's another way to look at it.

How do you know that you're married?

Well, you might say, I have a wedding ring and a marriage license.

I could respond, well, I know people who have a marriage license and maybe even still wear their wedding ring. But they are no longer married.

The only way to truly know you're married is because you live the married life with your spouse. You raise the kids together. You take care of the house together. You do life together.

The same is true with authentic faith. What does authentic faith look like? It looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed faith, and a growing dependence.

What about you? Is your faith authentic?

If not, what can you do?

Repent--turn from the way you're living life and turn back to the trust and follow Jesus' words, ways and works.

Believe--Rest on the calling you've received; build on the word of God; pray towards growing in Christ.`

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

1. What is God saying to me right now?

2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"Jesus was saying, "Your experience with the Samaritans is one of reaping where you did not sow," and that surely was the case. They had not sowed, but they reaped. In our age some of us may sow, and some of us may reap. The thrust of these verses is that there is going to be a good deal of reaping, but the implication also is that sometimes we may sow and never see the results. I am reminded of the story of George Müller who founded many orphanages in the last century. Early in his life Müller made the acquaintance of three men, and he began to pray for their salvation. Müller lived a long time, but when he died, none of those men had yet trusted Christ. It is recorded in his diary that he prayed for these men daily during all those years. But that is not the end! The glorious fact is that all three of those men did meet Christ-two of them in their seventies and one in his eighties! Müller sowed, but someone else reaped. Whether we find ourselves sowing or reaping, our lives are to be permeated with a sense of urgency. Jesus' harvest mentality was part of the secret of his life. We also are meant to be harvesting!" -Kent Hughes, p. 139

"This reality should motivate us to labor with all our might to make Jesus Christ and his gospel known and loved throughout the world. Augustine wrote this beautiful reflection about Jesus Christ:

You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. ... You welcome those who come to you, though you never lost them. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can any man say enough when he speaks of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you! (Confessions [IX 1], 181)

May we, by the grace of God, never be silent." -Matt Carter

1. "I'll Do It Later (v. 35):

   1. Jesus asks the disciples a pointed question: "Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest'?" (v. 35). He's saying, "Do you guys think you need to wait before reaping the fruit of the gospel? Are you hoping it will come later? You're wrong; look at the Samaritans coming right now. What are you waiting for? The time is now!" Jesus is driving the urgency of the gospel home to the hearts of his disciples. We don't wait for a different time or a better time; the harvest is now. Go, do the work of sharing the gospel right now. Charles Spurgeon, preaching on this passage, challenged his congregation:

   2. Some of you good people, who do nothing except go to public meetings, the Bible readings, and prophetic conferences, and other forms of spiritual [indulgence], would be a good deal better Christians if you would look after the poor and needy around you. If you would just tuck up your sleeves for work, and go and tell the gospel to dying men, you would find your spiritual health mightily restored, for very much of the sickness of Christians comes through their having nothing to do. All feeding and no working gives men spiritual indigestion. Be idle, careless, with nothing to live for, nothing to care for, no sinner to pray for, no backslider to lead back to the cross, no trembler to encourage, no little child to tell of a Savior, no grey-headed man to enlighten in the things of God, no object, in fact, to live for; and who wonders if you begin to groan, and to murmur, and to look within, until you are ready to die of despair? (Cited in Hughes, John, 132) - Matt Carter

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. What do I want them to know?

2. Why do I want them to know it?

3. What do I want them to do?

4. Why do I want them to do it?

5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

1. Read the passage together.

2. Retell the story in your own words.

3. Discovery the story

   1. What does this story tell me about God?

   2. What does this story tell me about people?

   3. If this is really true, what should I do?

4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

1. Who is God?

2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

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Google Gemini

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