July 28 – Faith asks, seeks, knocks / Luke’s Gospel
It’s not coming to belief but persisting, not blind faith but daring trust in God’s faithfulness.
August 4 – Faith disbelieves / Ecclesiastes
It’s about not buying in to the many false promises people live on, so we can receive what God gives.
August 11 – “The assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen.” / Hebrews
Faith unsettles us and moves us into a new place.
August 18 – Fire, hammer and resurrection / Jeremiah
Faith faces what’s broken in our world and in our dreams; it moves into new life.
Introduction: About Faith
What is faith? Is it all that obvious? Is it a matter of taking sides? You could say your faith is the religious brand you choose: “Christian faith – that’s for me.” Or is faith basically wishful thinking? Why settle with reality when you can focus on how we want things to be? Placebos can truly help. But then, Jesus talks about a faith that’s not just helpful but world-shaking. It can move mountains. And Jesus’ faith isn’t about evading the world’s suffering, but entering it to create hope.
Some of us find much we like about church – the warmth of community, the beauty of the ceremonies, opportunities to show compassion. It’s just the whole “faith” thing we’re not sure about – “am I supposed to actually believe all that?” At the same time, faith brings an inner change we long for: we want to feel more appreciative, hopeful and alive. Lutherans talk about faith as a positioning of heart and soul towards the source of life and joy. St Paul talks about being “rooted” to be “built up” like a strong tree. Faith may have less to do with a list of what to believe, more to do with the One who makes us live.
