a) Faithfulness in our society
b) Faithfulness in our church
c) Faithfulness in our households
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:22-23
“The story of Babel is the best metaphor I have found for what happened to America in the 2010s, and for the fractured country we now inhabit. Something went terribly wrong, very suddenly. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. We are cut off from one another and from the past.” – Jonathan Haidt, Why The Past 10
1. How would you describe faith?
2. What does it mean to have faith?
3. What does it mean to be faithful (spiritually)?
Πίστις(pistis)=faith,faithfulness,fidelity,reliability,allegiance
When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king — Jesus.”
Acts 17:6-7
1. “The fruit of the Spirit is … Πίστις…”
2. “The fruit of the Spirit is … faithfulness …”
3. “The fruit of the Spirit is … allegiance …”
Who/what/where have you given your allegiance to?And how does this affect your life?
C. Faithfulness in our society → Allegiance to Jesus in our society
D. Faithfulness in our church → Allegiance to Jesus in our church
E. Faithfulness in our households → Allegiance to Jesus in our households
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
I know where you live — where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.
Revelation 2:13
What is faith? What does it mean to be faithful? What does it mean to be faithful in the spiritual sense?
When it comes to the different areas (people, place, or thing) that we can place our allegiances in, where do people nowadays place them in? Do these allegiances conflict with placing one’s allegiance to God?
Does the idea of understanding “faith as allegiance” help clarify what faith is when used by the Apostle Paul? If so, then how does it help? If not, then what about it does not help?
We were challenged to practice allegiance to Jesus in our society, churches, and households. Which of these three places do you struggle to live as someone who belongs to Jesus Christ the King? What are some of the obstacles that may cause these struglges for you?
