"I Believe" (John 20: 24–31 & Hebrews 11: 1, 6)

The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest, and most widely accepted statement of faith in Christianity. It wasn’t written by the Apostles (Jesus’s companions) but it became accepted in the early centuries as a faithful summary of what the Apostles taught. Think of the creed like the moon. The moon doesn’t produce light on its own, but because it reflects the sun's light, a full moon can shine quite a bit of light into a dark night. The creed, as a human document, doesn’t have the same infallible authority as the Bible has in itself. But the creeds brings the light of truth into our lives because it faithfully summarizes and reflect the authoritative message of the Bible. This spring at our RUF Large Group, we’re going to look at the real, true story of everything that is laid out in the Bible and summarized as the essentials of faith in the Apostles’ Creed. In this message, we’re focusing on the phrase “I believe.” And we will see that biblical faith is not merely believing a set of facts about God, but a way of living in committed trust and relationship with God. QUOTES: "It is the offer and demand of the object that determines in each case what a faith-commitment involves. Thus, I show faith in my car by relying on it to get me places, and in my doctor by submitting to his treatment. And I show faith in God by bowing to his claim to rule and manage me; by receiving Jesus Christ, his Son, as my own Lord and Savior; and by relying on his promise to bless me here and hereafter. This is the meaning of response to the offer and demand of the God of the Creed".- JI Packer "You may have a weak faith that you wish were stronger, but you have a strong Savior who could not be more powerful. If you are his, it is not because your trust never wavers but because his love never fails."- David Cassidy. "When I am awake I can, in some degree, account for and study my dream . . . in the nightmare I could not have fitted in my waking experience. The waking world is judged more real because it can thus contain the dreaming world: the dreaming world is judged less real because it cannot contain the waking one. For the same reason I am certain that in passing from the scientific (secular) point of view to the theological, I have passed from dream to waking. Christian theology can fit in science, art, morality, and the sub-Christian religions. The scientific point of view cannot fit in any of these things, not even science itself. I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else."--C.S. Lewis DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What are some everyday things you show faith in, even though you can’t see or fully understand how they work? Read Hebrew 11:6. What difference would it make if the write had replaced the word "faith" with "knowledge"? Or "obedience"? How does the "faith" away of living both more restful and more challenging? Read John 20:27-29. Sometimes people suggest that faith means the absence of doubt. How does the Bible present the relationship between doubt and faith? (see also Matt 28:17, Luke 22:32, Mark 9:24) Read Ephesians 2:8-10. According to Paul, where does saving faith come from? What does this say about God? And about us? JESUS + ________ = EVERYTHING. What do you tend to put in the blank? Read the quote from pastor David Cassidy. What does it lead you to confess? Thank God for? Ask him for?