Study Guide / Outline

Introduction: The Necessity of Faith

• Summary: The introduction sets the tone for the sermon by emphasizing the importance of living by faith in 2022, to experience all that God has planned.
• Main Points:
  • Faith is essential to experience God’s full plan.
  • Living by faith requires stepping into the unknown.
  • Faith is a departure from previous ways of living to achieve different results.
• Scripture: Hebrews 10:38 – “The just shall live by faith.”

Faith as a Divine Empowerment

• Summary: Explores the concept of faith as more than just belief; it is a divine empowerment from God.
• Main Points:
  • Faith is not mere belief but is empowered by God.
  • Everyone is given a measure of faith by God.
• Scripture: Ephesians 2:8 – Faith as a gift from God; Romans 12:3 – God has dealt a measure of faith to every man.

The Role of Hope in Faith

• Summary: Discusses hope as a critical ingredient of faith, emphasizing the power of expectation and imagination.
• Main Points:
  • Hope is about having a confident expectation.
  • Hope shapes our imagination towards God’s plan.
  • Spending time with God aligns our desires with His.
• Scripture: Psalms 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Understanding the Substance of Faith

• Summary: Delves into the nature of faith as the ‘substance of things hoped for’ and ‘evidence of things not seen.’
• Main Points:
  • Faith as the title deed, or proof of ownership, of God’s promises.
  • Faith exists in the present (‘now faith’) and transcends time.
• Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 – Defining faith as substance and evidence.

Faith Versus Time

• Summary: Discusses the eternal nature of God’s work and how faith operates beyond the limitations of time.
• Main Points:
  • God operates outside of time, in eternity.
  • Faith reaches beyond the present, affecting both past and future.

Faith in Action

• Summary: Encourages the application of faith in practical life, urging believers to trust God in all areas.
• Main Points:
  • Faith leads to living differently and confidently.
  • Faith enables believers to walk in God’s promises.

Conclusion: A Call to Faith in 2022

• Summary: Concludes the sermon with a call to action for living by faith in the new year.
• Main Points:
  • Encouragement to live big by recognizing the greatness of God within.
  • Living by faith is essential for realizing God’s plans for our lives.
• Closing Prayer: A prayer for awakening to faith and the realization of God’s plan for each individual.

Personal Reflection/Application:

• Summary: This section is for personal contemplation on how to apply the principles of faith in one’s life.
• Main Points:
  • Reflect on what living by faith means personally.
  • Consider areas of life where faith can be more actively applied.
  • Commit to trusting God’s plan and stepping out in faith.