So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
1. What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling? Please explain.
2. When you think of the word faith, what do you think of first?
3. We often think of faith as a feeling, risk taking, positive thinking, or the absence of doubt. If faith is only these things how are you doing and why?
4. Read Luke 17:5 When or in what area have you made this same request. In what area are you feeling, or have you felt like you don’t have enough faith and God may not be pleased with you?
5. Read Luke 17:6 When you read this verse does it inspire you or intimidate you and why?
6. Read Luke 17:3-6 The reason the disciples ask for more faith is because of something Jesus asks them to do (forgive endlessly). By telling them that with faith as small as a mustard seed (the smallest of the small) great things can be done Jesus is implying that they don’t need more faith, they just need to act on what they have. How might this change your perspective on faith?
7. Read Daniel 3:1-17. Verse 17 is a great declaration of faith (God will rescue us)! Read verse 18. This seems like a wimpy ending to a great declaration. What does this tell us about faith and doubt, certainty and uncertainty co-existing? How have you experienced this co-existence in your own life and faith?
8. Read Acts 12:1-16. What glimpse of faith and doubt do you see through this story? Great faith is trusting God enough to do what he asks even when we aren’t sure it's going to work out in the short-term. Does this definition of great faith seem within reach for you?
9. What is something God has been asking you to do, and you are wrestling with doubt and faith, and you need to step up and just to it. Live in obedience and do the right thing? (Prayer, forgiveness, standing up for what’s right, being honest, living with integrity…)
10. Pray for each other.
Repentance + Forgiveness = Reconciliation
Faith is less about feeling and more about doing.
Quality and Obedience > Quantity
Whom you place your faith in, and what you do about it, is more important than how much you possess!
God pleasing faith is not a feeling, it's trusting God enough to do what he asks.
