Soaring Faith

Dead Faith Does Not Save

In this week's episode of Soaring Faith, we step away from our journey through Genesis to explore the practical, transformative teachings of James 2. Through the lens of James, we examine what it truly means to live out our faith in a way that goes beyond mere belief.
Key Insights Discussed:
Faith in Action: James challenges us with the question, "What good is faith without deeds?" We explore the stark contrast between a dead, inactive faith and a living faith that actively serves and loves others.
Abraham and Rahab's Examples: We look at the lives of Abraham and Rahab, who demonstrated their faith through action, illustrating the reality of a faith that is alive and life-changing.
Self-Reflection: What kind of faith do you have? Is it alive and active, compelling you to serve others and live out the teachings of Jesus, or is it a faith that exists in name only?
Practical Christian Living: Inspired by the blunt, straightforward advice of James, we explore how to take your faith to the next level by embracing actions that reflect your beliefs.
Challenges to Consider:
Are you serving and meeting the needs of others, or merely offering good intentions?
Is your faith compelling you to change and live out God's will in your life?
What steps can you take today to transform a dead or dormant faith into a vibrant, living faith?
Tune in as we dive into the book of James and explore what it means to have a faith that not only believes but also acts—reflecting Christ's love in every aspect of life.
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Listen now to embrace a living faith that transforms and compels you into action!

Find Godly Solutions

In this week's episode of Soaring Faith, we delve into Genesis 24, where Abraham faces a significant problem: his son Isaac needs a wife to fulfill God's promise of becoming a great nation. Abraham doesn't wait passively; he actively seeks a solution grounded in faith and wisdom.
Join us as we explore how Abraham's approach offers timeless wisdom for our own challenges:
Figure It Out: Abraham identifies the problem and makes a thoughtful plan. He prays for wisdom and sends his trusted servant to find a suitable wife for Isaac, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance in our decisions.
Surround Yourself with Trustworthy People: He entrusts this critical task to his senior servant, highlighting the value of surrounding ourselves with faithful and honest people who can help us navigate life's complexities.
Set Boundaries: Abraham sets clear boundaries to ensure the solution aligns with God's will—no compromises. This teaches us the importance of holding firm to our values and not settling for less than God's best.
Rely on God: Above all, Abraham relies on God's promises and leading. He believes that God will send an angel ahead to make the mission successful. This reliance on divine guidance reminds us that God is actively involved in our lives, ready to help when we seek Him.
Whether you're facing decisions about relationships, career, finances, or personal growth, this episode encourages you to:
Pray for Wisdom: Seek God's insight in every situation.
Trust in God's Promises: Remember that He is faithful and His word stands true.
Take Action: Faith involves stepping out and implementing godly solutions.
Tune in to "Problems and Solutions" and discover how to confront your challenges with a soaring faith that not only finds solutions but also strengthens your relationship with God.

Deal Realistically with the Reality of Hurt

This week's sermon, The Hardest Thing, addresses the universal experience of grief and the importance of allowing ourselves to feel and express our emotions during times of loss.Drawing from Genesis 23:1, the sermon reflects on Abraham's profound sorrow after the death of his wife, Sarah, and emphasizes the reality of emotional pain that everyone, regardless of faith, encounters.Key themes include:
Acknowledging Grief: We explore the necessity of facing our emotions head-on, understanding that it's normal to mourn deeply for those we love. Abraham's tears serve as a reminder that faith and sorrow can coexist.
Expressing Emotions: The sermon encourages listeners to find healthy ways to express their grief, whether through tears, sharing memories, or participating in rituals that honor the deceased.
The Importance of Community: Just as the Hittites supported Abraham, we are reminded of the power of community in times of loss. Being present for one another and offering support can provide comfort during the most challenging moments.
Moving Forward: While grief is a process, the sermon highlights the importance of continuing to live and make decisions, as Abraham did when he sought a burial site for Sarah. Life goes on, and so must we, even amidst our sorrow.
Cherishing Memories: Finally, we reflect on how love and memories endure beyond death. The sermon encourages us to remember our loved ones, celebrating their impact on our lives while holding onto the hope that comes from faith.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of grief, understanding that it's okay to feel pain while also finding strength in community and faith. This sermon aims to provide comfort and encouragement for anyone grappling with loss.
 
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Pass The Test

For this week's sermon titled "The Test," the focus is on Abraham's ultimate trial of faith in Genesis 22, where God commands him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The central challenge is to "Pass the Tests" that God places before us.
Summary:
Years after parting ways with Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham faces one of the greatest tests of his faith: God asks him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. This test is not just about obedience; it’s about revealing the true nature of Abraham's heart and faith. Through this story, we learn that testing comes from God, often to reveal who we truly are and where our faith stands.
God’s test of Abraham required immense sacrifice, mirroring the ultimate sacrifice God would make through Jesus. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrates the depth of his faith and trust in God, even when the command seems impossible. This narrative encourages us to reflect on what we are willing to sacrifice for God and challenges us to trust in God’s provision, even when the path is unclear.
Key Points:
Testing Comes from God: Trials are meant to reveal the true nature of our faith, similar to how God tested Abraham.
Testing Requires Sacrifice: Like Abraham, we might be asked to give up something precious, echoing God’s own sacrifice of His Son.
Testing Reveals Character: How we respond to trials and temptations shows what is truly in our hearts.
Our Faith and Commitment Are Tested: True faith is demonstrated through obedience and trust, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
This sermon encourages us to embrace the tests in our lives, seeing them as opportunities to deepen our faith and trust in God’s plan. Just as Abraham’s faith was tested and proven genuine, so too can our trials reveal the strength and depth of our relationship with God.
 
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Know that God is With You Even in Difficulty

Message of Hope | Genesis 21:8 - God's Presence in Difficult Times
In this episode, we explore the story of Isaac's weaning celebration, where what should have been a joyful occasion is marred by rivalry and bitterness between Sarah and Hagar. Despite the heartbreak and division, we see how God works through relational hardships. This message reminds us that even in the messiness of life—whether it be family fractures, personal conflicts, or unexpected challenges—God is still at work.
We delve into the reality that heartache can find us on happy days, and how God remains with us even in new, uncertain situations. Just as He was with Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, God is with us in our own desert experiences, guiding and sustaining us.
Join us as we unpack the truth that God doesn't wait for us to be perfect to show His grace. In fact, He works powerfully in the midst of our imperfections and challenges. This episode challenges us to trust God's presence in our lives, even when everything seems upside down.
 
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Experience Joy

In this week's episode of Soaring Faith, we explore the profound theme of Reasons for Joy through the lens of Genesis 21:1-7. Join us as we delve into the miraculous story of Sarah and Abraham, where God's grace transforms their long-held sorrow into overwhelming joy with the birth of their son, Isaac.
We will reflect on how God's promises are not only powerful but also personal, reminding us that His grace is poured into our lives uniquely and abundantly. As we examine the significance of obedience in our spiritual journey, we will uncover how simple acts of faith can lead to extraordinary blessings.
This episode encourages listeners to shift their focus from past hardships to the joyful blessings present in their lives. We’ll discuss how laughter and joy are gifts from God, meant to uplift our spirits even amidst life's challenges.
Tune in to discover how you can cultivate joy in your own life and share in the laughter that comes from God's abundant grace. Let’s rejoice together in the goodness of our Creator!

Protect Your Marriage

Protecting What’s Important
Scripture Reading: Genesis 20Key Challenge: Genesis 20:1f
In this episode, we explore the theme of protecting what’s most important in our lives—especially our relationships. Abraham’s repeated mistake of lying about Sarah reveals how easily we can compromise the things that matter most. We discuss the importance of setting healthy boundaries, prioritizing time together, and remaining accountable in our commitments. Drawing from Abraham’s story and God’s intervention with Abimelek, we emphasize that guarding our relationships requires trust, integrity, and relying on God’s guidance.

Experience God’s Salvation

Out of Harm’s WayREAD: Exodus 34:6-7CHALLENGE: Experience God’s Salvation
God’s nature is full of compassion, grace, and patience, yet His justice is unwavering. The passage in Exodus reveals God’s dual nature: forgiving the repentant but not leaving the guilty unpunished. We often focus on God’s love but overlook the reality of judgment. In this message, we’ll explore how God’s mercy rescues us from deserved wrath, how judgment is inevitable without repentance, and why embracing Christ leads us to eternal safety. Flee judgment by turning to God's mercy!
 
 
 

Don’t Deliberately Keep on Sinning

In this powerful message, we explore the dangerous progression of sin using a childhood memory of a glass bottle explosion and the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah. Through Genesis 19 and other scriptures, we examine how sin can incrementally increase, spread through communities, and ultimately lead to catastrophic consequences. 
🙏 Challenge: Don’t Deliberately Keep on Sinning
📖 Scripture References:
Genesis 19Isaiah 3:9Proverbs 5:8Psalm 1:12 Chronicles 19:22 Peter 2:7-81 Peter 4:3-4Isaiah 5:20
🚨 Key Points:
Evil increases incrementally.Evil spreads rapidly.Evil lacks true love for others.Evil mocks accountability.Evil leads to being completely warped.
Join us as we discuss the importance of distancing ourselves from sin and maintaining a life of righteousness. Remember, staying away from evil is the first step in living a blessed life.
 

Put Your Confidence in Jesus

Stand Confident
READ: James 1:2-12
CHALLENGE: Put your confidence in Jesus
My ultimate confidence is in Jesus. Jesus is faithful, not a politician who makes empty promises. He is righteous and just, with power and authority. Through His love and sacrifice, He freely gives us forgiveness and redemption. If we believe in Him and what He has done, we will be given eternal life. This life is only a fleeting moment that we are passing through until we reach our eternal home.
Today’s challenge is to put your confidence in Jesus.
Let's look at James 1:2-12 to understand why we can stand confident in Jesus and Jesus alone. Open your Bibles or turn on your phones to James 1:2-3:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Consider It Pure Joy!
One unique aspect of the book of James is how it starts boldly with a challenging command: to find joy in the difficult things happening to us. James tells us that trials will come our way, not if but when. These trials test our faith, producing perseverance. Trials are not just walks through the valleys but are designed to reveal the quality of our faith and build spiritual stamina.
Testing and Perseverance
Just as James 2:19 reminds us, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder,” our faith must go beyond mere belief. Trials test this faith, just as an intense downpour tested the sump pump in my basement, flooding it and causing a mess. Through hard work and perseverance, we fixed the problem and emerged stronger. Similarly, trials shape our character and strengthen our faith, just as fixing the basement strengthened my marriage.
Working Your Faith Muscle
What are you doing to strengthen your faith muscle? Attending church is a good start, but it’s not enough. Like working out at a gym, you must actively engage with your faith through prayer, Bible study, and witnessing to others. If you don’t, you risk becoming spiritually weak and vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Perseverance and Wisdom
James 1:4-5 says: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” We need perseverance to become mature and complete Christians. Pray daily, asking God for wisdom. He will give it generously, not based on our worthiness but on our request.
Believing Without Doubting
James 1:6-8 reminds us to believe and not doubt: “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” Doubt can destabilize our faith. Strengthen your faith by reading the Bible, praying, and engaging with a faith community. God desires our trust and rewards our faith.
Finding Contentment in God
James 1:9-11 advises us to take pride in humble circumstances and find contentment in God. Wealth does not impress God; spiritual growth does. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” God values our hearts, not our possessions.
The Crown of Life
James 1:12 promises, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Standing strong through trials results in God’s reward, both in this life and in the next. Our eternal salvation is based solely on faith in Christ, leading to enriched eternal life for those who persevere.
As we close, reflect on what your confidence is built upon. Is it in the temporary things of this world or in the eternal promise of Jesus? Fix your eyes on Jesus, ask for what you lack, and stand confident in Him.
 
 
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Website - www.eagleville.church