Living by Faith When It Is Difficult to Live by Faith
Jeremiah 32
Key Takeaways
Real faith is not passive or invisible. It shows up in how we speak, how we spend, how we pray, and how we listen and respond to God.
Easy believism, the idea that a verbal acknowledgment of belief is sufficient without any corresponding change in life and behavior, is a serious problem that Jesus himself condemned (Matthew 7:22-27).
Jeremiah bought a field he would never personally enjoy because he trusted God's promise of future restoration. Faith often requires acting on what God has said even when circumstances make it look foolish.
Having doubts does not disqualify you from having genuine faith. Jeremiah had second thoughts after buying the field, but he brought those doubts to God in prayer rather than walking away.
God's judgment is always purposeful. In Jeremiah's situation, judgment was not the end of the story. God promised restoration, and he always follows through on his promises.
Wherever you have been and whatever you have done, God's grace is sufficient. The gospel is for broken people, because broken people are all that there are.
Scripture Focus
Jeremiah 32
Additional references from the message:
Matthew 7:22-27 -- Jesus warns against those who profess faith without genuine fruit
Proverbs 3:9 -- Honoring God with the firstfruits of what we have
Malachi 3:10 -- God's call to bring the whole tithe
1 Corinthians 16:2 -- Regular, intentional giving as a spiritual discipline
2 Corinthians 9:7 -- The posture of the heart in giving
Leviticus 25:25 -- The kinsman-redeemer provision in Mosaic Law
Ruth 4:1-6 -- The kinsman-redeemer law in practice
Opening Question
Think of someone in your life whose faith is obvious just by watching how they live. What is it about them that makes their faith so visible? What stands out to you?
The message opened with the idea that there is often a disconnect between Sunday beliefs and Thursday behavior. Without pointing fingers at anyone else, have you ever noticed that gap in your own life? What tends to cause it?
Discussion Questions
Jeremiah preached faithfully for 40 years without a single person coming to faith. How does that kind of discouragement challenge your own understanding of what faithfulness looks like? What does it mean to be obedient even when you cannot see results?
Jeremiah was imprisoned for speaking the truth about what God was going to do. The message asked: If speaking the name of Jesus cost you your job or your relationships, would you still do it? How does your honest answer to that question reflect the current state of your faith?
Buying that field was an act that made no practical sense given the circumstances. Jeremiah would never personally enjoy what he purchased. Can you think of a time when God called you to do something that looked foolish from the outside but turned out to be an act of obedience and trust? What happened?
The message pointed out that Jeremiah had doubts after he bought the field and brought those doubts directly to God in prayer. How do you typically handle doubt? Do you tend to suppress it, walk away from God because of it, or bring it to him honestly? What does Jeremiah's example teach us about the relationship between doubt and faith?
In his prayer in Jeremiah 32:17-25, Jeremiah rehearses what he knows to be true about God before he voices his confusion. He starts with who God is before he gets to what he does not understand. What does this pattern of prayer teach us about how to pray when we are struggling?
God promised both judgment and restoration in the same conversation with Jeremiah. How does understanding that God's discipline is always paired with his commitment to restore and redeem change the way you respond when life is hard or when you are facing consequences for past choices?
Personal Reflection
The message identified four areas where faith becomes visible in a person's life: preaching (proclaiming who Jesus is), spending, prayer, and listening and responding to God. Which of these four areas feels strongest in your life right now? Which one feels like the area where your faith is least visible?
Bro. Neil said that if you want to see someone's faith, look at how they spend their money. That is a convicting statement. How would you describe the connection between your financial decisions and your trust in God? Is there an area of your finances where God might be calling you to greater obedience or generosity?
Jeremiah's faith was visible to everyone around him, not just in what he said but in what he did. If someone who knew you well but did not share your faith were asked to describe you, do you think they would identify faith as something evident in your life? Why or why not?
Practical Applications
Choose one or more of the following to put into practice this week:
Proclaim: Find one specific opportunity this week to tell someone what Jesus has done in your life. It does not have to be a formal gospel presentation. It can be as simple as being honest about why you have hope or peace in a difficult situation.
Examine your spending: Spend 15 minutes this week reviewing how you have used your money over the past month. Ask God honestly whether your spending reflects trust in him or trust in your own security and comfort. If giving has not been a regular part of your budget, consider taking one step toward making it one.
Pray like Jeremiah: The next time you are confused or struggling with something God seems to be asking of you, try Jeremiah's pattern. Before you voice your confusion, spend time rehearsing what you know to be true about who God is. Then bring your honest questions to him.
Remember your story: Write down two or three specific moments in your life where you saw God work, even in the middle of difficulty. Keep that list somewhere you will see it. When doubt comes, return to what you know he has already done.
Identify the gap: If there is a specific area of your life where your Sunday beliefs and your weekday behavior are not matching up, name it honestly before God this week. Ask him to give you the courage to close that gap, one step at a time.
Memory Verse:
Jeremiah 32:17
Jeremiah 32
Key Takeaways
Real faith is not passive or invisible. It shows up in how we speak, how we spend, how we pray, and how we listen and respond to God.
Easy believism, the idea that a verbal acknowledgment of belief is sufficient without any corresponding change in life and behavior, is a serious problem that Jesus himself condemned (Matthew 7:22-27).
Jeremiah bought a field he would never personally enjoy because he trusted God's promise of future restoration. Faith often requires acting on what God has said even when circumstances make it look foolish.
Having doubts does not disqualify you from having genuine faith. Jeremiah had second thoughts after buying the field, but he brought those doubts to God in prayer rather than walking away.
God's judgment is always purposeful. In Jeremiah's situation, judgment was not the end of the story. God promised restoration, and he always follows through on his promises.
Wherever you have been and whatever you have done, God's grace is sufficient. The gospel is for broken people, because broken people are all that there are.
Scripture Focus
Jeremiah 32
Additional references from the message:
Matthew 7:22-27 -- Jesus warns against those who profess faith without genuine fruit
Proverbs 3:9 -- Honoring God with the firstfruits of what we have
Malachi 3:10 -- God's call to bring the whole tithe
1 Corinthians 16:2 -- Regular, intentional giving as a spiritual discipline
2 Corinthians 9:7 -- The posture of the heart in giving
Leviticus 25:25 -- The kinsman-redeemer provision in Mosaic Law
Ruth 4:1-6 -- The kinsman-redeemer law in practice
Opening Question
Think of someone in your life whose faith is obvious just by watching how they live. What is it about them that makes their faith so visible? What stands out to you?
The message opened with the idea that there is often a disconnect between Sunday beliefs and Thursday behavior. Without pointing fingers at anyone else, have you ever noticed that gap in your own life? What tends to cause it?
Discussion Questions
Jeremiah preached faithfully for 40 years without a single person coming to faith. How does that kind of discouragement challenge your own understanding of what faithfulness looks like? What does it mean to be obedient even when you cannot see results?
Jeremiah was imprisoned for speaking the truth about what God was going to do. The message asked: If speaking the name of Jesus cost you your job or your relationships, would you still do it? How does your honest answer to that question reflect the current state of your faith?
Buying that field was an act that made no practical sense given the circumstances. Jeremiah would never personally enjoy what he purchased. Can you think of a time when God called you to do something that looked foolish from the outside but turned out to be an act of obedience and trust? What happened?
The message pointed out that Jeremiah had doubts after he bought the field and brought those doubts directly to God in prayer. How do you typically handle doubt? Do you tend to suppress it, walk away from God because of it, or bring it to him honestly? What does Jeremiah's example teach us about the relationship between doubt and faith?
In his prayer in Jeremiah 32:17-25, Jeremiah rehearses what he knows to be true about God before he voices his confusion. He starts with who God is before he gets to what he does not understand. What does this pattern of prayer teach us about how to pray when we are struggling?
God promised both judgment and restoration in the same conversation with Jeremiah. How does understanding that God's discipline is always paired with his commitment to restore and redeem change the way you respond when life is hard or when you are facing consequences for past choices?
Personal Reflection
The message identified four areas where faith becomes visible in a person's life: preaching (proclaiming who Jesus is), spending, prayer, and listening and responding to God. Which of these four areas feels strongest in your life right now? Which one feels like the area where your faith is least visible?
Bro. Neil said that if you want to see someone's faith, look at how they spend their money. That is a convicting statement. How would you describe the connection between your financial decisions and your trust in God? Is there an area of your finances where God might be calling you to greater obedience or generosity?
Jeremiah's faith was visible to everyone around him, not just in what he said but in what he did. If someone who knew you well but did not share your faith were asked to describe you, do you think they would identify faith as something evident in your life? Why or why not?
Practical Applications
Choose one or more of the following to put into practice this week:
Proclaim: Find one specific opportunity this week to tell someone what Jesus has done in your life. It does not have to be a formal gospel presentation. It can be as simple as being honest about why you have hope or peace in a difficult situation.
Examine your spending: Spend 15 minutes this week reviewing how you have used your money over the past month. Ask God honestly whether your spending reflects trust in him or trust in your own security and comfort. If giving has not been a regular part of your budget, consider taking one step toward making it one.
Pray like Jeremiah: The next time you are confused or struggling with something God seems to be asking of you, try Jeremiah's pattern. Before you voice your confusion, spend time rehearsing what you know to be true about who God is. Then bring your honest questions to him.
Remember your story: Write down two or three specific moments in your life where you saw God work, even in the middle of difficulty. Keep that list somewhere you will see it. When doubt comes, return to what you know he has already done.
Identify the gap: If there is a specific area of your life where your Sunday beliefs and your weekday behavior are not matching up, name it honestly before God this week. Ask him to give you the courage to close that gap, one step at a time.
Memory Verse:
Jeremiah 32:17