Teaching Note 3

Faith Insight 3: Faith Comes by Hearing

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”— Romans 10:17 (ESV)

From Abraham to Moses and from the prophets to the coming of Jesus Christ, Scripture reveals and testifies to a God who speaks, calls, and invites people into relationship with Himself. But if our God chooses to speak, then our next question should naturally be: “Are we listening?”

Respond:  I am willing to listen to what God is saying to me.  _____yes _____no.

Paul zooms in on this point as he writes in Romans 10:17 (ESV):  “So faith comes from ___________, and hearing through the ___________, of Christ.”

There is an important truth here. Biblical faith does not arise merely from looking within yourself and trying to believe more strongly. Faith is when you ___________, to something that is outside of yourself—to what God has said and, ultimately, to the good news of Jesus the Christ.   So, when God called Abraham to go, Abraham went; and when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, Moses obeyed what he truly heard from God and went to Egypt. Later, when the prophets declared, “Thus says the LORD,” Israel was called to listenand return to God. In the first century, when Jesus began His ministry, He called people not merely to consider His teachings, but to hear and to respond: “______________.”

Shearing means we ___________ and ___________ with our hearts and minds.

Jesus repeatedly said: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Through Scripture, we learn ___________ God is, what He has ___________, what He ___________, what He ___________, and how He has ___________throughout the history of redemption; our living response to His words matters for eternity.

Most importantly, Scripture directs us to ______________________.

The goal is not simply to know more Bible facts. The goal is to hear __________ truth, encounter Christ through His Word, __________ what God has revealed, and __________.

This changes the way we approach Scripture. Instead of asking only:

“What does this passage mean?… we can also ask: “What is God revealing here—and how should I respond?”

·      Sometimes the response will be trust.

·      Sometimes obedience.

·      Sometimes repentance.

·      Sometimes patience.

·      Sometimes worship.

·      Sometimes simply resting in a promise we desperately need to remember.

Living faith __________  and __________  because it __________  in the One who speaks.

FOR REFLECTION

When I read Scripture, am I primarily gathering information, or am I allowing God's Word to address and shape my life by guiding my heart and mind?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Choose one short passage of Scripture this week and read it slowly several times.

Before you read, pray:

“Lord, help me to hear Your Word with a receptive heart.”

Then ask yourself three questions:

·      What does this passage reveal about God?

·      What does it reveal about me?

·      What response does it call for from me?

·      Write down one truth you want to carry with you through the day.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, give me ears to hear Your Word and a heart willing to respond. Keep me from reading Scripture merely for information. Through Your Word, teach me to know You, trust You, and follow Your Son more faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen.