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      • Versus Fake Faith

      Resource Details

      Real Faith Versus Fake Faith

      Rick Warren | May 31, 2020

      Our culture today is overrun with fake products — they look like the real thing, but they’re cheap imitations. Fake may work fine in some areas of your life, but when it comes to your faith, fake simply doesn’t work. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren gives you five truths to test whether your faith is real, as well as two examples of real faith to encourage you in your relationship with God.

      Message Action Plan

      Message Action Plan

      Three Essential Questions
      After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

      1. What did you hear?What point in this message was most impactful for you?
      2. What do you think?How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
      3. What will you do?How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

      PAUL                                                                            JAMES
      Emphasis: How to KNOW I'm saved                 How to SHOW I'm saved

      Focus:       The ROOT of my salvation                The FRUIT of my salvation
                           (internal & unseen)                             (external & visible)

             Works:    Keeping Jewish Laws                          Living like Jesus

      HOW DO I KNOW MY FAITH IS REAL?

      1.  REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN just words ISAY
            "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of sayingyou have faith if you
            don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone!"
                                                                               James 2:14

            JESUS: "Not everyone who SAYS that I am their Lord is going to enter the
            kingdom of heaven. The only people who'll enter heaven are those who
            DO what my Father in heaven wants them to DO."   Matthew 7:21 (NCV)

      Action Plan:  Write down one or two examples of a time where you showed faith.  Also, write down one or two examples of when you only said you had faith, but feared to show it.       

      2.  REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN AN EMOTION I FEEL
            "Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you
            say to them, 'I wish you well! I feel for you and I hope you stay warm and
            eat well!' but then you donothing to meet their needs. What good does your
            sympathy do? It's worth nothing!In the same way, faith, if it is not
            accompanied by action, doesn't work. It's dead and useless!"
                                                                              James 2:15-17

      Action Plan:  Using your examples above, next to each one write down what you did when you showed faith.  Also, write down why and how you did not show your faith when you said you had faith.  

      3.  REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN AN IDEA I DEBATE
            "Now someone may argue, 'Isn't it possible that some people have good
            faith while other people do good deeds?' But I say, 'No! I can't see your real
            faith if you don't DO any real deeds to show me!' In contrast, I can show
            youmy faith by the good things I DO!"          James 2:18

      Action Plan:  Would your neighbor or friend recognize your actions as showing faith?  If not, what could you do differently? 

      4.  REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN A TRUTH I BELIEVE
            "Now, you say 'Well, I believe there is a God,' and I say 'Good for you!' But
            even the demons believe THAT and are afraid! It's foolish to not realize that
            faith in God is useless if you don't do what he wants you to do." James 2:19-20

      5.  REAL FAITH IS SOMETHING I DO!
           "Just as a body without a spirit doesn't breathe and is dead, so faith that
            doesn't DO anything is just as dead!"                            James 2:26

            "Stand firm in your faith. Stay brave, be strong, and do everything in love." 
                                                                               1 Cor. 16:13-14

      Action Plan:  Write down how you live your faith, just give a few examples.  Ask your small group if they see your faith in action.

      2 Examples of Real (Active) Faith

      o   (IN FAITH) ABRAHAM FOLLOWED GOD
            NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING
            "Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses
             itself in works? That the works are 'works of faith'?" 
                                                                                       James 2:22 (Mes)

            ". . . God accepted Abraham's faith, and that faith made him right with God.
            So Abraham was called 'the friend of God'."             James 2:23 (NCV)

      o   (IN FAITH) Rahab RISKED HER LIFE TO SAVE OTHERS
                                      James 2:25-26 & Joshua 2

           "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test
                   yourselves."                                                      2 Cor. 13:5

           "It is BY grace you have been saved THROUGH faith . . . FOR a life of good
            works which God has already prepared for us to do." 
                                                                                      Eph. 2:8-10 (TEV)

      Every Service Action Steps
      We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com

      We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him.
      Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families
      and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give
      To be baptized, email mybaptism@saddleback.com

      To learn how to lead others to Christ, serve at a pop-up food distribution
      center this week! Text SERVE to 83000 or email serve@saddleback.com

      Listen to our podcasts "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn

      More from this series

      More from this series

      A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t
      March 15 - November 8, 2020
      • When Your Plan Doesn’t Match God’s Plan
        November 8, 2020
      • Having The Mind Of Christ During An Election
        November 1, 2020
      • A Faith That Can Heal Illnesses
        October 25, 2020
      • A Faith That Can Transform Weaknesses
        October 18, 2020
      • A Faith Known For Integrity
        October 11, 2020
      • A Faith That Helps Me See The Truth
        October 4, 2020
      • A Faith That Handles Wealth Wisely
        September 27, 2020
      • A Faith That Doesn’t Need To Hoard
        September 20, 2020
      • A Faith That Knows The End Of The Story
        September 13, 2020
      • A Faith That Passes The Tests Of Life
        September 6, 2020
      • A Faith That Doesn't Hold On To Hurt
        August 30, 2020
      • A Faith That Reduces Quarreling
        August 23, 2020
      • A Faith for Facing an Uncertain Future
        August 16, 2020
      • A Faith That Keeps Me From Playing God In The Lives Of Others
        August 9, 2020
      • A Faith That Keeps Me Hopeful
        August 2, 2020
      • A Faith That Makes Me More Merciful & Less Judgmental
        July 26, 2020
      • A Faith That Helps Me Filter What I Say
        July 19, 2020
      • A Faith That Handles Delays Patiently
        June 27, 2020
      • A Faith That De-Escalates Conflict
        June 21, 2020
      • A Faith That Plants Seeds Of Peace
        June 7, 2020
      • Real Faith Versus Fake Faith
        May 31, 2020
      • A Faith That Loves My Neighbor As Myself
        May 24, 2020
      • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 2
        May 10, 2020
      • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 1
        May 3, 2020
      • A Faith That Anchors Me In Storms
        April 19, 2020
      • A Faith That Counters My Bad Habits
        April 5, 2020
      • A Faith That Makes Tough Choices Easier
        March 29, 2020
      • A Faith That Isn’t Troubled by Troubles
        March 22, 2020
      • A Faith That Walks Through the Valley of Virus
        March 15, 2020
      Back To Top

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