Shawna Boren addresses how the testing of our faith leads to perseverance, and then she shows us how the work of perseverance produces transformation. Perseverance is a key component to growing up in our faith and communing with God, and thus knowing him.
Watch/Listen
Carry On
• Shawna Boren
Show Extended Summary Hide Extended Summary
In this sermon, Shawna Boren engages James’ words to the early church about the testing of our faith and the need for perseverance. She asks the question, How does our belief in Jesus shine forth when we encounter trials “of many kinds?” She answers this question by exploring four points.
First, she explains the meaning of “the testing of your faith.” At first glance, this might appear to be saying that God is testing us. However, James says later in chapter one that God does not tempt anyone. The trials arise not from God, but from living in a fallen world. We are walking in the midst of a spiritual war, and the messes that arise are ultimately rooted in the work of the enemy. He is the tempter who comes to steal, kill and destroy. The aim of Jesus is to set all things right. This is made clear in the prophetic words of Isaiah 61:1-3 where the mission of the Messiah is declared. Jesus came to turn mourning into dancing, shame into glory, graves into gardens, bones into armies and seas into highways. God is not sending trials our way to play with our lives, but he can use these trials to shape us for the good. Through testing, we are refined, as God uses these situations to help us grow.
Secondly, testing produces perseverance. Paul tells us in Romans 5:3-5 that perseverance produces hope. Perseverance is manifest when we make the conscious choice to keep moving toward a meaningful goal despite facing hardships, failures or delays. It is the act of carrying on when you are in the midst of the struggle. Unfortunately, we cannot escape suffering, but we can persevere because we know that suffering does not have the final word. We learn what it means to walk in obedience through perseverance, something that Jesus modeled for us (Hebrews 2:8-9).
Third, we must let perseverance finish its work. While it is natural to our human condition to avoid anything that might cause us pain, we can only grow up when we move forward and face the challenges that arise. The muscles of our faith can only be trained through the choices we make to persevere. In this way, we open ourselves up to God’s more significant work. He uses the trial in unexpected ways to shape us for his good.
And fourth, the work of perseverance results in completion where we are not lacking anything. We are mature as we live out the most loving version of ourselves. We are complete when we are whole, integrated and intact. This is not about attaining material goods so that we lack nothing from a financial perspective. It is about realizing who we are in Christ and walking in that fullness with him.
Shawna closed her sermon by drawing our attention back to Greg Boyd’s practical guidance from last week:
1. Pray with an open heart.
2. Seek help.
3. Trust in God’s big love.
4. Reframe your trials.
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “Little by little, one travels far.” The transformation of our lives will not come in an instant. It occurs one step at a time, some of which will be baby steps. As we step we persevere, and over time we find ourselves living differently in communion with God.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Pain & Suffering, Temptation, Transformation
Sermon Series: Louder Than Words, Faith Unshakeable
Downloads & Resources
Audio File
Study guide
Group Study Guide
The MuseCast: September 29
Focus Scripture:
-
James 1:2-4
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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
"Thank you all the way from Oregon. I deeply appreciate being shepherded by Pastor Greg and everyone else on the panels. You are a rare find in the church nowadays. Tackling tough questions with humility and a kingdom perspective. It has been life changing for me in such tumultuous times."
– Heather, from Oregon