Sermon Reflections from Maybe Faith | Alex Hardt | May 11, 2025
I loved the subject of Pastor Alex’s sermon this Sunday. He challenged us to think of our faith in terms of having not enough to step forward or enough to move forward with Jesus. He said we need just 51% which puts us over the top and on the upper side. What does one have with less than 50% faith? That would mean you don’t have enough trust in God to move forward, and if you are not moving forward you are going backwards. An example of this type of faith is seen in the parable of the talents. Matthew 25:14-15 “14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” The servants who had 10 and 5 talents stepped out in faith and used their money to make more. The servant who was given one talent, hid it in the ground. When the master returned the ones who had used their faith to multiply their talents were praised by their master. However, the one who buried it was not.
Matthew 25:24-27 “ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.” The lesson here is God expects us to use what He gives us for His kingdom. God wants to see growth exhibited by our obedience to Him.
When you use your faith to step out for the kingdom, God can use you to multiply His kingdom bringing Him glory and blessings to us. Pastor Alex had several stories of those who exhibited the Maybe faith and stepped out, trusting God for the results. He recounted the stories of Abraham and Joshua. They did not know the end result but trusted God to work it out. I particularly love the story of the Apostle Paul who was shipped off to Rome in chains from Acts 27. Paul was being sent to Rome to face trial and kept his faith in the face of disaster. Acts 27:21-26 “Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” Paul’s faith in God was the hope for all on board! He had multiplied his talents of faith to include the whole ship. Another favorite comes from 1 Kings 18 and Elijah’s faith is tested. Elijah confronted the people of Israel over their worship of the idol Baal. He was one prophet of God against 450 prophets of Baal. They were to each build and altar with a sacrifice and then they were to call upon their God to consume it with fire. 1 Kings 18:24-25 “And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” The prophets of Baal went first and they called out to their god hour after hour. After hours with no results it was Elijah’s turn.
When you use your faith to step out for the kingdom, God can use you to multiply His kingdom bringing Him glory and blessings to us. Pastor Alex had several stories of those who exhibited the Maybe faith and stepped out, trusting God for the results. He recounted the stories of Abraham and Joshua. They did not know the end result but trusted God to work it out. I particularly love the story of the Apostle Paul who was shipped off to Rome in chains from Acts 27. Paul was being sent to Rome to face trial and kept his faith in the face of disaster. Acts 27:21-26 “Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” Paul’s faith in God was the hope for all on board! He had multiplied his talents of faith to include the whole ship. Another favorite comes from 1 Kings 18 and Elijah’s faith is tested. Elijah confronted the people of Israel over their worship of the idol Baal. He was one prophet of God against 450 prophets of Baal. They were to each build and altar with a sacrifice and then they were to call upon their God to consume it with fire. 1 Kings 18:24-25 “And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” The prophets of Baal went first and they called out to their god hour after hour. After hours with no results it was Elijah’s turn.
1 Kings 18:31-39 “Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. Then Elijah called out to God, “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” I think Elijah had a flare for the dramatic as he soaked his offering thoroughly with jars of water and God burned it all up. It did not matter that is was too wet to burn!
I think the reason I love each of these stories so much is that both Paul and Elijah had great faith in God and did not waver. The results brought glory to God and great blessings of faith to Paul, Elijah and you and me as we read about it. So what kind of faith does God desire of you? He wants to see faith that is unwavering and fully committed to Him. Following Jesus with commitment and trust- even if we only start with 51%!
Linda
I think the reason I love each of these stories so much is that both Paul and Elijah had great faith in God and did not waver. The results brought glory to God and great blessings of faith to Paul, Elijah and you and me as we read about it. So what kind of faith does God desire of you? He wants to see faith that is unwavering and fully committed to Him. Following Jesus with commitment and trust- even if we only start with 51%!
Linda
MESSAGE LINK
Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass
Watch on Youtube
LINDA'S BLOG
Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass
Watch on Youtube
LINDA'S BLOG
Linda is a member of Crossroads church and regularly blogs about her faith.
Fearless Living
Fearless Living
CROSSROADS CHURCH
Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
GIVE
Support the ministry of Crossroads and help us tell the story of Jesus with others.