Francis Chan: Do Something With Last Week's Message

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a call to action, urging believers to live out their faith in practical ways. The speaker emphasizes that Christianity is not just a hobby or an add-on to one's life, but rather it should be the central focus and priority. Using the illustration of poker, where one puts all their chips on the table, the speaker encourages listeners to bet everything on their faith, trusting that God will provide for them in this life and the next.

The message also highlights the importance of applying what we hear from God's word, rather than just being hearers who deceive ourselves into thinking we're living out our faith. The speaker shares his own struggles with feeling convicted by the word of God, which "bugs" him until he takes action. He emphasizes that it's not about teaching new truths unless we've applied the old ones.

Key Scripture References

• Revelation 3:1-5 - Jesus writes a letter to the church in Sardis, saying they have a reputation of being alive but are actually dead. This passage serves as a warning to us not to deceive ourselves into thinking we're living out our faith when we're not.
• Matthew 13:44-46 - Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a treasure that's so wonderful, it makes one sell everything they own to buy it. This passage emphasizes the importance of selling out to God and prioritizing our faith above all else.
• Haggai 1:2-4 - The prophet Haggai confronts the Israelites for saying it's not time to build God's Temple, when they're busy building their own houses. This passage serves as a warning to us not to prioritize our own interests over God's work.
• Haggai 1:5-11 - The prophet Haggai encourages the Israelites to finish building God's Temple, saying that if they don't, they'll be cursed. This passage emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God's work and taking action on what we hear from His word.
• James 1:22 - The Bible says not to just be hearers of the word, but doers who apply it in our lives. This passage serves as a reminder that Christianity is about more than just knowledge or feelings; it's about action and living out our faith.

Key Takeaways

• Christianity should be the central focus and priority of our lives, not just an add-on or hobby.
• We must apply what we hear from God's word in practical ways, rather than just being hearers who deceive ourselves into thinking we're living out our faith.
• The word of God can convict us and "bug" us until we take action, which is a sign that it's working in our lives.
• We must prioritize God's work above our own interests and take action on what we hear from His word.

Personal Reflection Questions

• What areas of my life am I prioritizing over my faith?
• How can I apply the principles of the word of God in practical ways to live out my faith?
• Am I being convicted by the word of God, and if so, what action steps can I take to respond to that conviction?