I walk by Faith and not by Sight #2

Walk by Faith Overview

In this powerful continuation of his series on walking by faith, the pastor of NTC Ministries digs deeper into what it truly means to live by faith rather than by sight or feelings. Drawing from Romans 12:1-8 and James 1:2-8, he challenges believers to move beyond passive Christianity and become active participants in the work of God. Through a vivid illustration of a young boy who reluctantly joined a middle school soccer league, the pastor paints a compelling picture of how God calls us off the bench and into the field of active faith. He unpacks the concept of spiritual gifts from Romans 12, reminding listeners that God has given every believer a measure of faith and unique gifts meant to be used, not left unopened like gifts under a Christmas tree. James 1 is explored to show that trials are not obstacles but opportunities to develop diligent, steadfast patience. The sermon is a warm pastoral exhortation to stop bench-warming, to press into Jesus, and to let each step of faith unlock the miraculous power of God in everyday life.

Walk by Faith Outline

• 00:00 – Opening Encouragement and Heart of the Shepherd: The pastor opens by affirming that the message series is not about condemnation but about encouragement, growth, and helping believers discover God’s great plans for their lives.
• 06:30 – The Need for a True Encounter with Jesus: A distinction is drawn between religious routine and a genuine, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, illustrated by stories of loved ones unexpectedly coming to faith.
• 14:00 – The Soccer Boy Illustration: A story about a reluctant young soccer player who slowly grew to love the game serves as the central illustration for how believers often ride the bench instead of stepping out in faith.
• 24:00 – Romans 12:1-8 — Living Sacrifices and Spiritual Gifts: The pastor reads and expounds Romans 12, emphasizing presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, not conforming to the world, and using the unique spiritual gifts God has given each believer.
• 34:30 – The Measure of Faith and the Danger of the Bench: Every believer has been given the measure of faith. The pastor challenges the congregation to activate and utilize that faith rather than sitting idle, comparing unopened gifts to unused spiritual gifts.
• 42:00 – James 1:2-8 — Trials, Patience, and Double-Mindedness: A study of James 1 reveals that trials produce diligent patience, and asking God in faith without doubting is essential; a double-minded person cannot expect to receive from the Lord.
• 49:00 – Three Types of Workers — Which One Are You?: The pastor describes three kinds of workers and challenges believers to be the third type: someone who finishes the job, seeks out more to do, and actively advances the Kingdom of God.
• 54:00 – Personal Testimony — Learning to Lead Worship: A personal story of learning guitar at 14 and leading worship despite illness illustrates that God uses willing vessels who say yes, regardless of natural ability or comfort level.
• 58:30 – Practical Steps of Faith for Every Believer: Concrete suggestions are given for stepping out: greeting, ushering, teaching children’s church, running sound and cameras, giving generously, and praying boldly for others.

Scripture References

Romans 12:1-8, James 1:2-8

Key Takeaways

• God has given every believer the measure of faith, but it must be activated through deliberate steps of obedience and service.
• A true encounter with Jesus Christ transforms a person completely — you cannot press into His presence and come out unchanged.
• Spiritual gifts are meant to be used, not left unopened; sitting on the bench robs both the believer and the Body of Christ of increase.
• Patience as described in James 1 is not passive waiting but a positive, diligent steadfastness that continues to serve and trust God through trials.
• Asking God in faith without doubting unlocks His provision; double-mindedness makes a person unstable and unable to receive from the Lord.
• God calls believers to bloom where they are planted, using whatever gift they have been given in the season and place He has placed them.
• When we take steps of faith and use our gifts, we activate the miraculous power of God and become the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus to a watching world.

Walk by Faith Notes

Faith That Moves Beyond Feelings

The central thrust of this message is that walking by faith means refusing to be governed by emotions, circumstances, or perceived limitations. The pastor reminds listeners that as new creations in Christ, believers are called to rise above earthly elements and live from a heavenly perspective. Faith is not a feeling; it is a deliberate choice to trust God’s word over what the eyes see or the heart feels on any given day. This is the foundation upon which every other application in the sermon is built.

The Soccer Boy and the Reluctant Believer

The illustration of a young boy who hated running, faked injuries, and preferred the bench powerfully mirrors the condition of many Christians. He signed up, showed up, but refused to fully engage — until something changed on the inside. The pastor uses this story to show that transformation does not always begin with enthusiasm; sometimes it begins with simply choosing to stay in the game. Over time, willingness replaces reluctance, and what once felt impossible becomes a source of joy and purpose.

Gifts Unused Are Blessings Refused

Drawing from Romans 12:4-8, the pastor emphasizes that every member of the Body of Christ has a distinct function and a specific gift. Whether it is prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, or showing mercy, each gift is meant to be exercised. The image of a child refusing to open Christmas gifts captures how the heavenly Father must feel when believers sit on gifts He lovingly prepared for them. God’s desire is for His children to unwrap their gifts, use them boldly, and watch His power flow through them.

James 1 and the Power of Steadfast Patience

The pastor takes care to redefine patience as it appears in James 1. Far from passive resignation, biblical patience is an active, brave endurance that keeps serving, keeps praying, and keeps pressing into God even in the middle of trials. The testing of faith is not punishment but a divine training ground that produces the kind of character that lacks nothing. Asking God for wisdom in the middle of difficulty, without wavering or doubting, positions the believer to receive fully from a generous Father.

Practical Faith Looks Like Showing Up

One of the most practical sections of the sermon lists tangible ways to step out in faith within the local church: greeting newcomers, ushering, running cameras and sound, teaching children, giving generously, and praying aloud for others. The pastor shares his own story of learning guitar at fourteen with no musical background and leading worship for nearly twenty-five years as evidence that God does not call the equipped but equips the called. Every step of faith, no matter how small, activates something greater in the life of the believer.

The Church Must Arise and Not Sit Down

The sermon closes with an urgent corporate exhortation. As the enemy increases his activity in the world, the Church cannot afford to be a group of bench-warmers and pew-fillers. God is raising up an army of the living God, and every believer has a role to play. The local church gathering is the training ground where faith is built and practiced so that believers can go out and be the Church in every sphere of life. Boldness, prayer, witness, and service are not optional extras — they are the reasonable service of every son and daughter of God.

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