What Is Faith?: Jesus Christ Course
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saintmaryspressWhat Is Faith?: Jesus Christ Course
Uploaded by
saintmaryspressWhat Is Faith?
Jesus Christ Course
Document # TX001270
What Is Faith?
Describe how these images represent faith.
[Link]
Image in public domain
Image in public domain
[Link]
What Is Faith?
Describe how these images represent faith.
Image in public domain
Image in public domain
[Link]
Image in public domain
What Is Faith?
Describe how these images represent faith.
Image in public domain
Image in public domain
Image in public domain
Image in public domain
Faith
Word from the Latin fides, meaning trust or belief A specific act or human response to Revelation An internal surrender of our whole self to God (recall the Greatest Commandments) A God-given theological virtue or habit of belief Something that must be practicedwith practice comes wisdom
Faith
Building blocks of Christian life A journeywith some high points and some low points Something you can feel strongly one day and not the next A daily responsethrough daily habits or expressions of faith, it grows A grace that opens life to possible realities beyond the present experience
Consider these two images of NBA player LeBron James
[Link]
Image in public domain
Expressions of Faith
Faith is expressed in many kinds of beliefs and practices:
prayer: communal and individual Sacraments service charity justice
What Are the Connections?
Religion
Comes from the Latin religio, meaning respect for the sacred or reverence for the gods.
Refers to the set of practices and beliefs followed by those who believe in and worship God.
Belief
Comes from German, meaning what is dear or esteemed.
Refers to a mental act or state of mind placing trust or confidence in a person or doctrine.
Faith
Latin fides, meaning trust or belief
Religion
Latin religio, meaning respect for the sacred or reverence for the gods Set of practices and beliefs followed by those who believe in and worship God
Belief
Germanic origin, meaning what is dear or esteemed A mental act or state of mind placing trust or confidence in a person or doctrine
A specific act or human response to Revelation An internal surrender of our whole self to God (recall the Greatest Commandments) God-given theological virtue or habit of belief
Gods Revelation
In faith we accept Gods Revelation. We express that faith in our religious beliefs and practices.
Image in public domain
Faith and Religion
Two sides of the same coin Cannot have one without the other Faith without religion = fades away Religious practices without faith = going through the motions Faith requires willingness.
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Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. (Luke 1:38)
Faith requires willingness but
The Scriptures and Faith
Simon Peter said in reply, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). [Peter] said to him, Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you. But he replied, I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me (Luke 22:3334). And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18).
Image in public domain
The Catechism and Faith
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, Faith is a supernatural gift from God. In order to believe, man needs the interior helps of the Holy Spirit (179).
Image in public domain
The Holy Spirit
Peter, Mary, and all the faithful allow Gods Holy Spirit to work in their lives:
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim (Acts of the Apostles 2:14).
The Mustard Seed
And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. The Lord replied, If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you (Luke 17:56).
Image in public domain
Strengthening Faith
Ways to strengthen faith: prayer: communal and individual liturgy Sacraments service charity justice
Continuous Cycle
Faith is a continuous cycle. The more you practice your faith, the stronger it will grow. The firm foundation of faith will sustain you even in difficult times. Increase faith Practice faith
Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock (Matthew 7:2425).
Practice faith in new and different ways
Increase faith