We have a building project before us: building faith.  We have identified ten tools to work with, which were discussed individually in small groups last evening. Now our focus is how these tools integrate, how we can use them together.  I’ve suggested a framework for looking at “the whole” – looking to Jesus (and before him to Moses), teaching us to love God with every last part of ourselves:  our heart, our soul, our strength and our mind.

There are two ways I can see that the separate topics integrate.  First, none of them truly stands alone.  In the small groups, many could not help straying into other topics.  Not a problem!  Quite the opposite, as it demonstrates that we are not forcing something—the different topics weave themselves together naturally.  Second, they integrate within our heart, soul, strength and mind.

As I said in the last post, we can’t possibly be comprehensive, but the output of the small groups is definitely suggestive of paths we can follow to explore further.  In the rest of this post and the next one, I’ll share some of what the groups had to say, along with some what they suggest to me for further personal, family, or group consideration.  My underlining highlights integration between topics, and also with the four aspects of our complete self.

• Scripture.  As a community probably the biggest thing we would say defines us is our reliance on scripture, and it’s very right that we do so!  It is, in fact, the bedrock supporting all the faith-building tools.  We might immediately think mind here; but the Word is intended to, and must, reach into our heart and into our actions.  Scripture is how we get to know God, and to know Him is to love Him.

• Prayer.  True prayer is vivid communication, expressing our heart (our feelings) and soul (our innermost sense of self). Yet it depends also on understanding.

• Acts of Service.  Whether small & private or more public, we serve as a result of believing.  However service is also faith building—as our actions become more like Jesus’s, our character develops to be more like him.

• Seeking holiness in an unholy culture.  Jesus turned every cultural challenge into an opportunity to bring a kingdom focus.  The result of spending so much intimate time with the Father, both in prayer and scripture. That intimacy changes thinking, touches our heart, transforms us deep within.

• Trusting God.  Let Him drive the car when we’re lost; this is an expression of faith, and also builds faith when our trust is vindicated. It is critical to reflect on how God has worked for us & others (including in scripture); trust is rewarded, leading to more trust.

This one, trusting God, is perhaps the clearest example of a feature of all the faith-builders.  These tools operate in “virtuous spirals”.  The opposite of a vicious circle, sometimes called a “positive feedback loop”.  Trust is rewarded, producing more trust, which is rewarded, and so on.  But it’s true of all of them.  Diving deeper into scripture produces greater confidence that it’s God’s word, which motivates going even further, and so on.

Well it appears to me that we already have five lines of inquiry we can follow up. All need further thoughtful digestion.  Or to switch metaphors, need more mining. There are gems to be found here—more depth in each one, more interconnections among them, more integration into the whole of our being.  Remember—these are things that faithful people testify helped their faith!  We all have times in our lives when faith gets pretty thin.  These tools, separately but even more in combination, can help us during those times.

There’s more to come. Next time we’ll briefly highlight the remaining tools.

Love, Paul

If you have any feedback, please contact me at: paul.zilmer@gmail.com