Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Emotional moment; gratitude expressed for John and Edie.
• Reflection on God’s faithfulness despite challenging circumstances.
• Personal anecdote about surviving a critical illness and finding humor during difficult times.

Trusting in God

• The level of stress reflects the level of trust in God.
• Christianity isn’t about perfection but moving in the right direction with God’s grace.
• Younger generations encouraged not to carry unnecessary burdens and trust God.

Experience of Faith

• Speaker shares personal experiences of finding joy and trust in difficult times.
• Encourages reflection on trusting God during uncertain times.
• Transition from ‘preference Christianity’ to ‘conviction Christianity’ emphasized.

Personal Revival and Revelation

• Importance of personal revival discussed through speaker’s own journey.
• Emphasis on moving from intellectual understanding to divine revelation.
• Anecdote about acquiring a building through a revelation from God.

The Journey of Faith

Seven Stages of Faith

1. Comfort
   • The Gospel’s good news brings comfort.
   • Personal revelation of God’s love and purpose.
2. Connection
   • Connection with other believers and the church.
   • Warning against getting stuck in the comfort-connection loop.
3. Cause
   • Embracing the cause of Jesus Christ.
   • Importance of living with purpose and for the cause of the Gospel.
4. Commitment
   • Commitment to the cause beyond just roles in the church.
   • Dealing with misunderstandings and offenses as part of growth.
5. Crisis
   • Experiencing and handling crises to develop convictions.
   • Example of Jesus’s journey and personal crises faced by the speaker.
6. Convictions
   • Developing non-negotiable convictions from crises.
   • Convictions become our credentials.
7. Consistency
   • Living a life of consistency and finishing the race of faith strong.
   • Speaker emphasizes the importance of enduring and enjoying the Christian walk.

Insights from Each Stage

• Comfort reveals the love of Christ.
• Connection reveals the church.
• Cause reveals the cross of Jesus Christ.
• Commitment brings community.
• Crisis develops character.
• Convictions determine our credentials.
• Consistency leads to the completion of faith.

Personal Stories and Anecdotes

• Speaker shares various personal stories of faith, challenges, and divine interventions.
• Emphasizes the importance of staying committed and trusting God even in the face of extreme adversity.

Final Reflections

• Encouragement to continue on the journey of faith and not be deterred by challenges.
• Invitation to recommit to the journey of faith and embrace the stages of faith fully.

Conclusion

• Prayer for those wanting to start or recommit to the journey of faith.
• Emphasis on the importance of the journey and the transformative power of faith.