When Faith Feels Fragile | Sunday Message

10 snips

May 4, 2025

Explore the delicate nature of faith in challenging times, where feelings of fragility are common yet surmountable. Personal stories and scripture are woven together to reassure listeners that doubt is part of the journey. The transformative power of confession and forgiveness takes center stage, highlighting God’s unwavering support. By looking to Jesus, joy becomes attainable, while sin often leads to sorrow. Listen to uncover how to maintain a vibrant relationship with God and navigate the trials of life with hope.

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ANECDOTE

Toy Tugboat Faith Analogy

Greg Laurie shares an anecdote about a toy tugboat that was unsinkable until he put a cherry bomb inside it, causing it to sink slowly.
This story illustrates how our faith can feel shaken and start to sink when there's a breakdown in our spiritual foundation.

INSIGHT

Assurance of Eternal Life

1 John was written to assure believers that they have eternal life through Jesus, not based on feelings but on truth.
Eternal life is a assured gift from God and not something earned, anchoring faith beyond circumstances.

INSIGHT

Three Core Themes in 1 John

The epistle of 1 John can be divided into three core themes: God is light, God is love, and God is life.
These themes provide a foundational understanding of God's nature and our relationship with Him.

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Even when your faith feels fragile, you don’t have to sink. When we look to Jesus rather than our feelings, we can be held steady—whether through loss, personal failure, or other sufferings where faith just seems impossible to hold on to.

Notes:

Focus verse - 1 John 1

#1 Faith can be shaken, but you don’t have to sink.

Faith can be shaken and feel fragile by painful events.

God did not give up on Elijah, Jonah, David, or Peter.
And He’s not giving up on you either.

#2 1 John was written to give assurance to believers.

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
so that you may know you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 (NLT)

We need truth. We need the word of God.

We’ll never be unshakable if we’re not rooted in God’s unchanging truth.

Bible promises:
God began a good work in you He will complete it.
God is the author and finisher of our faith.
Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.

#1 God is light.
1 John 1:1–2:2

#2 God is love.
1 John 2:2:3–4:21

#3 God is life.
1 John 5

Read 1 John 1:1–4

John said that for three years they gazed, they stared, and they beheld Jesus.

#3 To have unshakable faith, you need to look to Jesus.

Jesus will sustain you and be with you.

#4 When you look to Jesus, your life will be filled with joy.

Sin promises joy—but it produces sorrow.

#3 When you find something wonderful, you want to share it.

The best kind of witness is the overflow of a Christ-filled life.

#4 The obstacle to joy is unconfessed sin.

Read 1 John 1:5–7

Real faith is proven by obedience.

“Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight.” Psalm 51:4 (NKJV)

If you fall into sin, you have no one to blame but yourself.
James 1:14–15

There is always a way out of temptation.

God’s light does not expose you to shame you. It exposes you to heal you.

#5 The way to be forgiven of your sin is to confess it.
1 John 1:8–10

Confession is saying, “God, You’re right and I’m wrong.”

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)

You’ll find that His mercy is greater than your mess.
His grace is deeper than your guilt.

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

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