We're talking about Sticky Faith, or Building faith that lasts. Research is revealing some startling data about evangelicals and the church in general and unfortunately, in the church, things aren't going our way. The church here in the United States seems to be divided and on the defensive. Sketchy theology and false teaching is rampant, and "morality" isn't much different than it is outside of the church. The changes in our society in just the last few months were unimaginable just a few years ago this ride we are on seems to be only gaining speed. If something is to be done, it needs to be done now...

When I was a kid and didn't want to eat my food, my mother was use the starving children guilt-trip. I was like, go ahead send them my peas. I'll provide postage! But, for perspective sake, it's true. If you already have lunch plans, you're blessed. Some 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life. That's about one in nine people on earth.

783 million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation.

If you woke up this morning and were able to get out of bed and up and around this morning, you are blessed because over one million people won't survive the week.

Yeah, it's fair to say perspective changes everything. So, here's my question: Do you ever wonder if you are seeing things with a proper perspective?

Police murder two black men. Black man murders 5 police officers. Hillary Clinton innocent of any wrongdoing. The headlines today, and even the oh-so-normal acts such as abortion that don't deserve a headline anymore, depict a nation in turmoil. Many individuals in the Church have placed their rights as citizens above their responsibilities as Christians. Today, Pastor Keith shares an admonition and reminder to the Church and to the individuals who make it up that we have one hope: Jesus Christ.

As Solomon observed in Ecclesiastes 1:11: There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

Life as we know it will be over and forgotten. There are two realities concerning life that people rarely acknowledge unless there's a coffin in the room: 1. Tomorrow isn't promised, 2. at best our life here is brief.

Do you have a critical spirit? Do you find yourself inwardly or outwardly critiquing other brothers and sisters? Do you feel the restlessness and the emptiness? You're at war and honestly, it's a war you shouldn't be fighting. James says in 4:11: The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Heroes aren't heroes because of a moment of bravery. Heroes are heroes because their lives have been shaped by intentional choices and the resulting consequences have brought about someone to be admired and looked up to. I'm convinced that every man here has the potential to be that hero for your children, grandchildren or for future children.

Beneath the pool was a subterranean stream which every now and again bubbled up and disturbed the waters. The belief was that the disturbance was caused by an angel, and that the first person to get into the pool after the troubling of the water would be healed from any illness from which they were suffering. To Pool of Bethesda they came, even though they had little chance of being the first one. They had friends bring them, just in case the waters would be stirred and they might possibly get help and get in the pool first. They came basically because they hoped today would be their day.

The description of faith in Hebrews 11:1: 'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen' leads us to the definition of true Bible faith. This is not blind optimism or some emotionally charged, manufactured 'hope so' feeling.

True Bible faith is not just intellectual agreement with a doctrine.

True Bible faith is not believing in spite of evidence. (That's superstition)

Over the last few weeks we've been asking the question, how do we mature in Jesus Christ? How do we change to become more like Jesus Christ? We've talked about the importance of the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification. We have acknowledged the role testing plays through external trials and internal temptations. What does it look like? Is there a checklist to let us know when we've arrived?