Building on the Rock: The Power of Practiced Faith

We all hear about the importance of faith. But what does it really mean to live a life where faith is more than belief—where it's practiced and proven?

In this opening message of our new series House on the Rock, we explore what it takes to build a faith that stands when life gets hard. Just like a house needs solid foundations, a strong spiritual life depends on faith that is lived out, not just talked about.

🪨 The Foundation of Faith: More Than Just Belief

Jesus paints a clear picture in Matthew 7:24–27: one builder digs deep and builds on rock. The other throws something up on sand. Storms hit both—but only one house stands.

This parable is more than a nice metaphor. It's a wake-up call. Hearing Jesus’ words isn’t enough. Doing what He says is where real strength comes from. Faith that isn’t practiced is just theory—and theory can’t hold you up in a storm.

🌧️ Storms Are Coming—Is Your Faith Ready?

Following Jesus doesn't mean life will be easy. The Bible promises we’ll face trials—"rain, streams, and wind." The storms are coming for all of us.

Jordan shared about the fear and faith required when his newborn son needed surgery. In that moment, what mattered wasn’t how much theology he knew—it was how deep his faith really went. That’s when the foundation is revealed.

💪 Faith Is a Muscle—Use It or Lose It

Hebrews 11:1 calls faith "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." It’s not just wishful thinking—it’s meant to shape how we live.

Faith grows the same way muscles do: by being stretched. Neglected faith gets weak.

Practiced faith gets strong. The more you trust God, the more you can trust God. But if you don’t use your faith, it won’t be there when you need it.

🏋️‍♂️ Powerlifter Faith vs. Bodybuilder Faith

A bodybuilder looks strong. A powerlifter is strong.

We want that kind of inner faith—one that can handle pressure and carry weight, even when life gets heavy. Not just faith that looks impressive, but faith that works.

🙏 Audacious Faith & Giant-Killing Courage

God’s not calling us to safe, polite prayers. He’s calling us to pray big, bold, impossible prayers. That’s part of our church DNA—to "punch above our weight" and refuse to limit what the Holy Spirit can do.

Like David with Goliath, it’s not about size or optics—it’s about heart posture. Giant-killers don’t need perfect conditions. They just need faith that moves.

🌱 The Mustard Seed Principle

Jesus said if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. That means the size of your faith isn’t the issue—what you do with it is.

Don’t underestimate small beginnings. In God’s hands, even the tiniest faith has explosive potential.

And when we bring our seeds of faith together as a church? That’s when revival starts. That’s when mountains move.

🛠️ Don’t Just Hold Faith—Use It

You can have all the faith in the world—but if you don’t act on it, it doesn’t help you. It’s like owning the best tool but never using it.

When was the last time you took a step of faith? Prayed for healing? Declared breakthrough out loud? Your obedience is the starting point of God’s move.

🍞 Jesus: The Bread, the Water, the Foundation

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." He’s not a backup plan or last resort. He’s our source, our sustainer, our foundation.

We can't treat Him like an emergency supply—we need to walk with Him daily. Depend on Him consistently. Build on Him completely.

🙋‍♀️ Do You Believe This?

When Jesus told Martha her brother Lazarus would rise again, she gave the right theological answer. But Jesus pushed her deeper: “Do you believe this?”

He wasn’t asking for head knowledge. He was asking for heart trust. That same question comes to us today: Do you believe He’s the resurrection and the life, right now, even when nothing looks alive?

💥 Practical Faith: Believe Anyway

Faith isn’t waiting until things look better. It’s believing despite the evidence. Maybe your situation feels dead. Maybe your hope feels buried. That’s where faith belongs.

Declare a bold prayer this week. Write it down. Say it out loud. Step into a moment where you have to rely on God.

⚒️ Conclusion: Let’s Build a Church of Action

The goal isn’t perfect faith. It’s practiced faith. Faith that takes action. Faith that grows under pressure. Faith that gives God space to move.

Let’s not just be a church that looks faithful. Let’s be one that lives it.

So what will you pray? What giant will you face? Where will your boldness be seen?

Let’s be giant killers. Let’s be faith lifters. Let’s build on the Rock.