What are you going to do?
This message launches the Basic Training series, focused on foundational truths of Christian faith. Gene Troyer explores the importance of taking the first step in your faith journey—whether you’re beginning, returning, or re-evaluating what you believe. The sermon emphasizes that faith isn’t built on certainty, but on trust, experience, and movement toward Jesus.
Biblical Foundation
The teaching draws from Genesis 12 (Abram’s call), Acts 2 (Pentecost), Acts 14 (Paul in Lystra), and Joel 2 (quoted by Peter). These texts show that following God begins with trust, not complete understanding. Abram stepped out before he saw the outcome. The early church exploded not because people read a Bible, but because they experienced Jesus through the Holy Spirit and community.
Main Insights
- Faith Requires a Starting Point Every journey begins with one step. Whether in parenting, career, or belief, nothing changes until you start. Faith is no different.
- Childhood Faith Often Doesn’t Survive Adulthood Many grow up with a version of faith built on slogans (“God is good,” “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it”). But adulthood introduces real questions—suffering, doubt, injustice, hypocrisy—that demand deeper engagement.
- Authentic Faith Is Built on Encounter, Not Information People followed Jesus not because of doctrine, but because they experienced Him. The early church didn’t have a Bible; they had the Spirit. Knowing the Bible doesn’t guarantee knowing Jesus.
- Jesus, Not the Bible, Is the Cornerstone of Faith Scripture matters deeply—but without a living connection to Christ, knowledge becomes empty. Jesus is the center. The Bible points to Him; it is not a substitute for Him.
- Trust Doesn’t Require Full Clarity Like Abram, Paul, and many believers today, we move forward by trusting God before we see the full picture. As Philip Yancey said, “Faith is trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”
- Comfort Can Be an Obstacle to Growth Faith often means stepping out of what’s familiar and into what’s uncertain. God’s invitation may be to move even when you’re content where you are.
- Everyone Has Faith in Something Sometimes our strongest belief is in fear or self-protection. The question is: what or who are you really trusting?
Practical Takeaways
- Identify your faith starting point—or restart point.
- Ask where comfort is preventing growth.
- Trust Jesus even when clarity is lacking.
- Don’t confuse biblical knowledge with spiritual maturity.
- Reflect on how your faith has held up under pressure.
- Choose one next step, even if small.
Bottom Line
Faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting Jesus enough to take the next step. Whether you’re confident, doubtful, or somewhere in between, the invitation remains the same: just start. You’ll find He’s already moving toward you.
