2. God Created Us to be Relational because He is a relational God Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness

3. Faithfulness Defined Active: Trust, Faith, Belief Ex. I have faith in something and I am faithful to that

4. Faithfulness Defined Passive: Reliability, Fidelity, Trustworthy Ex. I am considered worthy of faith

5. Faithfulness Demonstrated Christ as the Ultimate Example

6. Christ’s Active Faithfulness (Active = Faith in something) Mt 16:21 - 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Eph 3:11 - 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. Christ’s Active Faithfulness Heb 5:8-9 - 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him John 6:38 - 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

8. Christ’s Passive Faithfulness (Passive = Worthy of Faith) Mt 24:35 - 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mt 28:20 - 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“ 2 Tim 2:13 - 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

9. What about the examples in the New Testament? 2 Thes 1:4 - 4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 1 Tim 4:12 - 12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

10. 3 John 1-8 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

11. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

12. Faithfulness Developing Our Modern Application

13. 4 Key Areas Home – Marriage, Siblings, Parent- Child, Roommates Church – Home Groups, Ministries Community – Sports, Music Groups, PTA, Charities, etc. Workplace/Classroom

14. Faithfulness is not Easy

15. Questions to Contemplate Share an example of someone who has exhibited faithfulness in Christ in their home, church, community, workplace, or classroom? How do you go about becoming more faithful in Christ?

16. Clarence Jordan and Koinonia Farm

17. Response Questions Share an example of someone who has exhibited faithfulness in Christ in their home, church, community, workplace, or classroom? How do you go about becoming more faithful in Christ?