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Bible Study Questions: What Is Faith?
What is faith? Do you have faith? How do you get faith? Can you have
more or less faith than others? How can you increase your faith? Can
you lose your faith? If you have faith, do you need to keep God's law?
Take a few minutes to answer these questions to yourself. Imagine how
you would respond if someone asked you on the spot about your faith and
what it means to you. Is it more difficult than you thought it would
be? Don't worry if it's hard because these are not easy questions to
answer with quick, single-sentence responses. But it is important for
you understand faith. Don't you think that God wants you to be able to
explain your faith to yourself and to others, as well? (Colossians 4:5-6)
After all, our faith is our foundation in life. As you answer the following
multiple choice questions, please take time to think about your answers.
Also, try to answer them without looking at the choices provided first.
Are you ready to be challenged?
Before you begin, read the United Church of God booklet, You
Can Have Living Faith, and use it to help you answer these Bible
study questions. (http://www.ucg.org/booklets/LF/)
Challenge # 1: What is faith and how do you know if you have
it?
Hebrews 11:1 ~ "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see." (New International Version)
| 1. |
What is faith? |
| a. |
Faith is our belief that God will provide us with
everything we need, and that He will never let us suffer more than
we can handle. (Psalms 37:4, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:19) |
| b. |
Faith is our conviction that God will fulfill His
promises that He reveals in His word, the Bible. (Titus 1:1-2) |
| c. |
Faith is our trusting attitude and commitment toward
God during the challenges we face in life, which should set a powerful
example to those who know us. (Proverbs 3:5, 1 Timothy 4:12) |
| d. |
All of the above |
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| 2. |
How do you know if you have faith? (Hebrews 11:6,
8) |
| a. |
You believe that God exists. |
| b. |
You believe that God exists and you have the desire
to please and obey Him no matter the cost, and you act on that desire. |
| c. |
You read the Bible occasionally. |
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| 3. |
How do you get faith? (John 6:44, Romans 10:17, Ephesians
2:8) |
| a. |
Through hearing the word of God. |
| b. |
Through the gift of God's calling. |
| c. |
(a) and (b) |
| d. |
None of the above |
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| 4. |
How can we glorify God to others through our faith?
(Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 2:21) |
| a. |
By thanking Him, then living life as we please. |
| b. |
By repenting for our sins, becoming baptized, and
living for God by modeling our lives after Christ's. |
| c. |
By simply believing that He exists. (James 2:19) |
| d. |
(a) and (c) |
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| 5. |
Read Hebrews 12:1-2. Who is the originator and the
perfecter of our faith? That is, who paid the ultimate price for
our sins so that we have the opportunity to grow in faith? (Also
see John 3:16) |
| a. |
Jesus Christ |
| b. |
Abel |
| c. |
Enoch |
| d. |
Abraham |
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| 6. |
Let's look at Old Testament examples of faith. Study
Romans 4:16-25 and Hebrews 11:8-19. Why was Abraham's faith so special? |
| a. |
Because he obeyed God's requests many times without
knowing God's reasons (almost sacrificed his only son and left his
home for a foreign country), but his belief in God's promises never
wavered. |
| b. |
Because of his faith, God chose to give His promises
to Abraham and his physical and spiritual descendents, so he is the
father of us all in the faith. |
| c. |
(a) and (b) |
| d. |
None of the above |
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| 7. |
Why did Jeremiah's faith set him apart? (Jeremiah
1:4-8, 17:14-18, 37:15, Hebrews 11:36) |
| a. |
He prophesied for God even though he didn't want
to and suffered abuse and imprisonment by his own people, but his
faith and hope in God's salvation remained and matured through it
all. |
| b. |
He gave up and told God it wasn't worth the effort. |
| c. |
He lived an easy life and he never doubted God's
purpose for him. |
| d. |
He never complained or accused God of being unfair. |
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| Challenge #2: Can
you have more or less faith than others? How can you increase in
faith? |
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| Mark 9:23-24 ~ "...‘Everything
is possible for him who believes.' Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, ‘I
do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" (New International
Version) |
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| 8. |
What can you learn from the story in Mark 9:14-29?
(Hebrews 11:34, James 1:5) |
| a. |
That we need to accept that we just don't have enough
faith to get what we want all the time. |
| b. |
That God only answers our prayers if we're perfect. |
| c. |
That God wants us to ask Him for more faith, and
He will give it to us if we humble ourselves and admit that we need
Him. After all, "out of weakness [we are] made strong." |
| d. |
None of the above |
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| 9. |
Why does God allow our faith to be tested through
trials? (Romans 5:1-4) |
| a. |
He doesn't really want us to be happy. |
| b. |
He wants us to develop a positive and trusting attitude
through our challenges, which produces patience, shapes character
and draws us closer to Him. |
| c. |
He isn't affected when He sees us suffer. |
| d. |
He has no control over what challenges we stumble
through because this is Satan's world. |
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| 10. |
How can we prepare ourselves for these challenges? |
| a. |
Study the Bible regularly. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) |
| b. |
Stay close to God by praying often. (1 Thessalonians
5:17) |
| c. |
Always look and listen for God's guidance in your
life. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 58:11) |
| d. |
All of the above |
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| 11. |
According to Christ, how much faith do we need to
move mountains and uproot trees? (Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6) |
| a. |
faith as a Mack truck |
| b. |
faith as the seas of the earth |
| c. |
faith as a mustard seed |
| d. |
faith as the heavens |
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| 12. |
Why does God use the mustard seed analogy to describe
faith? (Luke 13:19) |
| a. |
Because no one has ever had enough faith to move
mountains or uproot trees, yet we only need an amount as tiny as
a seed to do it. It shows us how far we all have to grow and mature
in faith. |
| b. |
Because it is something small that can grow into
something impressive, showing us that our faith should also grow
into something strong and mighty. |
| c. |
Because all we really need is a little bit of faith
to please God. |
| d. |
(a) and (b) |
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| Challenge #3: Can
you lose your faith? |
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| Revelation 3:11 ~ "Behold,
I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take
your crown." (New King James Version) |
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| 13. |
Which of the passages remind us of how precious and
valuable our faith is? |
| a. |
Luke 10:23-24 |
| b. |
1 Peter 1:3-9 |
| c. |
Matthew 13:16-17 |
| d. |
All of the above |
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| 14. |
How can you prevent falling away from your faith?
(1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:10-18, Colossians 2:18-19, 1 Thessalonians
5:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Revelation 3:11) |
| a. |
Don't let anyone deceive you. Instead, test and prove
all things by finding your answers only in the word of God. Take
on the whole armor of God to defend your faith. |
| b. |
Accept other people's beliefs at face value, without
bothering to see what the Bible really says about them. |
| c. |
Hold fast and be confident in the understanding that
you have been given as a gift from God. |
| d. |
(a) and (c) |
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| 15. |
Would God ever take your faith away from you? (1
Corinthians 10:13, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, James 1:13-15, 2 Peter 3:9) |
| a. |
Yes, He will take it back if you make mistakes. |
| b. |
Never. Only we can give up our faith. God wants us
all to receive His promises. |
| c. |
(a) and (b) |
| d. |
None of the above |
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| 16. |
Then how can we lose our faith? |
| a. |
If we allow ourselves to be led away by fear, doubt,
human reasoning, worry and false doctrines, which are all enemies
of the faith. (James 1:6-8, 2 Peter 3:17) |
| b. |
If we aren't careful to stay close to God through
regular prayer, study and fasting. (2 Peter 1:10) |
| c. |
If we consciously deny God after accepting His sacrifice
through baptism, He will deny us, and we will lose it forever. (Matthew
10:32-33, 2 Timothy 2:12) |
| d. |
All of the above |
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| 17. |
What are the consequences of rejecting God's truth
and throwing away the gift of faith? (Romans 6:23, James 1:15, 1
Peter 4:17) |
| a. |
When we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit through
baptism, our time of judgment begins now, and we will not receive
eternal life if we purposely deny Him. |
| b. |
We don't need to worry now because we will have a
second chance later. |
| c. |
It's impossible to throw away our faith. |
| d. |
There are no consequences because God doesn't give
punishment. |
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| 18. |
What are the rewards we will receive at Christ's
return if we do hold onto our faith? (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Hebrews
11:6, James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 22:14) |
| a. |
God will give us the crown of eternal life. |
| b. |
We will live and reign with God in His Kingdom. |
| c. |
We don't know what our reward will be. |
| d. |
(a) and (b) |
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| Challenge #4: If
you have faith, do you need to keep God's law? |
| |
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| James 2:14, 26 ~ "What
does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can faith save him?...For as the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (New King
James Version) |
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| 19. |
Read James 2. Are faith and keeping God's law (works
or deeds) separate or inseparable? (John 14:15, John 15:9-10, Ephesians
3:17) |
| a. |
Inseparable. For Him to abide (or live) in us, we
must love Him, and if we love Him, we must keep His commandments.
You cannot have true faith if you do not follow His law. |
| b. |
Separate. God doesn't care about what we do, as long
as we love Him and believe in Him. (Matthew 7:21) |
| c. |
Inseparable. Salvation through faith is a gift from
God that cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8), but God does expect us
to obey Him through following His law. |
| d. |
(a) and (c) |
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| 20. |
Why is obeying God so important in the development
of your faith? (Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 1:6-7) |
| a. |
It really isn't important to develop your faith,
as long as you have it. |
| b. |
Because God is keeping a scoreboard in heaven of
how many good works you do and if you don't do enough, you won't
get into the Kingdom. |
| c. |
Because every time you go through a trial as a result
of our faith, like keeping the Sabbath when it could cost you your
job, you grow closer to God because you show Him that He is first
in your life. He will bless you and increase your faith because you
trust that He will provide your needs. |
| d. |
None of the above |
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Never let it go...
Have you ever experienced pure joy when you have been waiting and waiting for
a prayer to be answered, or for the pieces of your life to finally fall into
place, and they finally do more perfectly than you could have ever dreamed?
God was behind it all! How can that not increase your faith? But it's easy
to become angry and frustrated with God when we're in the middle of trials,
isn't it? But if you can look to Him first and trust that He is in control
and won't let you fall, you will please God and He will bless you more than
you can imagine. Every time you pull through a trial, whether it involves work,
school, friends, romantic relationships, inner battles, or all of these combined,
your faith will grow if you keep a good attitude and love God and count your
blessings through it all. God wants you to glorify Him through your positive
attitude and faith, even when everything seems to be going wrong. He wants
us to come to the point in our lives when we realize that we need to depend
completely on Him for answers and for guidance. He wants us to submit to Him
and understand that we would have nothing without God, yet we have
everything because of Him. When we accept this truth and rely on our
faith, we will grow closer and closer to God. Think about the example that
you give to those around you when you can be positive in the face of adversity.
What a beautiful way to glorify God through your faith! Also remember that
while we are all at different levels in our faith, we all have so far to go.
Developing your faith is a process that will not be complete until Christ returns.
Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Value your faith and never
let it go.
Recommended Reading:
• You
Can Have Living Faith – United Church of God booklet (http://www.ucg.org/booklets/LF/)
• "Profiles
in Faith: Timothy, Paul's Son in the Faith" – Good News article
by Jerold Aust (www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn34/profilesfaithtimothy.htm)
Timothy was like many of us in the church today, a third generation Christian.
His example of faith is so encouraging, especially to those of us who have
grown up in the church. Despite all of the persecution he suffered, he turned
out to be a great leader and someone who obviously greatly pleased God.
• "Faithfulness" – sermon
transcript by Peter Eddington (www.ucg.org/sermons/transcripts/faithfulness.htm)
How does our faithfulness compare to God's? Do you measure up?
1 Peter 1:7-9 ~ "that the genuineness of your faith, being much
more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may
be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end
of your faith – the salvation of your souls."
| Answers |
| 1. D |
6. C |
11. C |
16. D |
| 2. B |
7. A |
12. D |
17. A |
| 3. C |
8. C |
13. D |
18. D |
| 4. B |
9. B |
14. D |
19. D |
| 5. A |
10. D |
15. B |
20. C |
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