How do we move past the road blocks that try to stop our faith? Listen in to this next message in our Change Your City series – “Faith Blocks”. Follow along to find out…

What happens you face an obstacle, a roadblock, or a barrier? Do you shut down? Get frustrated? Avoid or walk away?

Matthew 17:24-27 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[a] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter?[b] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[c]” 26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

IXTHUS – “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the Savior.”

1. Faith Block of “Not Enough”

Believers can fail to act in the kingdom of God when they feel …

• they can feel like they are not enough so they fail to even try –
• they can feel like they don’t have enough resources, finances, or understanding…. and don’t try

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

To move past the faith block of not enough – go to Jesus first in what you lack.

Jesus will speak to you in action – It will be something hard, or tough, and very personal.

**But Jesus is testing / stretching you so that you stop focusing on what’s missing and focusing on what Jesus is providing.**

2. Faith Block of “Doubt” –

• Do you doubt Jesus is speaking to you? –
• Do you doubt He has chosen you to participate in the growth of this Kingdom?

Most people do not fully understand what Jesus is speaking to them about so they shut down. They fail to comprehend what Jesus is speaking because they fail to spend time listening.

The sermon last week – Peters mother in law was touched by Jesus then immediately started using her skill for the kingdom. We all were touched by the Jesus last week; but did you immediately start using your skill for the kingdom?

The Holy Spirit revealed to us Monday, that most people did not because there was a Spiritual Blockage. And most would say it was lack of understanding, or knowing…

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt prevents movement in the kingdom of God.**

Luke 24 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt is broken through what you give to Jesus.**

vs 45…. then he opened their minds…

Doing Life Together –

What does luke 24:41-45 mean to you? What are you going to do this week that is different than weeks prior? Be accountable to each other. If someone says something get their number and check up.

3.Faith Block of “changing your city”

Changing your city is not a sermon series….. it’s a LIFESTYLE that every believer is enrolled in the moment they call Jesus Lord. We are all called to change our own city.

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

• Jesus is Jesus…
• Disciples are all believers…
• the crowd is our different cities…
• the bread and fish are what we have to offer. It’s not enough without Jesus.

We will change our cities if we are willing to participate and be involved in the group project known as vision.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Next Steps – Seek the Lord. Jesus will reward you with what you need to change your city. Hold someone else accountable. Check in. See how they are doing in seeking the Lord in the coming weeks.

How do you keep hope alive from a distance? Remember the first day of “social distancing”, we’ve been here awhile now. Reflect on some of the actions you had to take at the beginning – setting yourself away, shutting out friends and family, isolating… Remember when it felt abnormal? When you wondered if there was a possibility you could be hurt if you got too close to someone else? This is the next message in our “Can’t Cancel Hope” series where we look at people in the Bible going through dark times, places, isolation and how they kept hope alive.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

John 4:13-19

13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

16 He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.”

17-18 “I have no husband,” she said.

“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.”

19 “Oh, so you’re a prophet!

The woman at the well was socially distancing herself from her own community for several reasons, and these reasons still plague the church today. 

Why do people socially distance themselves in Church and community?

1 – Fear

2 – Past Hurts

3 – Insecurities

The cure to social distancing is Jesus. Jesus deals with our fears, hurts and insecurities. 

John 4:27-30;39-42

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.

39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

The key to breaking out of social distancing is….

1 – Be honest with yourself and Jesus

2 – Turn Tragedy into Testimony

Our church is digging deeper into what God has called us to do. And what He has called us to is ‘doing life together‘.

Your next step today is: messaging someone who is not living with you…

Start with “How can i pray for you today? Here is how you can pray for me.”