Dead Faith

The difference between a dead body and a newborn baby is more than life and death. Babies are explosions of energy, noise, motion, and possibility. Meanwhile, the dead are still, silent, and without potential. They are empty shells that we bury in the ground or place in an urn.

Faith is a lot like a body (James 2:26). Whether that body is alive or dead depends on whether we act on our faith. God calls each of us to do something, yet we often come up with a thousand excuses to resist. We don’t want to take the risk, and the result is spiritual stagnation. We may still appear faithful on the outside, but inwardly we feel empty, unfulfilled, or even bored. And when your faith feels boring, something is wrong.

Belief in God alone isn’t enough to bring faith to life. Faith needs action. You can’t convince someone your faith is real without stories of trusting God, and you won’t have those stories if you never leave your comfort zone (James 2:18-19). God can’t catch us until we jump off the proverbial cliff.

Answering God’s call is life-giving. None of the great figures in Scripture changed the world simply by believing in God. They trusted Him enough to act. Abraham, for example, was willing to sacrifice his only son even when it made no sense, and God made him the father of Israel (James 2:21-24).

Our risks may not be as dramatic. They may be financial, relational, or deeply personal. But the spiritual reality remains the same: faith without action is dead. When we step out in trust and answer God’s call, He fills our lives with purpose, growth, and possibilities we could never create on our own.

Watch the full sermon here.