Hi, I'm Darrell Bay, Service for Christ. Thank you for tuning in to our LifeWay Bible Studies for Life. Here as we start out on a new series in session one, Noah, a faith that pleases God. Please, if you would, take your Bibles with me to Genesis chapter 6, verses 5 through 9, verses 17 through 22, and also in Genesis chapter 8 verse 20 down to verse 22. We'll be talking about risk takers, the adventure of walking by faith, because when you exercise faith, the Christian life is a call to faith and trust. And sometimes it's easy to trust. But at other times, obedience to God feels very risky. And so we can be risk takers. growing in Christ is learning to trust him more and more in every area of our life and so I'm glad. Living by faith begins with a righteous relationship with God. Welcome to our journey through the life of Noah, a man who dared to believe God when no one else would. And there's more than a story about an ark and animals. It's about a faith that pleases God, the kind of faith that risks reputation, requires obedience and builds when others laugh. Well, Noah shows us that faith isn't passive. It builds. It trusts. And it obeys, even when the skies are clear. Here in a world where disobedience was the norm, Noah stood out. Not because he was perfect, but because he walked with God. And if we want to live by faith today, we must start where he did. in a righteous relationship with the one who calls, the one who leads, and the one who never fails. And so, welcome as we look at our obedience, our faith, and a God that keeps his promises, because we're going to walk with Noah, not just through the storm, but through the decisions that made him different in a world that had forgotten God. Noah's story isn't just about a boat, It's about obedience when it's hard, trust when there's no evidence, and worship when the journey ends. Each day we all ask ourselves hard questions and we look at the scripture and we listen for God's invitation to trust him more deeply. Well, this story of faith that obeys and a God who never fails, you better get ready to grow, get ready to be stretched, Most of all, get ready to say yes to whatever God is calling you to build, even if you don't fully understand it yet. And so let's step into the adventure of walking by faith. Let's become risk takers, people who hear God and obey no matter the cost. But first, before we get into the wonderful word of God, let's come into the word of prayer. Father, we come before you hungry to grow in faith, and to please you. And just like Noah, we live in a world that often resists your truth, and yet you still call us to walk with you. Give us the courage to obey when it's uncomfortable, to trust when it's unclear, and to build what you ask, no matter the cost. Create in us a clean heart that longs for a righteous relationship with you. Not for reward, but because you are worthy. And let this time not just inform us, let it transform us. As we begin this journey through your word, open our hearts and clear away distractions. Help us to learn from the life of Noah, his courage, his obedience, and his trust in you. Because we confess, Lord, that we often hesitate to take the next step of faith, especially when we don't understand the whole picture. But you are faithful, and today we choose to trust you. Let your spirit guide our thoughts, convict our hearts, and inspire us to walk in obedience, even when it's hard to believe. In Jesus' marvelous mighty name we pray, amen. Thank you so much for tuning in for our LifeWay Bible studies. You know, our lives are tracked, and when we look at every day when we get up, when we think of our lives and how that someone is always trying to either give you a compliment or blame you for something because that's how it is in life today. All of our lives are tracked and they're documented from job performance to personal activities and God sees all of our actions. He reads our thoughts. He knows our intentions. But when we look at the story of Noah, it offers an example of someone whose life was fully known to God, documented, tracked. It serves as a very powerful lesson on living in a righteous relationship with him. Now, the world in Noah's time was steeped in profound wickedness and sin. We go back in Genesis 6, verse 5, and it states, And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Well, this grieved God deeply. It led him to regret creating humanity and resolve to destroy all living things. However, amidst the depravity, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord in Genesis chapter 6 verse 8. Noah was described in verse 9 as a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God, hallelujah. Well, to live by faith it means to be living in a right relationship with God. I wonder out there, are you living in a right relationship with God right now? Noah's unique relationship with God set him apart from the rest of humanity. And the foundation of faith, when we trust God unwaveringly, it's the strength of one's faith that rests in the object of that faith. For Noah, this object was God alone. And our trust in God is not based on our perceptions, our desires, but on who he truly is. And so this unwavering trust motivates us to please God and to live in a right relationship with him. And so I'm going to ask you some really key aspects of living by faith that have been demonstrated by Noah. First of all, number one, living in a right relationship with God in Genesis chapter 6 verses 5 through 9. You see, Noah's faith was characterized by his active walk with God. And while the rest of humanity was moving away from God, Noah moved in obedience and he moved in trust. The writer of Hebrews chapter 11 verse 7 affirms, he says, by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. First of all, when we look at living in that right relationship with God, it's about trusting the God who knows best. What's holding you back from fully trusting and obeying God? You see, Faith pleases God. Faith isn't a one-time act. It's a daily posture. Our relationship with God is not transactional, where obedience earns a blessing. It's transformational, based on who God is, faithful, holy, and worthy. And Noah pleases God not by his skill set, but by his trust. Even when the world mocked him, he obeyed God. He built the ark. He didn't need a validation from people because he had direction from God himself. So faith isn't about understanding everything. It's about trusting the one who does. Noah trusted God when there was no sign of rain because he knew God is always right. Obedience is faith in action. And so I wonder, what is something God is asking you to do that doesn't make sense to you right now? Is fear of people's opinions keeping you from being obedient? How can you cultivate a daily posture of that trust? You see, Noah's life became a legacy of faith for his family, for the world. And Noah pleased God because he trusted what God said. He responded in obedience. And Noah pleased God because he built what God told him to build and allowing his obedience and faithfulness to influence those around him. Noah pleased God because he chose to obey God instead of seeking the praise of mankind. Huh. You see, living by faith begins with knowing God, which enables us to trust Him more fully. God is faithful, and our faith is a response to His faithfulness. And so, living in a right relationship with God in Genesis chapter 6, verses 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, about walking with God, trusting the God who knows best in Hebrews chapter 11, verses 6 and 7, and making these small steps that make a big impact. Because where have you seen disobedience hurt relationship with God or others? Because obedience builds harmony with God. In a world that is filled with sin, Noah stood out, not because he was spectacular, but because he simply obeyed. and the rest of the world chased selfishness. And while Noah chose surrender, he didn't take any shortcuts. His quite consistent obedience brought him into that close relationship with God. You see, disobedience separates us from God. Obedience draws us closer. Noah wasn't perfect, but he walked in the right direction toward God. Don't underestimate the power of one faithful life in a faithless world. Are there small areas of compromise going on in your life pulling you away from God? I wonder in what ways can you choose obedience in the small stuff today? What kind of legacy is your obedience building? Well, we continue to look at the key aspects of living by faith as demonstrated by Noah. And that first aspect of living by faith was living in a right relationship with God. In Genesis chapter 6 verses 5 through 9. But in verses 17 through 22, in Genesis chapter 6, we see obedience to God's commands. And so, God's promise to Noah was to bring a flood that would destroy all life on earth. And yet God also established a covenant with Noah, instructing him to build an ark and to bring his family and two of every living creature into it in Genesis chapter 6, verses 18 through 21. And the Bible says, thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he in Genesis chapter six, verse 22. I'm going to highlight some of the scripture so I can cover more area. And so to live by faith, it calls for obedience. This demanded Noah to step far outside his comfort zone, undertaking the immense task of building the ark, gathering the animals. His growing faith brought increasing confidence that with all things are possible, obedience requires us to lay down our own will, and it desires for God's will and way Noah took some small steps of obedience, which resulted in a significant difference between him and the rest of the world. Noah's love and trust in God were evident in his willingness to stand out and to walk differently from the rest of the world. And I'm glad Noah's obedience led to a right relationship with God, whereas disobedience hinders that relationship. And so As I said, of the key aspect of living by faith as demonstrated by Noah, obedience to God's commands in Genesis chapter 6 verses 17 down to verse 22 is that we see that there is grace in the middle of judgment. Why do people cling to sin when grace is offered? Well, grace is offered, but it must be received. And that's what Paul Battles was talking about this morning in the house of God. Paul Battles was saying that you can preach your heart out now, and it seems like nobody's listening. Nobody's paying any attention to the gospel anymore. Grace is offered, but it must be received. And so God's judgment may sound harsh, but it always comes after patient mercy. And the world had plenty of time to repent, but they chose sin over salvation. And still God made a way through the ark. It was a picture of grace. Noah and his family didn't earn rescue. They received it through obedience. And so, listen to me, sin blinds us, but grace opens our eyes. Grace is a door, not a demand. You have to walk through it. Nobody can make you walk through it. Nobody can demand you to walk through it. Noah didn't save himself, God did. But Noah responded in faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Are you resisting God's grace in any era of your life? What keeps people from accepting God's way over their own? Oh my goodness, I'm gonna slap my face. Oh my goodness, help us Lord. How can you offer grace to someone who needs it when they don't want it? And so it's sad because many people today are not paying attention. And so as we continue with the key aspects of living by faith as demonstrated by Noah, first of all, the first thing we said was living in a right relationship with God in Genesis chapter 6 verses 5 through 9. Now, even though I haven't read every single verse, The way that I explain it, you know every detail by the way that I describe it, that what you're going to read. And I want you to read it later. And I want you to read it again later. And I want you to read it again later. And so living in a right relationship with God in Genesis chapter six, verses five through nine. Secondly, obedience to God's commands. A lot of people read something they don't even know what they're reading. They can get up there and read it and nobody says nothing. I'm telling you something. I'm telling you what it is. I'm giving you that outline of what it is. And that is, secondly, obedience to God's commands. And that is when you read Genesis chapter 6, verses 17 down to verse 22. But thirdly, we see receiving and accepting God's grace. Because in Genesis chapter 6, verses 17 and 18, you see God's judgment on the world can be a challenging for us to understand. However, we must view it through the lens of God's unchanging character. He is good, just, and he's rich in mercy. That's God. And despite humanity's persistent refusal to turn from sin, God's grace was extended to Noah when you read it. Noah and his family were invited onto the ark, not because they were perfect, but because God chose them and they chose to obey. And amidst sin and disobedience, grace is still present. Noah and his family trusted God and His provision rather than relying on themselves. Grace is offered, but it's not forced. It must be received and accepted, leading to a new direction in life. And so, when we look at the key aspects of living by faith as demonstrated by Noah, First of all, living in a right relationship with God in Genesis chapter 6 verses 5 through 9. Secondly, obedience to God's commands in Genesis chapter 6 verses 17 through 22. But when we look at within that obedience to God's commands, thirdly, we see that we can receive and accept God's grace in verses 17 and 18 of Genesis chapter 6. But when we break it on down to the rest of the way, we see choosing to obey even without understanding in Genesis chapter 6 verses 19 through 22. Noah was instructed to gather two of every kind of animal, a task that likely seemed enormous and perhaps even illogical in the face of impending destruction. However, God had a larger plan for the future life. Noah despite not knowing all the whys behind God's commands, trusted God and he was obedient. And he knew that if God called him to do it, God would enable him. That's what we've got to do today. We can choose to obey even when we don't know the full reason behind God's commands. Noah's faith was in the God he knew, not in a complete understanding of God's plan. And so I'm glad that when we look at trying to choose to obey even without understanding in verses 19 down to verse 20. It's about obeying without all the answers. What is God asking you to obey even when it doesn't make sense to you? Well, we can obey even when we don't know why. How come? Imagine trying to gather two of every animal without knowing exactly how or why. Well, why do we got to get all these giraffes over here? Why do we got to get all these elephants over here? Why do we got to get all these hogs, and we got to get these sows, and Noah didn't demand all the details. He trusted the one that gave the command, and that That faith, that faith in real life, doing what God asked, even if it feels impossible or unclear, because God doesn't always explain the plan, but he always has one. Obedience means saying, yes, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, before you see the full picture. And Noah obeyed because he trusted God's character, not just his commands, praise God. What is one area of a delayed obedience in your life? Hmm. Are you waiting for clarity when God is waiting for obedience from you? How does God's past faithfulness help you take the next step? Well, when we look at the key aspects of living by faith as demonstrated by Noah. First of all, in verses 5 through 9 of Genesis chapter 6, it's talking about living in a right relationship with God. Secondly, in verses 17 through 22, It talks about obedience to God's command. And within verses 17 through 22, verses 17 and 18 is talking about receiving and accepting God's grace. And then in verses 19 down to verse 22, within the obedience to God's command is talking about choosing to obey even without understanding. And so, as we go on a little bit more in clarity, we talk about in verses 20 down to verse 22 of Genesis chapter 8, Genesis chapter 8, we see honoring and worshiping God. Because after 150 days of the water pervading and the subsequent drying of the earth, Noah and his family, along with all the animals, safely exited the ark. In Genesis chapter 8, verse 1, and down to verse 18, and the first thing Noah did upon reaching dry ground was to build an altar to the Lord, and he offered a burnt offering in Genesis chapter 8, verse 20. You see, to live by faith is to honor and worship God. And Noah's worship was a direct response to God's faithfulness. God had done exactly what he promised. Noah's sacrifice was a clear sign of his obedience and willingness to be used by God to continue his plan. This act of worship pleased God, who promised never again to curse the ground or destroy all the living things in the same manner in Genesis chapter 8, verses 21 and verse 22. God's provision led Noah to worship and sacrifice. God's faithfulness encouraged Noah to be faithful to God. God always initiates faithfulness, and he always keeps his promises. And our worship through obedience and faithfulness is a response to God's enduring faithfulness in goodness. And so to live by faith is to honor and worship God. When you're honoring and worshiping God in Genesis chapter 8, verses 20 down to verse 22, worship is the right response. How does remembering God's faithfulness move you to worship? You see, God's faithfulness should lead us to worship. Well, after all the storms, Noah stepped out of that ark. And the first thing that he did was, as I said, he built an altar. Worship came before rebuilding. I want you to remember that. Worship came before rebuilding. He recognized that God had carried him through and God's faithfulness demands more than applause. Some of us need to drop down right now, wherever we are, unless we drive in a car. And we need to get down on our face and say, God, thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. I don't even deserve what you give me. Thank you, God. It deserves our sacrifice, our surrender. It deserves our song. Some of you ought to be singing a song right now. Some of you ought to be praising and shouting glory. Worship isn't about music. It's about response. I'm going to say that again. Worship isn't about music. It's about response. And Noah didn't worship because life was easy. He worshiped because God stayed faithful. And the right response to grace is gratitude. What has God carried you through recently? How can you respond with worship today through your actions, through your time, through your words? What altar of worship can you build right now where you're at? You see, Noah's life demonstrates that a living faith is built on a righteous relationship with God, characterized by an unwavering trust, a radical obedience, acceptance of grace, and a heartfelt worship. And so, I wonder, what are some obstacles to obeying God in our culture, a desire for affirmation from others. Sometimes we often seek approval from our peers and from society and from Facebook and public more than from God. What a shame, making us hesitant to take actions that might be misunderstood or criticized. We'll put our family and our children photos on there and we won't attack somebody. We want so many people to respond. And when those people don't respond, we get our feelings hurt. You ought to be wanting to know how to please God more than the attention of social media and Facebook. Comfort zones and self-sufficiency. Our culture often emphasizes independence and self-reliance, making it difficult to surrender our will to God and to step into uncomfortable situations. We seek pleasure and personal desires because a focus on immediate gratification and what feels good can lead us all away from God's command, especially when obedience requires sacrifice. A lack of understanding and impatience because we often want to know, why God? Why God? Why this? Why that? God, why did you do this? God's asking us to do something and we may resist if the logic isn't immediately clear or if the outcome isn't instantly visible to us. The fear of the unknown for many people because obeying God often involves stepping into uncertain territory, which can be very scary in a culture that values predictability and control. They won't control on it. They ain't going to let the reins out of the hands of themselves. And the influence of sin and disobedience, the pervasive nature of sin in society today can normalize the behaviors contrary to God's will, making it harder to choose a different path. So why is worship an important part of demonstrating our faith? It acknowledges God's worthiness. Worship declares that God's supreme worthy of our adoration and in control even when we're not. And I'm glad that worship It is a response to God's faithfulness. Noah's worship after the flood was a direct response to God keeping his promise. In similarity, our worship acknowledges God's consistent faithfulness in our lives. Worship, it aligns our hearts with God's will. Through worship, we surrender our own desires and affirm God's sovereignty, which strengthens our willingness to obey. And so worship, it fosters a deeper relationship with God. Worship is a direct communication and communion with God, deepening our trust and intimacy with him. And so I'm glad that worship is an act of obedience and God commands us to worship him, making it an act of faith and submission to his authority. And then worship it sets an example for others. Noah's immediate act of worship set the tone for the new covenant, demonstrating to his family and future generations the importance of honoring God. How can we encourage each other to walk in obedience, exercise faith, and honor God? We share personal testimonies. We pray for one another. The accountability of partnerships, of forming up, studying God's word together, practicing mutual confession and forgiveness at our altars, celebrating the acts of obedience, reminding each other of God's character, praise God. And so Noah's faith wasn't flashy, but it was steady. It wasn't driven by applause, but by obedience. He walked with God when the world walked away from him. He trusted God's word more than man's opinion. He built what God asked and worshiped when the flood was over. And that's the faith that pleased God. And as we leave this moment of reflection and study about Noah, May we also leave with a commitment to be risk-takers for the kingdom of God. Let our lives preach louder than our lips, our obedience shine brighter than our doubts, and our walk with God draw others to trust him. Remember, living by faith begins with a righteous relationship with God, and that relationship is available to you and I today. And so, faith doesn't wait for certainty. Faith moves in in obedience because God is certain. And so, listen, whether you're facing something that you don't understand, something you can't control, or something that requires great trust, take the next step. God is already ahead of you. Noah, a faith that pleases God. Father, thank you for showing us through Noah what it looks like to live by faith. We confess that we often settle for the safety instead of the surrender, comfort instead of courage. But today, we choose to step into the risk of obedience. We choose to trust you fully, build faithfully, and walk closely with you. Strengthen our relationship with you, Lord. Make us bold believers, faithful builders, joyful worshipers, Father. Because, Lord, as you show us through Noah's life what it looks like to trust you when the world doesn't understand Thank you for the mercy and judgment, your grace and obedience, your faithfulness in every step. And help us to be doers of the word, not just hearers. Help us to build the life you called us to, even when we can't see the rain yet. And may our lives be marked by faith, shaped by obedience and filled with worship. Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you, Lord. for everything that you've given to us. In the name of the one who obeyed perfectly, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen. God bless you. you