There’s something special about AWANA Sunday at Grace Bible Church. Watching kids stand on stage and recite memory verses they’ve been working on all year — from Jeremiah 10:10 to Philippians 4:8 — it’s one of those moments that reminds you exactly why church matters. For many of those children, these verses are the foundation of everything else they’ll build their faith on.
But here’s the honest question Pastor Josh White posed on April 25, 2021: does any of this actually make a difference? Not just for the kids — for all of us. If a child goes through AWANA, memorizes verses, earns awards, does that guarantee they’ll be a spiritual giant as an adult? No. But does it help? Absolutely. And that’s exactly the point.
You Can’t Separate Knowing from Doing
Pastor Josh opened with a question that cuts right to the heart of why we gather as a church:
“Do you have to be an active participant in a local church to grow your faith? Technically no. But it sure helps.”
Think about it practically. Do you have to be on a football team to be a good football player? Technically no — but good luck getting good without a place to practice. The same is true of your faith. Church isn’t just a building we show up to. It’s where we create opportunities to grow and to put what we believe into action.
The sermon centered on Philippians 4:8-9 — one of the most direct verses in Scripture about the connection between what we know and what we do:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things… What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
— Philippians 4:8-9
Paul’s bottom line? You have to do it. You can’t just talk about your faith or discuss what you believe. You have to put it into practice. Repetition. Exercise. Carrying on with these things day after day. That’s how someone becomes great at anything — including their spiritual life.
Repentance Always Leads to Deeds
Pastor Josh turned to Acts 26, where Paul stands before King Agrippa and gives a succinct summary of his mission:
“I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”
— Acts 26:19-20
Notice that last part — performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. You can’t separate them. True repentance isn’t just a mental shift; it’s a change of action. If someone truly understands who God is — His holiness, their own sinfulness, the gift of salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection — then that understanding should show up in how they live.
And here’s the tension Pastor Josh highlighted: Are you saved by your works? Absolutely not. We’re saved by the work of Jesus Christ alone. But — should our lives match our convictions and beliefs? 100% yes. That’s what it means to practice your faith.
How We Practice: Living Out Romans 12
The heart of the sermon was Romans 12, one of the most practical chapters in the Bible on how to put faith into action. Verse by verse, Pastor Josh walked through what this looks like:
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
— Romans 12:14
When we bless people who persecute us, we refuse to give them control of our hearts and minds. We maintain freedom — real freedom — by not allowing another person’s actions to dominate our thinking.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
— Romans 12:15
This cultivates true harmony with other believers. We need each other to get through life — to encourage and be encouraged. When we genuinely share in others’ joys and sorrows, we experience life together the way God intended.
“Live peaceably with all, as far as it depends on you.”
— Romans 12:18
This is one of the harder ones, isn’t it? The world isn’t peaceable. People aren’t always reasonable. But peace — real peace — frees up so much energy to serve the Lord instead of fighting petty battles.
“Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God… for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
— Romans 12:19-20
This is about trusting in God’s sovereignty. We don’t have to make sure everything is fair and just right now. God will handle justice someday. Our job is to trust and obey.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
— Romans 12:21
This is the summary statement: don’t roll over and let difficult situations have their way with you. You have the Holy Spirit — a Spirit of power, discipline, love, and self-control. You can take control. You can fight. You can overcome.
So What?
Here’s the uncomfortable question: Are you actually practicing your faith, or just listening to sermons about it?
2020 was a vivid reminder that we don’t control the future. We don’t know when we’ll breathe our last breath or when a tragic situation will alter our lives forever. When those moments come, you need to rely on the stability you’ve built — all the opportunities you’ve taken advantage of up to that point.
If you didn’t build stability, you might be overcome by evil. But if you’ve been practicing — showing up, putting in the reps, serving, blessing, weeping with those who weep, rejoicing with those who rejoice — then you have something to stand on when hard times come.
That’s why church exists. That’s why AWANA exists. That’s why small groups, Bible studies, and Sunday services exist — not as religious obligations, but as designated opportunities to grow and to practice our faith.
God wants us stable. Paul prayed for that stability. And the call is the same today: don’t just be a hearer of the Word — be a doer. Practice these things.
Scripture References
- Philippians 4:8-9 — Think on excellent things; practice what you’ve learned
- Acts 26:19-20 — Repent and perform deeds in keeping with repentance
- Romans 12:14 — Bless those who persecute you
- Romans 12:15 — Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep
- Romans 12:18 — Live peaceably with all
- Romans 12:19-20 — Leave vengeance to God; feed and water your enemies
- Romans 12:21 — Overcome evil with good