11-16-21 “Faith That Endures When the World Shakes”
“Faith That Endures When the World Shakes”
I want to start with something funny that I found an internet site: A Sunday school teacher began her lesson by asking, “Boys and girls, what do we know about God?” A hand shot up in the air.
“He is an artist!” said a kindergartener.
“Really? How do you know?” the teacher asked.
“You know the Lord’s Prayer — Our Father, who does art in heaven…”
I don’t know why we still use such ancient words! As you may know, “art” is the old English form of the verb to be. In other words, it means, “Our Father, who is in heaven.”
Still, that little boy’s thought about God is quite profound. It makes sense to me, especially when I look at the beautiful flowers in spring, the lush greenery of summer, the colorful leaves of fall, and the pure white snow of winter. These are all God’s works of art. Looking at the beauty of nature, we know that God truly is a great artist.
What else do you know about God? We may think we know a lot, but when we’re asked to describe God, we often pause and wonder what we really know — and how to put it into words. The same is true of faith. We believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, yet we often find ourselves wondering how to explain our faith to others.
Today, we will talk about our faith — even when the world shakes. I loved Deb and Russ Hammer’s presentation last Sunday at Grantsburg-Central UMC about the stewardship narrative budget and the furnace fundraising campaign. We have hope because we have faith. As the saying goes, if you are resting in the shade, it’s because someone once planted a tree (Warren Buffett). What a beautiful testimony of faith that is!
In today’s scripture, let’s see how Jesus leads us to a faith that endures when the world shakes. There’s something awe-inspiring about beautiful buildings. When the disciples looked at the temple in Jerusalem — its massive stones and glittering gifts — they couldn’t help but marvel: “Look, Teacher! What large stones and what beautiful buildings!”
I can imagine Jesus looking at them tenderly before saying something shocking: “Not one stone will be left on another; all will be thrown down.” What a strange and unsettling word. The Temple was the center of their faith, the pride of their people, the symbol of God’s presence. And yet, Jesus was saying — it wouldn’t last forever.
I think we can understand the disciples’ shock. Our churches — here in our parish — have stood for more than a hundred years. They’ve witnessed baptisms, weddings, funerals, and countless prayers. The walls have heard hymns sung in strong voices — and sometimes in small, trembling ones too.
But we also know that times have changed. Our membership isn’t what it once was. The buildings need repair. We sometimes worry about the future — about what will become of these sacred spaces. And in those moments, Jesus’ words echo in our hearts: “All these things you see — they will not last forever.”
That might sound discouraging — but Jesus didn’t speak those words to bring despair. He said them to shift our focus — from stones to Spirit, from buildings to belief, from temples made by hands to the living temple of our hearts.
When the world shakes — whether it’s our church, our health, our finances, or even our nation — Jesus reminds us of what truly endures. The disciples thought the temple was their foundation, but Jesus wanted them to see that He Himself was the true foundation. And that foundation cannot be shaken.
Our church may have aging walls and smaller numbers, but our faith has grown stronger, deeper, and more real. I love how Deb Hammer said, “Our church is small, but mighty.” Because faith isn’t built on numbers, or programs, or even buildings — faith is built on Jesus Christ, the solid rock. As the hymn says, “Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” Yes, the grace if God is still with us. Jesus is our cornerstone of faith.
We know, we may not be able to keep everything the same — but we can renew what matters most. We can renovate hearts, repair hope, and rebuild our vision — because our foundation is sure.
Jesus tells the disciples, “By your endurance, you will gain your souls.” Endurance doesn’t mean just holding on tightly and waiting for the storm to pass. Endurance means staying faithful — praying, loving, giving, serving — even when it’s hard. Every act of love, every meal served, every prayer whispered, every child taught — these are the stones God uses to build a living temple.
So even as our buildings show their age, our faith shows its life. Even as the world changes, the Spirit renews us from within. And even when the future feels uncertain, our hope remains sure — because Christ is with us.
I believe God still has plans for our church. As we replace the roof and furnace, and renovate the restroom, we must also renovate our faith — with hope, joy, and prayer. Yes, the buildings may need renovation, but more importantly, the Spirit is already doing renovation within us. God is shaping us into a people who don’t depend on large crowds or grand temples, but on grace, gratitude, and generosity.
The early church started in small groups — in homes, around tables, with hearts on fire.
And from that humble beginning, the Gospel changed the world. If God could do that then — God can do it again. Right here. Through us. Through our faith that endures.
So, when we see the world shake — when we see things changing, shrinking, or breaking — remember this: The Kingdom of God is not in decline. It’s alive in every act of love, every prayer, every heart that trusts in Jesus. Our faith does not crumble because our foundation does not move. Jesus Christ — our Rock and our Redeemer — still holds us fast.
Some of us tend to keep a positive mindset, and some a negative one. But I want to remind you of this: The saying, “Your life will be led according to how you think,” has its roots in the Bible — specifically in Proverbs 23:7, which says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (KJV)
This verse reminds us that our thoughts shape who we are and how we live. Later, the writer James Allen expanded on this idea in his well-known book As a Man Thinketh (1903), expressing that “a person is the product of his thoughts.” In modern terms, we often hear it said, “You become what you think about.” The message is timeless: the direction of our life follows the direction of our heart and mind.
So please, find your hope in Jesus Christ — not in people or material things.
Keep your faith that endures when the world shakes.
Thanks be to God. Amen.