“God wants us to live by faith… he wants us to try something,” Francis Chan told students and volunteers at Momentum. Chan, the teaching pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, Calif., took to the podium on Sunday morning, July 22, 2007 to continue his thoughts on authentic faith. He opened the conference on Saturday night with a challenge to lived changed lives.
Momentum is a week of special speakers, ministry, and fun for students while challenging them in their faith. It was formerly known as Brethren National Youth Conference. The main conference sessions are held in Reed Green Coliseum of University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg
Chan talked about the heroes of Hebrews 11, often known as the “faith chapter” for the listing of examples of faith by Old Testament icons.
“I never liked Rahab,” he admitted. “She lied. She hides the spies in her house.” He recounted how when authorities came looking for the spies, she wasn’t truthful about where the spies were.
He said he never wanted to preach about Rahab for that reason. “I didn’t want people to think they could lie,” he stressed, expressing frustration that God didn’t confront her about her sin, and then he included her in Hebrews 11.
“Then it hit me,” he said. “Did she sin by lying? Probably, but God doesn’t want to talk about it. He talks about her faith.”
He talked about others in the chapter who weren’t likely to be held up as Godly examples, including Samson, who didn’t make the wisest choice in selecting a girlfriend.
“Every time you go out, you’re going to sin,” he said. “But it’s not important that you screwed up,” he added.
He cited Hebrews 11:6 – “without faith, it’s impossible to please God.”
“The opposite is true,” he stressed. “With faith, it is impossible to displease God.”
He noted that we are going to make mistakes. What is important is that we tried. God cares about our hearts.
The morning session opened with special music by and scripture recited from memory by students who participated in quizzing. It concluded with prayer for the first teams that were headed for the Gulf Coast and rebuilding efforts at Gulfport and Pearlington, Miss.
