Second-Hand Faith!Sermon Notes                                                                                           Pastor Brad Myers

Inherited, Borrowed, & Imitated?                                                                                                    February 9, 2025

 

Today’s Message: Inherited, Borrowed, & Imitated!

·      Inherited: Something that’s passed onto you.

·      Borrowed: Using something owned by someone else.

·      Imitated: To mimic or impersonate.

·      Common denominator: All dependent on someone/something else.

o   No personal adoption!

Many believers grow up in church or are around Christian influences but never move beyond inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith.

Deeper Dive into Defining Second-Hand Faith

Inherited Faith:

·      Often passed down through family tradition or church culture but has never been truly embraced on a personal level.

Example: Timothy’s Heritage

2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

·      Timothy had a godly heritage through his mother and grandmother:

Notice Paul’s encouragement

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)

·      Timothy saw ihs mom and heard the stories.. (no record of her life or death)

Borrowed Faith

 

Seven Sons of Sceva:

 

Acts 19:13-15 (NIV)

·      They tried to use Paul’s faith (and authority) without personally knowing Jesus.

 

Acts 19:16 (NIV)

·      Borrowed faith has no true spiritual power.

Imitated Faith

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

·      Paul doesn’t stop here!!

 

Paul says the same to the church of Philippi

 

Philippians 3:17 (ESV)

·      Imitate Paul’s Christlike attitude of humility & love!

Paul often encouraged churches under his care to follow the pattern he set, but he always rooted that pattern in the person and work of Jesus.

Paul’s life became a tangible example for younger believers. Imitating Paul essentially meant imitating Christ, since Paul’s ultimate standard was Jesus Himself.

 

“A whole new generation of Christians are believing that it is possible to ‘accept’ Christ without forsaking the world.” A. W. Tozer

·      Dual Imitators!!

Living on faith that is inherited, borrowed, or imitated from others rather than personally owned—comes with significant spiritual risks.

 

You may be living on inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith if….

1. Lack Personal Conviction

Thought:If faith is not personally owned, it will lack depth and conviction. When challenges, doubts, or trials come, a person with second-hand faith may easily abandon their beliefs because they were never personally rooted in them

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)Jesus teaching on a solid foundation

 

You may be living on inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith if….

2. Easily Shaken by Trials

A faith that is not deeply rooted will break under pressure.

Jesus: Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:20-21 (NLT)

 

You may be living on inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith if….

3. Lack Endurance in Persecution

When persecution or opposition comes, those with a inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith are more likely to compromise or walk away from their beliefs.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

Personal faith is strengthened through trials.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

 

You may be living on inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith if….

4. Easily Influenced by False Teachings

 

Without a personal understanding of Scripture, people with second-hand faith are more vulnerable to deception.

 

Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)

 

You may be living on inherited, borrowed, or imitated faith if….

5. Faith Becomes Ritualistic Instead of Transformative

Second-hand faith often leads to going through the motions—attending church, saying prayers, or following religious customs—without genuine heart transformation.

Matthew 15:8-9 (NLT)

 

Being Impactful requires a personal, first-hand experience with Jesus Christ!

 

Revelation 3:15–16 (ESV)

·      Jesus confronts the church in Laodicea for being spiritually lukewarm, highlighting the urgency of being spiritually “on fire” rather than tepid in faith.

·      It’s a direct exhortation to cultivate genuine passion, commitment, and zeal for Christ—rather than a halfhearted, indifferent stance.