Table of Contents

Introduction
Our world is experiencing a crisis of faith. Few people place much faith in the future. Many have no faith their marriages will survive, that political leaders will honorably serve their country or that education will prepare them adequately for the challenges ahead. Faced with the difficulties of everyday life, many people simply have no confidence that there will be a better tomorrow.

What Is Faith?
Do you see much faith in the world around you? We live in a secular-oriented society that is virtually devoid of faith. Since most people don't read the Bible, they don't know much about God.

The Meaning of Faith
Faith is attitude, conviction and conduct based on a right relationship with God. It is not static, but grows in strength and depth as we nourish that relationship with our Creator throughout our lives.

The Book of James: An 'Epistle of Straw'?
The Bible is consistent and plain in its teaching that salvation is a gift from God. But, even though it is a gift, something we cannot earn, we are expected to obey God if we are to receive that gift.

Examples of Living Faith
The Scriptures contain numerous success stories written for our benefit. The Bible is a record of people who faced challenges and difficulties. Even though they lived long ago, their stories are preserved as timeless examples for us.

When It Seems God Doesn't Hear or Answer
Few attitudes are more disheartening and destructive to faith than the notion that God doesn't hear our prayers, doesn't answer or doesn't care. It is easy to come to such conclusions when God doesn't respond when or how we want

Enemies of Faith
Have you ever wondered why we don't see more evidence of faith? The Bible identifies several tendencies that undermine faith.

Growing in Faith
We considered examples of faith in action in the people of God. We learned that we must have faith to receive God's gift of salvation. In our faithless age, how can we develop living, active faith?