Key points
1Faith is not wishful feeling, it's an inner conviction based on the word of God
Pastor Bill works through Hebrews 11:1, explaining that faith shows the reality of what we hope for and is evidence of things we cannot see. He warns that most people substitute 'feelings' for faith, but true faith comes from the Holy Spirit illuminating the word of God, giving proof and conviction rather than emotional hype.
true biblical faith is not an emotional kind of wishful thinking
It's not about feelings. It's about facts
2The heroes of Hebrews 11 died without receiving the earthly promise because the real promise was bigger than this world
Reading Hebrews 11:13, Pastor Bill points out these believers died still believing but never received what was promised in this life. He explains this isn't tragic like a hall-of-fame athlete who never won a championship, because their true promise was eternal, tied to the coming Savior and a heavenly city, not earthly blessing.
3They agreed they were foreigners and nomads, and that's what let them keep moving forward instead of turning back
Pastor Bill unpacks Hebrews 11:13-16, showing that these people never went back to their old home because they had embraced their true homeland. He contrasts this with the Israelites who wanted freedom from slavery but still longed for Egypt, showing how we do the same when we want God's power without giving up our attachment to this world.
4Our desire for more is really a God-given longing for eternity that this world can never satisfy
Quoting C.S. Lewis and Ecclesiastes 3, Pastor Bill explains that God planted eternity in our hearts, so we keep chasing more money, more experiences, and more achievement trying to fill an eternal desire with temporal things, which never works.
Illustration
C. S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity: 'If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world'
5My future destination should decide my present determination, not my feelings in the moment
Using the illustration of mapping a route by starting from the destination, Pastor Bill contrasts 'then and now' thinking with 'when and then' thinking, applying it to baptism, serving, giving, and time, showing how we delay obedience by waiting to feel ready instead of letting our eternal home shape today's choices.
My future destination decides my present determination
6We're not called to be a prisoner or a tourist here, we're called to be a missionary
Pastor Bill corrects the popular phrase 'in the world but not of it,' showing Jesus actually prayed the Father would not take us out of the world but send us into it. He describes the prison mindset (just surviving until heaven) and the vacation mindset (enjoying the world since we're just passing through) as two sides of the same escape, when God has sent us on a mission instead.
He didn't call us to be a prisoner. He didn't call us to be a tourist. He called us to be a missionary
A story from life
An American woman doing ministry in Scotland had adopted a full Scottish accent after only three months, illustrating how quickly people absorb the culture around them
7Paul wept over believers who lived like this world was home, and calls us to decide where our home really lands
Walking through Philippians 3, Pastor Bill shows Paul weeping over people in the church whose conduct made them enemies of the cross because their god was their appetite and they only thought about this earthly life, contrasted with our true citizenship in heaven awaiting Christ's return.
faith isn't a feeling. Faith is a choice
A story from life
A semi-retired friend who does cabinet work was hired to do $25,000 of work on a house, only to discover the client was renting it, not buying it
A story from life
Pastor Bill accidentally walked into a stranger's house in a new housing development while running late to a leadership meeting
Application
Decide where your home lands, and let that decision, not your feelings, drive what you do today.
Stop waiting for the feeling before you obey
Pastor Bill challenges those delaying baptism, giving, or serving until they feel ready or have more time and money to instead let their eternal destination determine today's decisions now.
Step up to serve in kids' ministry
He directly calls out those in the room who know they're gifted to serve with children but haven't, asking them to stop waiting for busyness to calm down and actually volunteer.
Examine your own accent, whether you sound like the world
Using the story of the woman who picked up a Scottish accent in three months, he asks believers to notice if their goals and desires are identical to those who don't know Christ.
Ask God to search your heart like David did
Reflect using Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to point out anxious thoughts rooted in living for this temporary life instead of the everlasting one.
Decide, or re-decide, that Jesus is your first love and true home
For those who haven't trusted Jesus, put your faith in Him; for those who have, continually reflect on whether your heart has drifted back toward making this world home.
Take it into your week
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
