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Intimacy with God  /  Chapter 7: You cannot know God without faith  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 1
Paul’s chain in Romans 10:14–15 ties faith to hearing and hearing to being sent preachers; what does this imply about God’s chosen method for creating faith in people, and how does it challenge modern “I can figure it out on my own” spirituality?
Another way to ask: In Romans 10:14–15, faith comes from hearing a preacher who is sent. What does that say about how God usually creates faith, and how does it challenge the idea that “I can figure out God on my own”?

Direct Answer Based on David Bercot’s teaching, God ordinarily creates faith through people hearing the preached Word—especially the apostolic message—rather than through private self-discovery. This challenges “I can figure it out on my own” spirituality by saying faith is tied to hearing a sent message, not merely independent reasoning.

Support from Transcript:

  • “A person is not born with faith… faith comes through hearing the Word of God.”
  • Paul’s chain: “How will they believe… of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?… unless they are sent?”
  • “Notice how Paul ties faith and hearing together.”
  • “He shows that the preaching of the apostles leads to faith in the Son of God.”
  • Later he adds believers are “convinced by hearing, not by signs,” reinforcing the method.
Discussion Follow-ups If faith comes through hearing, what place should preaching, Scripture reading, and teaching have in your spiritual life? Where do you rely on private impressions more than the Word you can “hear” and test?

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