05/17/2026
Chronicle of Faith Part 5: Living Faith vs. Dead Faith
Our man of God, Apostle Dr. Richard Ferim, continued his teaching in the series "Chronicles of Faith," starting with the premise that true faith must be paired with action ("works") to be complete and perfected; otherwise, it is dead. He insisted that simply memorizing or knowing the Bible from cover to cover is not enough. The Apostle stated that genuine, living faith transforms a person from the head to the heart, leading them to actively practice the word of God.
Giving us some Key Principles of an Active Faith, he stated:
1. Desire for Change: To experience healing or breakthrough, a person must first have a genuine internal desire to leave their current situation, rather than becoming comfortable in their suffering or reliance on others' sympathy.
2. Understanding God's Will: Faith is properly released and perfected when it aligns with an understanding of God's true will, rather than personal comfort or past missed opportunities.
3. Contentment and Commitment: Life is imperfect, but honoring commitments—especially in marriages and relationships—requires maturity, self-reflection from the very beginning, and carrying one's cross rather than constantly seeking something better.
4. A Higher Purpose: As illustrated by biblical figures like Abraham and Rahab, faith requires active obedience and, at times, prioritizing a higher divine purpose over lower, literal rules.
Concluding, Dr. Ferim emphasized that knowing the word alone is insufficient; it must be lived out. True faith is practiced through consistency, generosity, and kingdom service. He then commended the church for actively demonstrating this living faith through local and global outreach, including:
• Distributing school supplies, Thanksgiving turkeys, winter jackets, and shoes to those in need.
• Supporting global missions and maintaining resilient churches in South Africa, Nigeria, India, and the Philippines despite heavy cultural and financial challenges.
Our beloved apostle charged all believers never to grow weary of serving, giving, or attending church. The privilege of being used by God requires ongoing availability and fresh fire; if current believers grow tired or entitled, God will raise up someone else who is ready.
Thank you for joining us today in fellowship. We are Metropolitan Christian Center, located at 1900 W Arbrook Boulevard, Suite 120, Arlington, TX 75014. Our physical meeting hours are Sundays at 11 AM CST and Thursdays at 7 PM CST, and our virtual prayer meeting is Tuesdays at 8 PM CST.
