SERIES SUMMARY
At Fellowship Greenville, we desire to reintroduce people to Jesus and the life that He offers. We realize that each of us growing as disciples of Jesus is imperative to us being about God’s mission of redemption in our circle of influence. Therefore, as we continue to grow with more and more people joining us, we want to take several Sundays this summer and articulate our discipleship values, while also inviting everyone to the discipleship pathway available to them here at Fellowship Greenville.
PASSAGE GUIDE | Risking: Our lives are marked by walking in faith as we walk with Jesus.
There is an essential connection between faith and risk in the life of a disciple. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He was intentional in how He discipled His followers—placing them in situations that were often uncomfortable, uncertain, or even dangerous, all to cultivate deep, resilient faith. These weren’t random experiences but part of a divine strategy to shape His disciples to trust Him more fully and to see Him more clearly. Whether it was calming a storm, feeding thousands, or sending them out with nothing but faith, Jesus consistently invited His disciples to live beyond their comfort zones.
One of the central truths emphasized is that “there is no faith apart from risk.” Faith inherently requires stepping into the unknown, not with reckless abandon, but in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Biblical faith is not passive or safe; it involves obedience that often contradicts our instincts for control, comfort, and predictability. From Noah to Paul, the narrative of Scripture is filled with stories of people who embraced uncertainty because they trusted in the faithfulness and power of God.
This same pattern continues in the lives of Jesus’ followers today. God still uses risky situations to deepen trust and expand our understanding of who He is. Whether it’s launching a new campus, stepping into a new season of ministry, or making personal sacrifices for the sake of others, faith-filled risk-taking is how the mission of Jesus moves forward. And yet, not all risk is faithful—discernment is critical. Faith-based risk flows from a deep sense of God’s calling, prayerful dependence on the Spirit, and alignment with Scripture and wise counsel.
Ultimately, discipleship is not just about learning what Jesus taught—it’s about living as He lived. That means taking Spirit-led steps into the unknown, trusting that Jesus is who He says He is, and that He will meet us in the storm. A disciple is not someone who plays it safe but someone willing to lose control for the sake of knowing and following Jesus more fully. Faith is not the absence of fear—it is moving forward in obedience despite it.
There is no faith apart from risk.
When you, by faith, take the risk to follow Jesus into an uncertain future—your faith will grow stronger because you’ll see that Jesus is more than you previously understood Him to be.
“Risky faith” is the act of trusting God by stepping into situations that feel uncertain or even dangerous, based on your belief in God’s promises and the Spirit’s guidance.
Guidelines for Faith-Based Risk-Taking
#1 — Faith-based, risk-taking requires you to know the difference between faith and presumption.
#2 — Faith-based risk-taking requires Spirit-guided discernment.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace, passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Pray for grace to follow Jesus into risky uncertain situations, asking for discernment to see where he is leading.
READ THE TEXT
Read Mark 4:35-41 as a group, consider reading it in two or three different translations.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What big takeaways or aha’s did you have from the message or text?
- How has the Lord been teaching you through risky faith recently?
- Why did Jesus often lead His disciples into uncomfortable or uncertain situations?
- What does it mean that “there is no faith apart from risk”?
- How is biblical faith different from passive belief or playing it safe?
- In what ways can taking risks deepen our trust in God?
- Can you think of a time when God asked you to step into something risky or uncomfortable? What happened?
- What distinguishes faithful, Spirit-led risk from reckless or impulsive behavior?
- Where in your life is fear present? What does it look like to live a life of obedience with that fear present?
PRACTICE OPTIONS
Life in Community: Ask someone you know and respect how risk has deepened their faith in God.
Life with Jesus: Spend time reflecting on when God has used risky situations to deepen your trust in him.
Life on Mission: Pray for the Spirit to show you a way your trust can deepen through a risky faith opportunity.
CLOSING PRAYER
Ask that God would give you a heart that is ready and willing to serve. Pray for His guidance on where specifically He would like for you to act in service with love and grace.