Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and bestselling author Paul David Tripp connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

Why do some Christians seem to have strong faith, while others have weaker faith?

In today's episode, we continue our sermon series from the archives, the gospel according to

Mark, as Paul identifies three essential ingredients of biblical faith and offers a sober warning.

It's possible to profess sound theology while still living in disobedience. To hear more sermons

from Paul, visit paultrip.com slash sermons. Now here's Paul with today's message.

I was a sophomore in college, not too many years ago. You didn't have to laugh so hardly at that point.

And it was early in the morning, not many people were up, but I couldn't sleep.

And I sat with the little desk light on at my desk with my Bible open.

At one point, I had my head down on my Bible, and I was asking this question of the Lord,

why is my faith so timid?

Why is it so weak? Why does it lack courage? I hear the stories of people who do great and courageous things to the Lord, and I don't think that I have any of that.

Lord, I think I believe, but there seems to be so much unbelief in me.

Moments when it seems like I should exercise the courage of faith, I'm timid and quiet and back

away. Lord, please help me. If you had to answer the question, what are the ingredients of bold and courageous faith, what would you say?

Why is that some people's belief seems shaky and timid, why others seems strong and courageous.

We really do see this evening an example of shocking, bold faith.

It's a very interesting account that we have there beginning in verse 24 of Mark 7, if you want to turn in your church Bibles, page 843 again.

Now we know that the history of the Gospels is selective.

We know that the particular gospel writers don't, each of them, tell us everything that Jesus did.

And we know that there often are gaps of time in between different accounts, different vignettes in the Gospels,

although we're not always sure of those and sure how much time is between and what events

...