The Three Pillars of Trust: Heart, Humility, and Honor

        Trust is a word we use easily, yet it carries enormous weight in our spiritual lives. We trust technology, experts, and voices that shape our thinking, but when it comes to trusting God fully, many of us hesitate. Past wounds and broken trust make faith feel risky, like falling backward without knowing if anyone will catch us. Yet trust is not optional in the Christian life—it is central and foundational, the difference between simply agreeing with God and being transformed by Him.
        Proverbs 3:5 begins with the heart: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Most of us trust God partially, hedging our faith with self-reliance, research, or backup plans. We say we trust God, yet run first to other solutions. The heart directs our decisions, values, and priorities, and when it is not fully surrendered, we fall in the wrong direction. We trust God not because we are naïve, but because His character has proven Him faithful and trustworthy.
        The verse continues, “Lean not on your own understanding,” calling us to humility. Life is far more complex than we admit, yet we often believe we know better than the One who designed it. From the garden of Eden to our modern struggles with money, morality, and obedience, the pattern is the same: we know what God says, but we listen to other voices. Every sin ultimately replaces God’s wisdom with our own, while humility chooses to follow His instructions even when they don’t make sense.
        Finally, trust expresses itself through honor: “In all your ways acknowledge Him… Honor the Lord with the firstfruits.” Honor costs something. It requires sacrifice, giving God our best rather than our leftovers. This is not about legalism, but about trust—believing that God will provide when we put Him first. The path forward is clear: trust Him with all your heart, refuse to lean on your own understanding, honor Him with your life, and allow Him to direct your steps. He has proven faithful. Now the question remains: will you trust Him?

Transformation Group Guide: Trust in the Lord

Sermon Summary
This sermon explores trust as the foundation of Christian faith, breaking it down into three essential components:

1. Trust is a matter of HEART - Trusting God wholeheartedly, not God plus other sources
2. Trust is a matter of HUMILITY - Leaning on God's understanding, not our own
3. Trust is a matter of HONOR - Sacrificing and giving God our best, not our leftovers

Key Scripture
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Discussion Questions

1. What's the difference between "believing in" Jesus and "trusting" Jesus? How would you explain this distinction to someone new to faith?
2. Pastor Tim mentioned we often trust "God and..." (Google, influencers, psychology, etc.). What are some "and" sources you find yourself leaning on alongside God? Why do you think we struggle to trust God alone?
3. The Lego illustration showed how we need instructions we can't improve upon. In what areas of life are you most tempted to "lean on your own understanding" rather than follow God's instructions?
4. Pastor Tim asked: "Why was Eve having a conversation with the serpent to begin with?" What "alternative voices" do you allow to speak into your life? How can you recognize when you're entertaining the enemy's thoughts?

5. Without sharing specific numbers, how has following (or not following) God's financial principles impacted your life?
6. Paul Tripp's question: "Why do we still open ourselves up to the enemy's voice?" Discuss as a group. What makes us vulnerable to alternative voices even when we know God's truth?
7. David said, "I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing." What does sacrifice look like in your daily walk with God (beyond just finances)?
8. First fruits vs. leftovers: Be honest—do you give God your first and best, or what's left over? This applies to time, energy, talents, and money. What needs to change?

9. The sermon states: "To be holy in this world is to sacrifice." What specific sacrifices is God calling you to make right now to honor Him?

Key Takeaways
✓ Trust is not the same as belief - We can agree with facts about God without actually trusting Him with our lives
✓ Humility is essential - We must acknowledge we're not smart enough to navigate life without God's instructions
✓ First fruits matter - God deserves our best and our first, not our leftovers
✓ Alternative voices are dangerous - We must guard against entertaining thoughts and counsel that contradict God's Word

Practical Applications
Ask God: "Where am I not fully trusting You? What do You want me to surrender?"
This Week's Challenge:
Choose ONE area below to focus on this week:
HEART:

• Identify one "God and..." source you're relying on
• Commit to trusting God alone in that area for one week
• Journal about the experience

HUMILITY:

• Find one area where you've been "leaning on your own understanding"
• Study what God's Word says about that topic
• Commit to following God's instructions, even if it doesn't make sense

HONOR:

• Evaluate your giving (time, talents, treasure)
• Ask: "Am I giving God my first fruits or my leftovers?"
• Make one specific change to honor God with your best

Group Accountability:

• Share which challenge you're committing to
• Check in mid-week
• Report back next week on what God taught you

Pray together for:

• Hearts fully surrendered to God, not divided loyalties
• Humility to follow God's ways instead of our own understanding
• Courage to sacrifice and honor God with our first and best
• Specific areas where group members are struggling to trust 

Closing Prayer
Have someone pray Proverbs 3:5-6 over the group, asking God to help each person trust Him with their whole heart, lean not on their own understanding, acknowledge Him in all their ways, and experience His direction in their paths.