Scripture Reading: Luke 17:1-10
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
Increase Our Faith: Finding Strength in God's Grace When We Feel Weak
A sermon by Roland Rossmiller on faith, dependence on God, and the power of His grace
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
When Our Burdens Feel Too Heavy to Carry
You may remember a child trying to lift something that was too heavy for them—perhaps a big box, a heavy bag of groceries, or a chair that wouldn't move. After straining for a moment, the child may have said, "Can you help me?" Or perhaps you had to ask the child, "Do you need help?"
That picture is a good reminder of our dependence on God. We live under burdens that are too heavy for us to carry: temptations, guilt, suffering, or worry about the future. Like a child who cannot carry the load alone, we find ourselves saying, "Help me, Lord," or "Lord, increase my faith."
The Holy Spirit Intercedes for Us
Even here, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, interceding for us when we do not know how to pray. Romans 8:26 says:
"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, for we do not know what to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
These prayers are not new. The apostles themselves asked Jesus for the same thing. In today's reading in Mark 9, a desperate father cries out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" These prayers are not only theirs, but they are ours also.
Why the Disciples Asked for More Faith
In the verses just before the Gospel reading for today, Jesus has been teaching about the seriousness of temptation, repentance, and the challenge of forgiveness. When the disciples heard what he expected of them, no wonder they felt weak. They probably knew that they didn't have the strength or faith on their own. So they pleaded, "Increase our faith."
I don't know about you, but I've prayed that myself. We want to measure faith by the size of our strength. We may think or say:
"If only I had more faith, then I could forgive the one who hurt me."
"If only I had more faith, then I could face this illness, this disappointment, this grief."
"If only I had enough faith, then I wouldn't be afraid."
But the truth is, by myself, I am weak and wavering. I do not have enough strength, and my faith falters. This is why we cry, "Lord, increase our faith," thus showing our dependence on God.
The Lesson of the Mustard Seed
We see how Jesus responds. He speaks of a mustard seed. He says:
"If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey."
The point is not that our faith must be enormous. Even the smallest faith—the size of a mustard seed—is anchored in the crucified and risen Christ. Even the tiniest trust in Christ is secure because He is mighty to save.
Zephaniah 3:17 says:
"The Lord your God is among you. He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing."
Faith Is a Gift from God
The power of faith lies not in us, but in Christ, to whom faith is attached. And this faith itself is not our own doing—it is a gift of God, created and sustained in us by the Holy Spirit through the gospel.
We, like the disciples, face guilt, temptation, suffering, and fear. We often feel our faith is too small, yet Jesus reminds us: it is not the size of our faith that matters, but the greatness of our Savior. Our faith clings to Him.
How God Strengthens Our Faith Through the Means of Grace
How then does the Lord answer our prayer to increase our faith? Not by telling us to muster up strength from within, not by grabbing ourselves by the bootstraps and lifting ourselves up—but by giving us Himself. He strengthens faith through the means of grace:
1. Baptism
Where He claimed us as His own and united us in His death and resurrection, giving us new birth by water and the Spirit. The Catechism says about baptism: "It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation."
2. Absolution
Where His Word of forgiveness strengthens weary hearts and quiets troubled consciences, as the Spirit applies Christ's pardon personally to us.
3. The Holy Supper
Where He feeds us with His holy body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our faith, as the Spirit nourishes us in this true, holy communion with Christ.
4. His Word in Teaching and Study
Where the Spirit deepens trust in Him as we hear the promises of Scripture, opening our hearts to believe and rejoice.
Every time we gather, whether in worship, Bible study, or fellowship, He is at work in us, sustaining and growing our faith.
Trust in the One Who Is Faithful
Faith is not about how strong we are, but in whom we trust. In your daily life—at home, at work, in the community—He is present. So we pray continually as the disciples did: "Lord, increase my faith." And He answers by pointing us back to Himself.
Our cry for more faith is answered not by Jesus giving us spiritual muscle, but by anchoring us deeper in Himself.
Friends, I need this reminder just as much as you do. My faith feels small at times, but even a mustard seed of faith clings to Jesus, and that's enough.
As the Augsburg Confession says in Article 5:
"Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given, who works faith where and when it pleases God."
Conclusion: Do Not Trust in the Size of Your Faith
So do not trust in the size of your faith. Trust in the One who is faithful. Come to the places where He promises to give Himself in Word and Sacrament. There He strengthens and sustains you until the day when faith gives way to sight.
And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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