What does it mean to actually live out your Christian faith? Is following Jesus about what we believe and say—or about what we do with what we believe?

In this episode of The Church on the Path Podcast, Pastor Brent explores Jesus’ Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:23–32 and a simple but challenging truth:

Faith is more than what we say. Faith is what we do.

Jesus tells of a father who asks two sons to work in his vineyard. The first says no—but changes his mind and goes. The second gives the perfect answer, “I will, sir,” but never shows up.

Jesus asks: Which one actually did the will of the father?

The question isn’t who sounded more faithful, knew the right religious vocabulary, or made the better first impression. The question is who actually responded.

Or, as Pastor Brent asks:

Has our yes reached our feet yet?

This week’s message follows the testimony of members of our youth ministry who served at Salkehatchie, repairing homes for neighbors who could not afford the work or could no longer do it themselves. They didn’t simply talk about loving their neighbors. They picked up tools. They climbed ladders. They sweated. They served.

Love put on work gloves.

That’s what it looks like when grace becomes action.

Drawing from Philippians 2:1–13, Pastor Brent reminds us that Jesus Himself is our model. Christ didn’t love humanity with words alone. He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient even to the cross.

Love put on flesh. Love knelt to wash feet. Love touched the untouchable. Love carried a cross. Love walked out of the tomb.

We don’t work for salvation as though God’s grace could be earned. We work it out because God is already at work within us. Grace isn’t opposed to action. Grace produces action. God works in us, and then God works through us.

And you don’t have to travel to a Salkehatchie worksite to find your vineyard.

Your vineyard may be a lonely person who needs someone beside them. A child who needs a reading buddy. A hungry family that needs food. A neighbor who needs help. An apology you’ve promised but haven’t offered. A phone call you keep meaning to make. A ministry you believe somebody ought to support.

Sometimes our greatest spiritual problem isn’t that we don’t know what Jesus asks of us. It’s that we substitute good intentions for faithful obedience.

We can’t do everything—but that cannot become our excuse for doing nothing.

So ask yourself:

What is the one thing God is asking me to do? Who is the one person God is placing before me? Where is the vineyard where God is saying, “Go and work today”?

The world doesn’t need a Church that merely talks about love. It needs a Church that shows up, gets its hands dirty, notices the forgotten, serves without seeking applause, and loves people in practical ways.

It needs a Church on the Path.

Because grace means our first answer doesn’t have to be our final answer. We can change our minds. We can change direction. We can take the next faithful step.

Jesus isn’t asking for polished promises.

He’s asking for surrendered lives.

Faith is more than what we say.

Faith is what we do.

It’s time to Walk the Talk.

The Church on the Path Worship + Service = Discipleship Love First…Love Always

Scripture: Matthew 21:23–32; Philippians 2:1–13

Keywords: Walk the Talk, Matthew 21:23–32, Parable of the Two Sons, Philippians 2:1–13, living out Christian faith, faith and works, Christian service, obedience to God, what does it mean to follow Jesus, putting faith into action, grace and good works, mind of Christ, Christian discipleship, serving your neighbor, Salkehatchie, youth mission trip, practical Christianity, United Methodist Church, Christian podcast, Charleston SC church, St Andrews Parish UMC, The Church on the Path.