We don't always stand to read the Bible, but we do from time to time. The primary reason for standing is to change posture in honor and respect of God's Word. When an honored guest enters a room it is polite to stand as you greet them as a demonstration of honor. Similarly, we attempt to demonstrate honor and respect when we stand to read Scripture because we hold God's Word in such high regard.
Why did God say that without faith (as opposed to "loving others" or some other good quality) it is impossible to please Him?
The passage you reference is Hebrews 11:6. "Faith," in this instance, means choosing to live as though what God has said is true. If we are doing "good" works, but doing them for some purpose other than to honor God, our good works are an offense to God. If we are doing the right things for the wrong reasons, ultimately we are doing the wrong things since God is primarily concerned with our heart! Scripture is pretty clear that even the best things we do apart from God fall short of His standard (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 8:7-8) because they are done with an inaccurate understanding of the One who is the Source of everything good (James 1:17). God does not want us to earn our way to Him or try to prove our way without Him. God wants us to trust Him to save us (Acts 16:31), empower us (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18) and work within us to do good (Galatians 5:24-25, Philippians 1:6 1 John 4:4). Without coming to Jesus Christ through faith as God has required, God cannot be pleased with any "good" work we do.
What are some creative ways to share my faith and help my friends grow in their walk with Christ?
The most creative way to share your faith is to recognize that you are sharing your faith every moment of every day. Every decision you make, large or small, demonstrates something about who you believe God to be. When it comes down to a conversation with someone close to you, most people already know what you really believe about Jesus Christ before you tell them.
Beyond that, it helps to be able to look for opportunities within normal conversation to turn the topic to spiritual things. A conversation about the weekend allows you to tell a person what you are doing on Sunday, and to ask if they have any kind of spiritual convictions. A conversation about your children allows you to ask what the number one concern your friend has for their children. If they are polite conversationalists, they will turn the question back around to you and give you the opportunity to share your perspective on the importance of having eternally focused children who have a relationship with Christ.
The best advice I have ever received in sharing my faith is to ask lots of questions. If you politely ask genuine questions about another person's spiritual beliefs, you will (1) prove that you care about the individual, (2) allow them to articulate their beliefs, which often leads to them questioning their own positions, (3) give them the chance to ask you what you believe in polite conversation. You can never go wrong asking polite questions.
That advice is also helpful in helping friends grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. As you begin to show an interest in them, modeling Christlike friendship, you will give yourself the context through with you are able to encourage them spiritually.
Be creative. I know a lot of moms who would leap at the chance to get together with a few close friends to pray for their children. I know many men who would get pretty excited about meeting for breakfast or lunch to discuss how biblical principles could help make them a better businessman, or father, or husband. You don't have to "teach" them, you just have to be an initiator who invites a friend (or group of friends) to grow alongside you.
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