Looking to Jesus Hebrews 12:1-3

Christian faith brings great disadvantages for us? Introduction What happens when our Christian faith brings great disadvantages for us? Heb 10:32-34 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult & persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison & joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better & lasting possessions.

We want to answer five questions: 1. What is the setting? Heb 12:1-3 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, & sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary & lose heart. We want to answer five questions: 1. What is the setting? 2. What must we do? 3. How do we do it? a. What do we focus on? b. What will result?

The Christian life is like a race (agon) 1. What is the setting? The Christian life is like a race (agon) a. Struggles are expected b. Every race is special c. Spectators are themselves successful competitors Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

a. Don't carry too many things b. Don't turn away from God 2. What must we do? Run with endurance (i.e. Run to win / finish) a. Don't carry too many things b. Don't turn away from God c.f. Heb 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) 3. How do we do it? Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith

(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? 3. How do we do it? Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? i. Who Jesus is Founder of Faith: He lays for our faith a foundation Finisher of Faith: He brings our faith to completion He has shown us how to finish well He helps us to finish well Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith

Derek Redmond …at the 1992 Olympics

“Whatever happens, he had to finish…And I was there to help him finish “Whatever happens, he had to finish…And I was there to help him finish. I intended to go over the line with him. We started his career together, I think we should finish it together” 9,028,103 views

Because He sought God's purpose 3. How do we do it? Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? ii. What Jesus did He endured the cross: Pain & shame didn't deter him Heb 12:2-3 who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, & sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…who endured such opposition from sinful men Because He sought God's purpose

(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? 3. How do we do it? Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? ii. What Jesus did He endured the cross: Pain & shame didn't deter him He endured opposition: Rejection & opposition didn't deter him also Heb 12:2-3 who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, & sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…who endured such opposition from sinful men Because He sought God's purpose Because He knew God's principles

(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? 3. How do we do it? Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on? i. Who Jesus is ii. What Jesus did b. What will result? We will not lose hope or courage & give up Heb 12:3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary & lose heart.

Who Jesus is What Jesus did Hebrews 12:1-3 1. What is the setting? 2. What must we do? 3. How do we do it? a. What do we focus on? b. What will result? The Christian life is like a race (agon) Run with endurance (i.e. Run to win / finish) Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) Who Jesus is What Jesus did We will not lose hope or courage & give up