Embracing Change: The Power of Perseverance

 

Summary

Change is inevitable, and today marks a moment of transformation. This isn't a motivational statement but a profound truth rooted in the hope that God walks with us, guiding us to become the people He desires us to be. Perseverance is the theme we explore, a concept distinct from courage and patience. Courage involves confronting fears head-on, while patience is about enduring with grace. Perseverance, however, is driven by the belief that there is meaning in our struggles.

Reflecting on a creative rendition of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" on Alcatraz Island, I was reminded of life's profound questions and the need for perseverance. The play's setting, amidst darkness and fog, mirrored the existential question: Is life worth the pain and struggle? Perseverance is not about finding answers within ourselves but about seeking hope and meaning beyond our immediate circumstances.

Christian philosopher Robert Roberts emphasizes that perseverance requires foresight, moral passion, and strength of will. Foresight allows us to envision a future beyond our current struggles. Moral passion involves recognizing the goodness in honoring commitments, while strength of will is essential for enduring challenges. The wisdom of the desert fathers, particularly Abba Anthony, offers guidance: keep God before your eyes, live according to Scripture, and do not easily leave your commitments.

Hebrews 12 provides a powerful reminder of the great cloud of witnesses who have persevered before us. We are encouraged to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, providing us with the ultimate example of perseverance.

In our journey, we are not alone. We are surrounded by a community, a fellowship that supports and inspires us to keep moving forward, one step at a time. Change is coming, and together, we can embrace it with hope and perseverance.

Key Takeaways:

1. Perseverance is distinct from courage and patience, rooted in the belief that there is meaning in our struggles. It is not about finding answers within ourselves but seeking hope and meaning beyond our immediate circumstances. [01:38]

2. Perseverance requires foresight, the ability to envision a future beyond our current struggles. It involves moral passion, recognizing the goodness in honoring commitments, and strength of will to endure challenges. [05:20]

3. The wisdom of the desert fathers teaches us to keep God before our eyes, live according to Scripture, and not easily leave our commitments. This guidance helps cultivate perseverance in our spiritual journey. [06:50]

4. Hebrews 12 reminds us of the great cloud of witnesses who have persevered before us. We are encouraged to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example of perseverance. [08:01]

5. We are not alone in our journey. Our community, the fellowship of believers, supports and inspires us to keep moving forward, one step at a time, embracing change with hope and perseverance. [11:02]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - The Inevitability of Change
[01:22] - The Power of Perseverance
[01:53] - Distinguishing Perseverance from Courage and Patience
[02:18] - Finding Meaning in Struggle
[02:33] - A Creative Hamlet Experience
[03:46] - The Question of Life's Worth
[04:11] - Beyond Self-Reliance
[04:27] - Foresight and Moral Passion
[05:37] - Strength of Will
[06:50] - Wisdom from the Desert Fathers
[07:34] - The Great Cloud of Witnesses
[08:57] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[09:28] - Personal Reflections on Perseverance
[10:33] - Community and Fellowship
[11:02] - Embracing Change Together

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 12:1-3

Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-3 say about the "great cloud of witnesses" and how does it relate to perseverance? [08:01]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between perseverance, courage, and patience? [01:53]
3. What role does foresight play in perseverance according to the sermon? [04:27]
4. How does the sermon use the creative rendition of "Hamlet" to illustrate the existential question of life's worth? [03:46]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1-3 inspire believers to persevere in their faith journey? [08:01]
2. How does the sermon suggest that moral passion and strength of will contribute to perseverance? [05:20]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of community and fellowship in supporting perseverance? [11:02]
4. How does the example of Jesus enduring the cross provide a model for perseverance in the face of suffering? [08:57]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did you find meaning in your struggle, and what role did perseverance play in overcoming it? [02:18]
2. Consider the concept of foresight in your life. How can envisioning a future beyond your current struggles help you persevere through difficult times? [04:27]
3. Identify a commitment in your life that requires moral passion and strength of will. How can you honor this commitment even when it becomes challenging? [05:20]
4. Think about a person in your life who inspires you to persevere. How can their example motivate you to keep moving forward in your own journey? [09:28]
5. How can you actively engage with your community or fellowship to support and inspire each other in times of change and challenge? [11:02]
6. What specific steps can you take to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, especially when facing trials or uncertainties? [08:57]
7. Reflect on the wisdom of the desert fathers mentioned in the sermon. How can you apply their guidance to keep God before your eyes and live according to Scripture in your daily life? [06:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Perseverance as a Quest for Meaning
Perseverance is not merely about enduring hardships; it is about finding meaning in the midst of struggles. Unlike courage, which confronts fear, or patience, which endures with grace, perseverance is driven by the belief that our struggles have purpose. It invites us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and seek hope and meaning in a broader context. This perspective encourages us to trust that there is a divine purpose in our journey, even when answers are not immediately apparent. [01:38]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: Consider a current struggle in your life. How can you begin to seek meaning and purpose in this situation beyond your immediate understanding?


Day 2: Foresight and Moral Passion in Perseverance
Perseverance requires foresight, the ability to envision a future beyond our current struggles. It involves moral passion, recognizing the goodness in honoring commitments, and strength of will to endure challenges. This foresight allows us to see beyond the present difficulties and trust in a future shaped by our perseverance. Moral passion fuels our commitment to what is good and right, while strength of will empowers us to continue despite obstacles. Together, these qualities form the foundation of true perseverance. [05:20]

Proverbs 4:25-27 (ESV): "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."

Reflection: What future vision do you hold that can help you persevere through your current challenges? How can you cultivate moral passion to stay committed to your path?


Day 3: Wisdom from the Desert Fathers
The wisdom of the desert fathers teaches us to keep God before our eyes, live according to Scripture, and not easily leave our commitments. This guidance helps cultivate perseverance in our spiritual journey. By focusing on God and His Word, we find the strength to remain steadfast in our commitments, even when faced with difficulties. The teachings of the desert fathers remind us that perseverance is not just about enduring but about living faithfully and intentionally in alignment with God's will. [06:50]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the wisdom of keeping God before your eyes and living according to Scripture in your daily life? What commitments do you need to reaffirm today?


Day 4: The Great Cloud of Witnesses
Hebrews 12 reminds us of the great cloud of witnesses who have persevered before us. We are encouraged to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ultimate example of perseverance. This passage inspires us to draw strength from those who have gone before us and to focus on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. By following His example, we find the courage and strength to persevere in our own journeys. [08:01]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: Who are the witnesses in your life that inspire you to persevere? How can you fix your eyes on Jesus in your daily walk?


Day 5: Community and Fellowship in Perseverance
We are not alone in our journey. Our community, the fellowship of believers, supports and inspires us to keep moving forward, one step at a time, embracing change with hope and perseverance. This communal aspect of perseverance reminds us that we are part of a larger body, and together, we can face challenges and embrace transformation. The support and encouragement of others provide strength and motivation to persevere, knowing that we are part of a fellowship that shares in our journey. [11:02]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Reflection: How can you actively engage with your community to support and be supported in your journey of perseverance? What steps can you take to strengthen your fellowship with others today?

Quotes


Change is coming today you will change today and I'll say that not in a glim way or in a motivational way from a human standpoint it's just simply the truth and our great hope is that God is walking with us and will help us to change into the people that he wants us to be in that that matters. [00:43:48]

Perseverance flows out of a deep sense that there is a meaning to the struggle. Many years ago now I took one of my children to the most creative presentation of Shakespeare's play Hamlet it actually took place on Alcatraz Island it was brilliantly done it started on the ferry while we were on the way over to Alcatraz. [00:136:38]

Perseverance is about something more than just finding the resources Within Myself do I keep going it is is there a reason is there a hope is there a meaning to what we're doing Robert Roberts who's a Christian philosopher when he writes in his book uh the strengths of a Christian about perseverance says that uh perseverance requires foresight. [00:250:50]

Perseverance requires foresight you have to be able to imagine a future a little child can't persevere it's part of why little kids can't get married uh kyrgy or talked about what a monstrous thought that was among other reasons because the child is not able to make a commitment and persevere with it you have to be able to imagine what might the future look like. [00:277:25]

Perseverance requires the ability to imagine see into the future it also requires uh what Roberts calls a moral passion I have to see the goodness of being the kind of person who can honor the commitment that I makes Bert and Russell the very famous atheist philosopher writes about one time when he was out riding a bicycle. [00:320:94]

A person who perseveres recognizes the Beauty has a moral passion around being the kind of person that is able to uh honor commitments and then Robert says also perseverance requires um a strength of will that weak willed people people who just live on the basis of one impulse or another Samson in the Bible is it he's like a walking impulse disorder. [00:358:56]

So somebody asked Abba Anthony one time lots of wisdom from the desert fathers back many many centuries ago they asked Abba Anthony if you want to please God what do I need to do and he said three things first whoever you are always keep God before your eyes second whatever you do always live according to the guidance or teaching of scripture. [00:394:74]

One of the great passages in all of the Bible on this is in Hebrews chapter 12. the writer has been writing about others who have lived with great faith who have persevered through an enormous problem sometimes it's helpful to me to remember I'm not the only person in the world with a problem and other people have suffered much much much worse ways. [00:459:41]

Therefore since we're surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders in the sin that so easily entangles let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us let us run with perseverance run with perseverance and then it's so interesting not the race that you choose to run we hear that so often run after your passion. [00:483:78]

Fixing our eyes on Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith for the joy set before him he endured the cross scorning its shame sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart so take a moment right now and consider the great cloud of witnesses. [00:537:12]

No my friend John can do that I can keep going one step at a time I keep my eyes on those people who keep moving one step at a time one day at a time when it's difficulty and above all our friend Jesus who did that and was resurrected and there is the Hope wherever you are don't easily leave stick to it change is coming. [00:616:38]

I'm so grateful to be a part of you you know I was just talking to Tim today we just sent out today uh invitation for people to ask other folks that are part of our community to pray and over 200 people almost immediately have already sent in prayer requests and you were part of that cloud of witnesses for me you were part of what reminds me it is worth it to keep going. [00:642:30]

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Transcript
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