Perseverance in Faith: Decluttering for Spiritual Growth
Summary
The sermon begins with an acknowledgment of Veterans Day and the ultimate freedom found in Jesus Christ. The speaker then transitions to discussing the youth ministry in the church, highlighting a recent fall retreat where 140 youth participated and focused on getting into the Word of God. The speaker then introduces the topic of perseverance, specifically focusing on the life of Joseph. The speaker addresses the idea of decluttering one's life, both externally and internally. They emphasize the importance of not allowing hindrances, such as material possessions, family ties, love of comfort, friends, social life, social media, and even fellow Christians, to stack up without intentionality. These hindrances are not inherently sinful, but they can fill our minds, hearts, and souls to the point where there is no room to hear from the truth of God.
The speaker emphasizes that the audience of believers should not be concerned about disappointing spiritual giants or impressing others. Instead, their focus should be on God and Jesus Christ. The speaker highlights that these spiritual giants are witnesses to God, not of the believers themselves. They have proven through their testimony that a life of faith is the only way to live. The speaker discusses the importance of removing distractions and running the right race in life. They mention the Greek word "agon," which means agony, to highlight the demanding nature of the race we are all in.
The speaker emphasizes the relatability of God, who took on human form and experienced the same challenges and struggles that we face. The speaker urges the audience to consider Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, as a source of inspiration and motivation to not grow weary. The sermon then addresses non-believers, stating that without a relationship with Jesus, they cannot even participate in the race of faith. The speaker explains that all humans are born with a sinful identity, which hinders their relationship with God. However, Jesus came to live a perfect life and sacrifice himself on the cross to forgive sins and offer salvation to those who accept him as Lord and Savior.
The speaker addresses the question of how to become people who not only persevere but do so to the glory of God. The speaker emphasizes the importance of removing the junk from our lives, as mentioned in the first part of verse one. This removal of hindrances is necessary for our spiritual growth and journey with Christ. The speaker then explains that the word "therefore" in the verse points back to the previous chapter, Hebrews 11, which is known as the hall of faith. In this chapter, the writer defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. The writer highlights various spiritual giants from the Old Testament who persevered through trials because of their faith.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of decluttering one's life, both externally and internally. They highlight that these hindrances are not inherently sinful, but they can fill our minds, hearts, and souls to the point where there is no room to hear from the truth of God. This decluttering is necessary for our spiritual growth and journey with Christ. [04:14]
- The speaker highlights that spiritual giants are witnesses to God, not of the believers themselves. They have proven through their testimony that a life of faith is the only way to live. This serves as a reminder that our focus should be on God and Jesus Christ, not on impressing others or fearing disappointment. [13:28]
- The speaker emphasizes the relatability of God, who took on human form and experienced the same challenges and struggles that we face. The speaker urges the audience to consider Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, as a source of inspiration and motivation to not grow weary. This serves as a reminder of the humanity of Jesus and his understanding of our struggles. [37:36]
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of removing the junk from our lives. This removal of hindrances is necessary for our spiritual growth and journey with Christ. The speaker then explains that the word "therefore" in the verse points back to the previous chapter, Hebrews 11, which is known as the hall of faith. This serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and perseverance in our spiritual journey. [10:51]
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of not getting too caught up in worldly pursuits and instead focusing on the agenda that Christians have been called into, which is to make heaven more crowded. The speaker warns against placing America ahead of Jesus Christ and becoming overly consumed with political matters. This serves as a reminder to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. [27:01]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the writer of Hebrews mean by "a great cloud of witnesses"? How does this context help us understand the call to perseverance? [09:20]
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of "junk" or hindrances that can clutter our lives? [17:54]
3. How does the Greek word "agon" (translated as "race" in Hebrews 12:1) help us understand the nature of the Christian journey? [22:28]
4. What does it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus" according to the sermon? How is this practically applied in our daily lives? [31:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to recognize that the "great cloud of witnesses" are witnesses to God and not to us? How does this shift our focus in our spiritual journey? [11:07]
2. How can material possessions, social media, and even relationships become hindrances in our spiritual growth? What does the sermon suggest we do about these hindrances? [17:54]
3. The sermon mentions that Jesus endured opposition from sinners. How does reflecting on Jesus' endurance help us in our own struggles and challenges? [35:25]
4. What does it mean to run the "right race" as described in the sermon? How can we discern if we are running the race God has set before us? [24:43]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "junk" or hindrances that are cluttering your mind, heart, or soul? What steps can you take this week to begin decluttering? [17:54]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not getting too caught up in worldly pursuits, such as political matters. How can you ensure that your primary focus remains on your relationship with God? [24:43]
3. Consider the "race" you are currently running. Are you confident that it is the race God has marked out for you? If not, what changes might you need to make to align with God's path? [24:43]
4. How can you practically "fix your eyes on Jesus" in your daily routine? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to keep your focus on Him? [31:04]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt weary in your faith. How did you overcome it, or how can you use the example of Jesus' endurance to find strength in similar situations? [35:25]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of faith and perseverance. How can you cultivate a stronger faith that helps you persevere through trials? What specific actions can you take this week to grow in faith? [10:15]
7. Think about someone in your life who might be struggling with perseverance. How can you support and encourage them in their faith journey this week? [08:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Decluttering Life for Spiritual Growth
In our journey with Christ, it is essential to declutter our lives, both externally and internally. Hindrances, though not inherently sinful, can fill our minds, hearts, and souls to the point where there is no room to hear from the truth of God. This decluttering is necessary for our spiritual growth and journey with Christ. [04:14]
1 Corinthians 6:12 - "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything."
Reflection: What are some hindrances in your life that are preventing you from hearing the truth of God? How can you begin to declutter these from your life today?
Day 2: Living a Life of Faith
Our focus should not be on impressing others or fearing disappointment, but on God and Jesus Christ. Spiritual giants are witnesses to God, not of the believers themselves. They have proven through their testimony that a life of faith is the only way to live. [13:28]
Hebrews 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Reflection: Who are the spiritual giants in your life? How can their testimonies inspire you to live a life of faith?
Day 3: Embracing the Humanity of Jesus
God took on human form and experienced the same challenges and struggles that we face. Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, should be our source of inspiration and motivation to not grow weary. This serves as a reminder of the humanity of Jesus and his understanding of our struggles. [37:36]
Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing? How can you draw strength from the humanity of Jesus in these situations?
Day 4: The Importance of Faith and Perseverance
Removing the junk from our lives is necessary for our spiritual growth and journey with Christ. The word "therefore" in the verse points back to the previous chapter, Hebrews 11, which is known as the hall of faith. This serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and perseverance in our spiritual journey. [10:51]
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: What "junk" do you need to remove from your life to grow spiritually? How can you practice faith and perseverance in this process?
Day 5: Prioritizing Our Relationship with God
We should not get too caught up in worldly pursuits and instead focus on the agenda that Christians have been called into, which is to make heaven more crowded. We should not place America ahead of Jesus Christ and become overly consumed with political matters. This serves as a reminder to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. [27:01]
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What worldly pursuits are you currently focused on? How can you shift your focus to prioritize your relationship with God?
Quotes
"These hindrances, again, these things that are in life that aren't bad in themselves, right?" [18:06]
"You were taught with regard to your formal way of life, this was before Jesus, to put off that self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, right?" [18:46]
"Our audience is not those spiritual giants. Our audience is one and his name is God, Jesus Christ." [11:43]
"Look at all of these examples of the people that we have and the God that strengthened them to not only persevere through it, but to bring him honor and glory through it." [12:49]
"We don't get to set the course. We think we can, right? Proverbs 16, nine, in their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes the steps." [27:59]
"America is not Jesus Christ. It is not the savior of the world. Jesus Christ is the savior of the world." [24:41]
"This is what many of our lives look like. Man, how can the Holy Spirit move when our minds and our hearts and our souls are so cluttered, are so hindered?" #!!16:47!!#
"That Greek word for perseverance is wapamina. It's like some 1960s Batman move, right? Wapamina. It means this, wapamina means steadfastness, faithfulness, endurance. It's the characteristic of a man or woman who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his or her loyalty to faith and godliness by even the greatest trials and sufferings." #!!06:49!!#
"He says, lastly, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer. Some translations say author. Author and pioneer and perfecter of our faith." #!!30:40!!#
"But for the sake of this point in God's truth, it's refocusing on what matters, on where our faith lies so we don't get caught up in the lies." #!!32:11!!#
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?