Sermon Tone Analysis

Mean It.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar place to those in this illustration video?

I certainly have.

I am one of those people who bites off more than I can chew.

We’ve all set goals, which had to be re-directed or abandoned.

Sometimes we simply didn’t realize the full scope of what we were undertaking, and at other times, we found other priorities or lost interest.

Perhaps if we can even admit it, sometimes, some of us, have even quit when it got hard.

This week I’m going to talk about barriers and solutions to finishing what we start.

Accomplishing a goal.

Finishing Well

So what does it mean to “finish well”?

In the bible, in 2 Timothy, Paul is in prison, and giving up on any hope that he’ll get out.

He was imprisoned at Mamertine Prison in Rome, and that wasn’t a good place.

He’s reflecting on his own life, and the goals he set, the things he set out to do and be…and he is trying to encourage Timothy who is getting tired himself, weary from the stresses of ministry.

Paul is encouraging Timothy to continue preaching the word, and to continue pastoring this unruly flock who is tempted by other doctrine, which sounds better and is easier to follow.

We still have those problems today, but that’s another sermon series perhaps.

You can read more about that situation specifically in .

Let’s read what Paul says about finishing well: He says, “Preach the word to them and they’ll come around....

2 Timothy 4:5-

Paul knew that his life was over.

The greek work used was the same word used to describe the action of folding up a tent or unyoking an ox at the end of it’s duty.

In other words…he was done with what he was assigned to do.

In , Jesus gives a reference to being about the assigned tasks of your work, and always being ready.

He’s talking about laziness.

He is literally giving an example of being a good servant, anticipating the needs of a master....by doing one’s job well.

He’s talking not about perfection, but of an attitude in which one should go about doing their tasks.

This is the cross reference to Paul’s words when he says, “I have fought the good fight and finished the course”.

Finishing 2017 Well

As we’re bringing the close of the calendar year in today, I thought it appropriate to talk about some hurdles to finishing things well, and solutions to those hurdles.

Why we don’t finish what we start

According to Dr Susan Perry, starting new tasks can be a lot like falling in love.

Here’s how she puts it, “It’s exciting, emotionally arousing, infused with the natural motivator of novelty.

Perhaps we even get obsessive about this new activity.

Then, after some time goes by, the activity or book or lessons (or relationships) turn into harder work than we expected.

It takes longer to complete than we’d hoped, or there’s some tedium and drudgery involved.

We realize we aren’t sure about the next step.

Stuck, we grind to a halt.”

Another expert points out that sometimes we even sabotage our success because of our own insecurities and self doubt.

Dr GHOSAIN, continues with an explanation of the all-too-often-true reality that the longer we dwell in a period of inaction on something, the harder and less likely we are to pick it up and continue or complete it.

Rick Warren has some biblical insight into these same concepts.

“Failure to Plan, is a Plan to Fail” Proverbs 27:12

1.

We fail when we don't plan ahead.

It's like the old saying, "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail." says, "A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them.

But the simple-minded man never looks and suffers the consequences."

Are you simple minded?

Some of us have a tendency to be impulsive.

Yet the sensible man plans ahead.

“Pride Causes Failure”

2. We fail when we think we've arrived.

, "Pride leads to destruction and arrogance to downfall."

When we think we've got it all together, watch out.

You're never going to get anywhere if you think you're already there.

Pride causes us to fail.

One of the symptoms of pride is we don't think we need any advice.

"I've got it all together.

I don't need anybody.

Me and Jesus, we've got a good thing going.

I don't need anybody to tell me what it's all about."

“Fear Causes Failure” Proverbs 25:29

3. We fail when we are afraid to take risks.

Prov.

25:29 tells us that the "Fear of man is a dangerous trap but to trust in God means safety."

The moment you start to worry about what other people think, you're doomed.

It's a trap.

The greatest failure is the failure to try.

When I die I want, four words written on my tombstone: "At least he tried."

For the glory of God.

You've got to take risks.

That's what brings abundance.

That's what brings success in life.

Don't be afraid to go out on a limb; that's where the fruit is.

We're afraid to take risks, and we fail.

“Quitting Causes Failure” Proverbs 15:19

4. We fail because we give up too soon.

The trouble with many people is that during trying times, they just stop trying.

Failure is the path of least persistence.

How many ball games have been won in the last seconds?

Keep on keeping on.

Never give up.

says, "A lazy fellow has trouble all through life."

If at first you don't succeed, you're normal.

Try again.

Many times success is right around the corner.

You are never a failure until you quit.

“Not Listening to God Causes Failure” Proverbs 14:12

5. We fail when we don't listen to God.

The number one reason we fail is that we don't listen to God. says, "There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death."

God's Word is filled with guidelines and principles to make our life all that God wants it to be.

But most of the time we want to listen to our feelings, "I feel that this is the right thing to do—even if God's Word says it differently."

Realities of Failure

In Romans chapter 3, Paul is talking about justification through faith, and he says, “All have sinned, and all fall short” We’re all weak, and NONE of us have figured out how to succeed absolutely at things, without God’s help.

Is anyone familiar with the story of Walt Disney?

He tried for decades to get his ideas off the ground in a successful way that would put food on the table for his family.

Milton Hershey had three complete failures of candy companies....all ended in bankruptcy or utter failure, prior to founding the monumentally successful Hershey Chocolate Company.

I can’t speak to the relationship that Mr Disney or Mr Hershey may or may not of had with God…I really didn’t dive into their history enough to look for an proclamations of faith.

The point is that if you’ve found in your life that you seem to fail a lot, or have failed in big ways....you are in good company.

Why Try?

So if we all fail....and we’re all destined for failure…because of a number of reasons....why try at all?

Well, actually…there’s a real problem with exactly that phrase.

It’s called the “why try effect”, and it’s another more serious form of self defeating, or sabotaging behaviors.