Sermon Tone Analysis

Losses & Disappointments can leave us stalled out!

Can we see that He REALLY IS Good?

Can we trust Him to be at work even when we see none of it?

Can we pour out our hearts of frustration, disappointment, discouragement and shame?

Does a Good week “cancel” out a Bad week?

(I wish it did), but I don’t think my encouraging lessons and conversations really can keep me going . .

more less be enough for you!

What do we need to “start our engines” again?

Let’s start with someone who knows about discouragement.

The writer of Hebrews not only understands Jesus’ atonement, he knows how weak we are . .

and he knows how hard this life can be!

He gives us the testimony of others about God’s faithfulness, but he ultimately points us back to Jesus.

Look at: Heb 12.1-3

Let us . .

throw off sin that entangles

run with perseverance

fix our eyes on Jesus

​Hebrews 12:1–3 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.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Do we see what this says about Jesus?

He KNOWS our struggle!

Here’s how Wm Wilberforce expressed it:

​in other words, we need to Remember our Rescuer!

Remember our Rescuer

Are those times of desperation close to mind for you?

Does your heart still overflow with joy and gratitude at His kindness?

— I still recall getting a surprise rescue when my car overheated on a Denver freeway.

A guy in a pickup with a jug of water came out of nowhere.

Wow!

— Have you heard Florence testify to how blessed she is in this life?

— Does the recollection of Jesus rescue of your heart stir up gratitude at his kindness and compassion for you?

Seek our Savior

He invites us to DRAW NEAR to Him!

James calls us to “Draw Near” in 4:6-8

4:8 — Come near to God and He will come near to you!

Could it be that our time of struggle is actually a great chance to see our Father in a new way?

This call to draw near causes me to envision the Father simply beckoning me to come close to Him.

To see him as one who truly sees me with compassion and welcomes me . .

despite my struggle and failure.

In fact . . he calls us to ASK him for what we need . .

see Mt 7.7-11

But more than just the invitation to ask him for our needs . . .

we can see His Heart for us.

Look at how Jesus reveals the Heart of the Father to us in vs 9-11:

7:11 - Good Gifts: He invites us to believe that He is a Good Father who really wants to bless us.

Petition our Papa

Jesus tells the story of a widow desperate for justice in Lk 18 . .

who continues to present her case to an unjust judge who doesn’t care about anybody.

Are we ready to get on the Road of Discipleship again?

I don’t know where this leaves you, but what if the God who hates sin is more concerned about us just coming to Him than somehow getting “all cleaned up”?

Let me leave you with an encouraging invitation from Peterson’s book: “Leap Over A Wall”