Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

* Heart of Paul

* Compelled

* UnderRower w~/ msg

* Do not loose hope!

*  Heart of Jonathon

* 2nd Dimension Faith

*  Heart of Jesus

* Do not loose hope…

 

* Olympics… Karen Cockburn was 11 when she started training on the trampoline…

* Followed her coach…

* Jitters… struggles… success and failure

* On the day of competition… watched others fail

* Didn’t get sidetracked… leaned on what she knew and practiced…

* (Endured and Competed Well)

Biblical:

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Personal:

*  Many of you have been through greater trials… but being with Lorraine at Sick Kids with Carter on Friday brought back memories…

* When Josh was in the hospital

* Not as long…

* But oh the suffering

* Bit oh the helplessness

* But oh the boredom

* But we needed to be there… to go on… there was more than just us… get past the moment… look bigger…

 

Bridge:

* Abel was killed

* Noah was mocked

* Moses Frustrated

* Jesus was crucified

* Paul beaten and imprisoned

*  Why?

* Why not forget it…

* Because those who know Endure…

* Those who know run well…

*  

*  

Body:

*Keeping it Clean…*

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

A)    Great cloud of witnesses…

* Abel….

* Enoch…

* Noah…

* Abraham…

* Sarah…

* Isaac….

* Jacob…

* Moses…

* Rahab….

* Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets

*  They knew how to run the race of faith… * They opposed Pharaoh and gave up the pleasures and priviliedges of his court.

They passed through the Red Sea.

Shouted down the walls of Jericho.

Conquered Kingdoms.

Shut the mouths of lions.

Stood against the power of fire.

Received there dead back by resurrection.

Were tortured, mocked, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, dressed in animal skins, were made destituted… all in the name of their faith…

* They stand a cloud of great witnesses…

* Not an audience grading our performance… or even as a cheering section…

* But as an example… as witnesses to a life of faith… faith in the God they so valiantly… boldly serve.

Before the great crowd of witnesses…

They Serve as an example… Inspiration

 

B) Let us lay aside those things that would detract us…Without encumbrances… without sin

*  Ever been in a hurry with your arms full…

* Load of towels when the phone rings…

* Load of groceries…

* Weigh you down… miss the call…

* Sin is the ball and chain in our life of faith…

*  You can’t win… you can’t even run when it drags you down…

*  In the Olympics… we have seen…

* the gear they race in…

* light weight

* aerodynamic

* as little an encumbrance as possible

* In our lives we know the burden of our sin…

* It undermines our ability to be close to God

* It infects our relationships

* It eats away at us…

* It stops us from being effective lightbearers… ambassadors for Christ

* It encumbers the church’s effectiveness….

* It is time to shed the weight of sin…

* Surrender and release it to God…

* It is time to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us…

* And Stop driving the agenda personally…

* It is time to live in Christ… and for Christ.

*  */Without encumbrances…/*

* For the Love of your Saviour…

* For the Saviour’s Love for you…

* Live your Faith Free from Sin!

* */Those who know endure/*

* */Those who know run well/*

 

 

*Keeping our Focus*

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*  *Most People Aim At Nothing In Life...and Hit It With Amazing Accuracy* 

*  We are at some level on a trajectory…

* Self…Wealth… Saviour

* Aimed somewhere in the future… * Do you know the game follow the leader…

* The premise is that you do what the leader does… act as they do, speak as they do…

* To win we merely need to follow the leader

*  Most kids in Grade 1 or even Kindergarten could explain follow the leader to us…