Hebrews 12:2

WHEN HEAVEN WHEN HEAVEN WHOOPS IT UPWHOOPS IT UP

Do You Remember our starting point?EVERYONE READ ALOUD

Hebrews 11:1-2

The fundamental fact of my existence is that I trust in God. This faith, is my firm foundation, my title deed, for everything that makes my life worth living. It's my handle on what I can't see. This act of faith is what distinguishes me from the crowd.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Hebrews 12:1-2 (TNIV)(TNIV)

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Answer: Answer: We can be interrupted and We can be interrupted and not feel that we have lost the race.not feel that we have lost the race.Story of the Good Samaritan: Story of the Good Samaritan: Slowed down, walked instead of Slowed down, walked instead of riding, spent money for a another’s riding, spent money for a another’s medical care of a complete medical care of a complete stranger. stranger.

Lord, thank you for stopping what you were doing to include me in you life. I want to be that kind of a person, interested enough in others to be interrupted. Please help me remove my blinders and make me more sensitive to fellow human beings…even people quite unlike me. Help me have a vision for directing people your way, humbly and sincerely.

Lord, thank you for stopping what you were doing to include me in you life. I want to be that kind of a person, interested enough in others to be interrupted. Please help me remove my blinders and make me more sensitive to fellow human beings…even people quite unlike me. Help me have a vision for directing people your way, humbly and sincerely.

You are never down and out in the race mentioned in Hebrews 12:2!

Because Jesus runs with us, the saints cheer and we have the help of the sisters and brothers we fellowship with!

We help each other!

REGARDING JESUS, REGARDING JESUS, WHAT WAS “THE JOY WHAT WAS “THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM” SET BEFORE HIM” THAT CAUSED HIM THAT CAUSED HIM TO ENDURE THE TO ENDURE THE CROSS?CROSS?

Take your choice: Take your choice:

1. The joy of finally 1. The joy of finally leaving earth with all of leaving earth with all of its limitations.its limitations.

2. Finally seeing the 2. Finally seeing the Father.Father.

3. Knowing that his 3. Knowing that his actions would make it actions would make it possible for humans to possible for humans to experience knowing experience knowing God.God.

YOU

WHAT BRINGS WHOOPS AND WHAT BRINGS WHOOPS AND HOLLERS FROM HEAVEN?HOLLERS FROM HEAVEN?

One Answer: One Answer: “I tell you that there will be more “I tell you that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” who do not need to repent.”

--Luke 15:7--Luke 15:7

WHEN RUNNING THE RACE OR COMPETING IN A WHEN RUNNING THE RACE OR COMPETING IN A CONTEST IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO CONTEST IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT REALLY COUNTS.REMEMBER WHAT REALLY COUNTS.

Not about pretty uniformsNot about pretty uniforms…catchy cheers…catchy cheers…big crowds.…big crowds.

Each contest has a Each contest has a standard for what it standard for what it means to “win”.means to “win”.

Football---touchdownFootball---touchdown

Baseball---scoring runsBaseball---scoring runs

Basketball, Hockey, ArcheryBasketball, Hockey, Archery

What is the object of the What is the object of the Believers Marathon?Believers Marathon?

Helping people get in the KingdomHelping people get in the Kingdom

Helping people stay in the KingdomHelping people stay in the Kingdom

Helping people help others get in and stay in.Helping people help others get in and stay in.

Contributing to the spiritual health of othersContributing to the spiritual health of others

Personally finishing strongPersonally finishing strong

Jesus prayed for you prayer in John 17.

You are not alone. He helps us, and we help others.

What a great concept!We all win!

Remembering that Remembering that Jesus included Jesus included others at the table.others at the table.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

We run together.

We help each other.

YOU

WE MAINLY RUN THE WE MAINLY RUN THE RACE FOR OTHERSRACE FOR OTHERS

● ● Who are the ‘others’ in your Who are the ‘others’ in your life?life?

● ● Others who have yet to Others who have yet to experience a genuine relationship experience a genuine relationship with Godwith God

● ● Others who are winded, Others who are winded, wounded, washed up or straying wounded, washed up or straying from the path.from the path.

GOD CAN BE INTERRUPTED. CAN I? GOD CAN BE INTERRUPTED. CAN I? WILL I REALLY SEE THOSE AROUND ME WILL I REALLY SEE THOSE AROUND ME AS I RUN FOR JESUS?AS I RUN FOR JESUS?

THE PARABLE OF THE SADHU, THE PARABLE OF THE SADHU, FROM THE HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEWFROM THE HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

The memory that lingered was not The memory that lingered was not conquering the mountainconquering the mountain

…but lost opportunities to help a …but lost opportunities to help a wayfaring stranger.wayfaring stranger.

1. Greet - Ro 16:162. Admonish - Ro 15:143. Confess Faults - Jam 5:164. Comfort -1 Ths 4:185. Edify -1 Ths 4:186. Exhort -Heb 3:137. Forgive - Eph 4:328. Sing to - Eph 5:199. Pray For - James 5:1610. Spur on - Heb 10:24

“One Another” Passages

1. Accept - Ro 15:5-72. Be Kind - Eph 4:323. Lay Down Your Life - 1 Jn 3:164. Put up with - Eph 4:25. Honor - Ro 12:106. Love - John 13:347. Fervently - 1 Pet 1:227. Serve - Gal 5:137. Submit to - Eph 5:219. Wash Feet - Jn 13:1410. Bear Burdens - Gal 6:2

11. Judge - Romans 14:1312. Envy not - Gal 5:1513. Provoke not - Gal 5:1514. Bite not - Gal 5:1515. Devour not - Gal 5:1516. Lie Not - Col 3:917. Defraud Not - 1 Ths 4:618. No Partiality - 1 Tim 5:2119. Forsake not - Heb 10:2520. No stumbling block - Rom. 14:13

REMINDER: WE RUN THE RACE FOR OTHERS

LeRoy Lawson:

The church is the only institution which exists primary for the sake of those who are not members.

PERSONAL COMMITMENTPERSONAL COMMITMENT

● ● Ways I can encourage people as I run…Ways I can encourage people as I run…

● ● People I know who could use a word of People I know who could use a word of encouragement, a hand of help or even a encouragement, a hand of help or even a nudge in the right direction.nudge in the right direction.

● ● I will use more of my peripheral visionI will use more of my peripheral vision

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Lord, thank you for stopping what you were doing to include me in you life. I want to be that kind of a person, interested enough in others to be interrupted. Please help me remove my blinders and make me more sensitive to fellow human beings…even people quite unlike me. Help me have a vision for directing people your way, humbly and sincerely.

Lord, thank you for stopping what you were doing to include me in you life. I want to be that kind of a person, interested enough in others to be interrupted. Please help me remove my blinders and make me more sensitive to fellow human beings…even people quite unlike me. Help me have a vision for directing people your way, humbly and sincerely.

Go and bless others. Go and bless others. Because, God can do Because, God can do anything, far more than anything, far more than you could ever imagine you could ever imagine or guess or request or guess or request through you toward through you toward others.others.