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Apr 07, 2024

Hebrews: Looking to Jesus (part 1)

Passage: Hebrews 11:39-12:3

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Hebrews: Fulfilled in Christ

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: faith, race, endurance, looking to jesus

We are all "running a race" of faith. The Gospel gives us great hope and practical direction in the passage to run (i.e. "Follow Jesus") by keeping our eyes focused on him because he's run and finished it perfectly, has authored our faith-journey and will, in the end, complete our race. In this life we are now enabled to participate with passion, faith and endurance, knowing that the crown/prize is awaiting us, and has even now been given to us.

CENTRAL PASSAGE:

11: 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  • Read this passage all together.
    • What words stick out to you?
    • What words are repeated or emphasized?
  • What video clip hit home with you yesterday? Why?
  • What’s it like to treat our faith-race from a spectator point of view?
  • What style of faith-“race” do you feel like you are in right now? Explain.
  • Talk through these characteristics of our faith-race.
    • Run MY race - Jesus said “follow me” - we all have unique races.
    • Run OUR race - we are all together (past, present and future)
    • Run FREE - what are the “sins” and “weights” - how do you tie them?
    • Run with VISION:
      • Looking to Jesus - what’s our focus (behavior, results, heaven?)
      • Author and Perfecter - How does Jesus dual-role give us hope?
      • Who for the JOY...
        • What does the cross have to do with all of this?
        • Why did Jesus do what he did?
      • SEATED - What does it mean for Jesus to be seated?
  • How does this all play out in REAL LIFE?