UP: THAT STORY AGAIN – MARK SLEVIN
Scriptures:
Hebrews 12:1-2 Message
1 Kings 19: 15-18 NIV
Points:
1. SEE THEM (You’ll win when you know who is watching)
2. STUDY HIM (Looking is leaning and learning)(Live out of it – live off of it)
3. GO OVER THE STORY (seated and scripted)
THE RESULT: IT WILL SHOOT ADRENALINE INTO YOUR SOUL
“Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 MSG
“When you find yourself flagging in your faith… go over that story again.”
When Jesus prayed over Peter, his last words were that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail.
Faith is the most precious commodity we have.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You can’t always change your position, but you can change your perception. You may not be able to change where you’re standing, but you can change how you’re seeing.
- SEE THEM (You’ll win when you know who is watching)
Right-seeing leads to right standing.
“Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…” – they’re watching not to asses or condemn, but to cheer us on.
To witness – means to testify – they speak of what they have seen.
“and they did it…” – the baton is now in our hands.
What would they say to us?
- 2. STUDY HIM (Looking is leaning and learning)
“Keep your eyes on Jesus… study how He did it.”
Greek word for look is to LEAN ON (similar to Hebrew word for salvation).
There’s a tension between STARING and STUDYING:
Staring – enamoured, but no application.
Studying – to look, by LEARNING and LEANING on Him.
Study Him – go over that (Gospel) story again – live off of it and live from it.
- 3. GO OVER THE STORY (seated and scripted)
Jesus is seated at the right hand of God – in authority and victory (Psalm 22).
And if he’s seated, my life is scripted (Ephesians 1).
We don’t hope for victory, we come from it.
It’s been PRE-DECIDED; you may be in a battle, but we know who wins.
So GO OVER THAT STORY AGAIN.
Why? Because IT WILL SHOOT ADRENALIN INTO YOUR SOULS.
Discussion Questions
1. See Them: Reflecting on Hebrews 12:1-2, how does the imagery of a “great cloud of witnesses” impact your understanding of faith and perseverance? How does knowing that others have gone before us and are cheering us on affect your perspective on your own journey of faith?
2. Study Him: What does it mean to “study” Jesus? How does this concept differ from simply admiring Him? How can we practically apply the idea of “studying” Jesus in our daily lives?
3. Go over the Story: why is it important to “go over the story” of Jesus again and again? How does revisiting the Gospel narrative contribute to our faith and perseverance?
4. Seated & Scripted: Reflecting on the idea that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and that our lives are “scripted,” what implications does this have for how we approach challenges and difficulties? How does this perspective change the way we view our circumstances?
5. The message emphasises that going over the story of Jesus again will “shoot adrenaline into our souls.” What do you think this means practically? How have you experienced the rejuvenating power of revisiting the Gospel narrative in your own life?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who cheer us on in our journey of faith. Remind us that victory has already been secured through Christ, and help us to live from this place of victory, regardless of the challenges we may face. Guide us in living out these truths in our daily lives, that we may walk in faithfulness and perseverance – keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. Amen.
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