Understand Jesus as our perfect coach, the importance of perseverance in our Christian journey, and the necessity of keeping our focus on God amidst worldly distractions.
Good morning, church family! I am so excited to dive into God's Word with you all today.
Before we get started, I'd like to share a quote from Oswald Chambers. He once said, "Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen." Now, isn't that the truth? Chamber’s words remind us that we not only need to endure through hardships but we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. That’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today.
Now, let's turn our Bibles to Hebrews 12:1-2
The concept of Jesus as our Perfect Coach is one that is both profound and deeply personal. It's a concept that speaks to the heart of our Christian journey, and it's one that we can all relate to in some way.
The role of a coach: A coach is someone who guides, instructs, and encourages. They are someone who sees the potential in their athletes and pushes them to reach it. They are someone who is there during the victories and the losses, offering wisdom and support. They are someone who knows the game inside and out, and who uses that knowledge to help their athletes succeed.
Apply it to Jesus: Jesus, as our Perfect Coach, guides us through life. He instructs us through His Word, showing us the right path to take. He encourages us when we are down, reminding us of His love and grace. He sees our potential, the potential that He Himself placed within us, and He pushes us to reach it. He is there during our victories, celebrating with us, and during our losses, comforting us. He knows life inside and out, and He uses that knowledge to help us succeed.
Not just any coach, the Perfect Coach: Unlike human coaches, who are fallible and limited in their knowledge and abilities, Jesus is infallible and unlimited. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He knows exactly how to guide us, instruct us, and encourage us. He knows exactly how to push us to reach our potential. He knows exactly how to be there for us during our victories and our losses. He knows exactly how to help us succeed.
He has a personal interest in us: He is not just coaching us because it's His job. He is coaching us because He loves us. He wants us to succeed, not for His own glory, but for ours. He wants us to reach our potential, not because it makes Him look good, but because it fulfills His purpose for us. He wants us to win the race of life, not because it proves His coaching skills, but because it brings us joy and fulfillment.
He’s already run the race: He knows what it's like to face trials and tribulations. He knows what it's like to feel tired and discouraged. He knows what it's like to be tempted to give up. But He also knows what it's like to persevere, to keep going despite the challenges. He knows what it's like to cross the finish line and to sit down at the right hand of the throne of God. And because He knows, He can guide us, instruct us, and encourage us in a way that no one else can.
Perseverance is a word that we often hear in the context of sports, academics, or any other endeavor that requires sustained effort over time ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO