10-25-2020
10-25-2020
Jessica Stafford, Children’s Ministry Director (Online and West), Rev. Trevor Johnston (East) and Pastor Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Come Alive!
Week 5: Start at the Finish Line
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español.
Our memory verse for this series is
Ephesians 5:14: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Icebreaker: Of all the Halloween costumes you’ve ever dressed up in, which one was your favorite?
1. What do you hope people will say about you at your funeral? What adjectives do you want to be remembered for? Consider your various relationships such as: parent, child, spouse, employee, neighbor, friend, and even your relationship with God.
2. Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
This was Paul’s farewell address, written to Timothy very near the end of Paul’s life. What do you notice about how Paul felt about his life as he looked back on it?
3. Many Christians start their spiritual journey well, but fewer finish well. Sadly, a number of Christian leaders recently have had moral failings later in life. Why is it difficult to finish well?
Four Things Paul Did That Helped Him Finish Well:
#1 – Decide
4. As Paul traveled to Jerusalem, where he expected imprisonment and possibly death, he told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:24: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” What do you observe about Paul’s values and priorities?
5. We need to decide what we’re going to focus on and what it will take for us to finish well. Paul had pre-decided some things that helped him finish well. What had Paul pre-decided?
#2 - Fight
6. Paul knew that people don’t just drift into a well-lived life, we have to fight for it. That starts with our daily habits. A study from Duke University found that about 40% of the actions we take every day are not the products of choices but of habits. Much of what is fundamentally shaping our existence is happening unconsciously. What do you think when you hear that?
7. Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Is there any area in your life where you’ve been hoping for different results, even though you keep doing things the same old way?
8. Jessica shared that she had to “fight” for her faith when she lost her mom. If you’ve ever experienced a season in your life when you had to fight for your faith, share about that.
9. Two habits Jessica added to her life as “fighting tools” were:
1) God first: Make God the absolute first thing you focus on each morning.
2) One-minute pause: John Eldredge writes in his book, Get Your Life Back: “I’ve seized the one minute pause as my sword against the madness.... It sounds almost too simple to be a practice that brings me more of God, but it’s very effective. Because what it does is open up soul space, breathing room. And God is right there. Over time, the cumulative effect is even better. It’s reshaping the pace of my day. It’s training my soul to find God as an experience more common than rare.”
Tell about a “fighting tool” that you have in your life, or one that you could add into your life.
#3 – Endure
10. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”
Paul really went through all this! What does this tell you about Paul?
11. Read what the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk wrote in Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
What are some modern day things out of your own life that you could fill into this passage?
#4 - Partner
12. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:17-18: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”
What was the secret to Paul’s ability to endure so much hardship and finish his life well?
13. Eugene Peterson said, “We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God sticks with us.” Read Habakkuk 3:19: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” How can you experience God’s strength when you’re in a difficult season?
14. Pray 1 Timothy 6:12 for each other as a group: “May God give you the strength to fight the good fight, to take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.”
Ready for your next step?
If you would like to take a next step in your faith journey, such as trusting your life to Christ or getting baptized, text the word “Next” to 561-264-6079 and follow the steps there, and we’ll contact you to help you do that.
News and Announcements:
· Thanksgiving Food Drive: Community of Hope has the exciting goal to provide Thanksgiving meals for 1,000 families in our community this year! If you'd like to help, donate any of these items Sunday – Thursday, 8pm – 4pm. before November 8. Thank you! Get an up-to-date report of how we’re doing at https://communityofhope.church/missions/
o $10 Publix Gift Card
o Stuffing Mix
o Cranberry Sauce
o Gravy
o Canned Vegetables
o Boxed Mashed Potatoes (The goal of 1,000 has been reached for this item!)
o Cornbread Mix
o Boxed Cake or Brownie Mix
· Celebrate Recovery Anniversary: Join us in celebrating 8 years of helping people have victory over hurts, habits and hang-ups on Monday, October 26th at 7pm. Larry and Diane Mohr will share how C.R. has helped them overcome addiction and embrace freedom. Childcare will be provided. Please wear a mask! We’ll have a mask for you, if you need one!
· Pumpkin Patch: Support our Student Ministry by purchasing pumpkins and baked goods. It’s also a great place to take some fall pictures! Open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day.
· Worship Team Family Reunion – Sunday November 8, 4:00-5:30pm, West Campus: If you lead worship or are interested in being part of the Worship Team, come on out to this event to enjoy some fellowship, a chance to worship God, and get renewal. Register at https://communityofhope.church/worship
· Thank you for your financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to our community! To give to Community of Hope, go to https://communityofhope.church/give.