November 25, 2007

 

Video:  Simple Instructions for Life, Part 4

 

Worship through Song

 

Offering:

 

Hold On I' Comin'   

Sam and Dave

 

Video: Popeye's Endurance

 

Message:  Keep It Simple S... Finish

 Pastor Clare

 

Prayer and Practice

Pastor Scott

 

Church Family News

 

 

Any musical selections and/or media elements used in our services are for illustrative purposes only and are not an endorsement of any artist, musical group, film or television program.

 

K.I.S.S…Finish!!!

 

Hebrews 12:1-11(MSG)

 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. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

   My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

 

“Simple” FINISH practices (The Rrrrrrr’s that will get you there)

 

____________________________________ (a) who(se) you are

(you’re being  cheered on by the VETERANS!)

 

___________________________________________(b) regularly

(strip down, no extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins)

 

Be _______________________________________________ (c)

(never quit, never drop out)

James 1:2-3 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 

 

James 1:12 (NIV) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

 

Matthew 10:22b (NIV) He who stands firm to the end will be saved.

 

Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given to us.

 

_____________________________________(d) your strength in Christ

(study how he did it i.e. grow in SPIRITUAL PRACTICES)

 

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) … train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

 

James 1:4 (NIV) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

Hebrews 5:14 (NIV) But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves …

 

______________________(e)  to Christ-centered companions and coaches

(keep your eyes on Jesus, learn from those veterans who are Christ-centered)

 

 Ephesians 4:11-14 

 

_______________________________________________(f)

(mature in relationship with God, growing from self-centered to Christ-centered)

 

James 1:27(NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

 

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV) 1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,   2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, ,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 

 

Conversations in Life Groups and Next Steps:

 

*Use these “Rrrrrrr’s” to finish your race and remain Christ-centered.

 

*Use the “Simple Growth Plan” insert. Determine who you are on the map and where you need to go from here.  What practices you need to train yourself in.

 

*Ask a companion and/or a coach to help keep you focused to finish!

 

 

Recommended resources available in the CCM Bookstore:

Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels, 

How People Grow by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

 

 

 

Today’s message and the K.I.S.S. series are available in the bookstore on CD or DVD. Streaming audio and videos of today’s message are also available on our website:  ccmonline.org.

 

Answers:

a.  Realize   b.  Repent   c.  Relentless   d.  Refuel  

e.  Relate   f.  Reproduce