“MISSING THE GRACE OF CHRISTMAS”

(Hebrews 12:12-17)

THREE “EXHORTATIONS” IN 12:12-17:

CONTINUANCE

Whose arms and knees are we to strengthen?

Hebrews 10:25

What kind of paths/tracks to you leave behind?

DILIGENCE

“Make every effort” – pursue/chase after/run after.

Peace and Holiness (Isaiah 57:21   Isaiah 64:6)

Means we are to Love P___________ and Love G_______.

Loving People – so peacemakers.  (Romans 12:18  James 3:13-18)

Loving God – so live to please him.

See the Lord?               John 13:25

VIGILANCE

“See to it!” – Same word as a bishop/overseer – (an e_________)

WHY ARE WE TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER?

1. To prevent falling short of God’s g___________.
2. To prevent b______________. (Deuteronomy 29:18-20)
3. To prevent s__________________.

DON’T MISS IT!

“MISSING THE GRACE OF CHRISTMAS”

(Hebrews 12:12-17)

Which is more important?  Doctrine or Application?

Doctrine is the f____________ of all we believe.

“Exhortation” means to urge us to l_______ what we believe.

1 Timothy 6:2; 4:16

“Therefore” is a transition for T________ (Doctrine) to A__________ (Live it!)

THREE “EXHORTATIONS” IN 12:12-17:

CONTINUANCE

“Feeble Arms and Weak Knees”                                                Isaiah 35:1-4

Whose arms and knees are we to strengthen?

One of the best ways to be encouraged is to encourage O___________.

Hebrews 10:25

“Paths” – stay in your own l________.

What kind of paths/tracks to you leave behind?

Proverbs 4:25-27

Who are the lame?                                            1 Kings 18

“Healed” means to be c_______/s____________.

2 Peter 3:9              Matthew 5:13-16      1 Peter 3:1-2

DILIGENCE AND VIGILANCE

DON’T MISS IT!

“GOD’S DISCIPLINE”

(Hebrews 12:4-11)

“Discipline” is the key word in verses 4-11 and means:

_________________________________________________________

PURPOSE OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE                   Romans 8:1

Punishment (to c________ us)        Prevention (to p____________ us)

Education (to t____________ us)

PERILS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

Taking it L___________      L________ Heart (fainting, giving up)

PROOFS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

God’s L______________           Our S________________

PRODUCTS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

Produces L______________

Deuteronomy 21:18-21                           James 1:21

Produces H______________

1 Peter 1:16

How?  Romans 8:29 – C____________ to C_____________.

Discipline never seems p__________ at the time,

but what it produces is well worth it! 

What do you want most?  What do you want from God?

“THANK YOU!”

Ephesians 5:20            1 Thessalonians 5:18                 Philippians 4:19

3 POSSIBILITIES FOR “THANK YOU”:

1. Un_________________

Luke 12:16-21                         Deuteronomy 8:6-20

2. H__________________

Luke 18:9-14

3. T___________ Thankful.

Luke 17:11-16

3 LEVELS OF THANKFULNESS:

1. When B________________.
2. H_________ for Blessing.
3. In the M________________.

Daniel 6:10                             Hebrews 13:15-16

“All circumstances” means:  _____________________

Who is watching you?

What do they see about your faith?

What do they think of your God?

1 Chronicles 29:10-20

“Thanksgiving is Thanks__________________.”

“GOD’S DISCIPLINE”

   (Hebrews 12:4-11)

“Discipline” is the key word in verses 4-11 and means:

_________________________________________________________

PURPOSE OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE                   Romans 8:1

Punishment (to c________ us)       Prevention (to p____________ us)

Education (to t____________ us)

PERILS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

Have we forgotten the word of e___________________?

• Taking it L___________
• L________ Heart (fainting, giving up)

Psalm 42:11

PROOFS OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

God’s L______________          Ephesians 3:17

God loves us too much N_____ to discipline us.

Our S________________          John 1:12

Discipline may be s___________ (when needed)

Proverbs 13:24; 23:13-14; 29:15

God’s discipline is not in spite of sonship, it is b__________ of sonship.

When God disciplines us, we should say “T_________ You.”

God has proved (AGAIN!) he loves you, and you are his child!

“GOD’S DISCIPLINE”

(Hebrews 12:4-11)

Thanksgiving – for God’s blessings….BUT FOR HIS DISCIPLINE?

“Discipline” is the key word in verses 4-11 and means:

_________________________________________________________

PURPOSE OF GOD’S DISCIPLINE

We know – Christians suffer the c______________ of our sin.

But we also know – we will not experience the j__________ of our sin!

Romans 8:1

• Punishment (to c__________ us)

David               Corinthian Church

1 Corinthians 11:20-32                       Psalm 89:30-34

• Prevention (to p___________ us)

Paul – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

If we accept p__________ discipline, less need for c___________.

• Education (to t________ us)

Job

To see God more c_____________.

For our own g____________.

So be t_________________.

Psalm 42.5

“RUNNING WELL”

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

THE EVENT

THE KEY PHRASE:  “Let us run the race with p_______________.”

“Race” – from the word a__________.

Amos 6:1

“Endurance/Perseverance” = steady determination to keep g________.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27         Philippians 3:12-14            Ephesians 6:16

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO RUN

THE ENCUMBRANCES THE HINDER US

THE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

"Author" and "Perfecter of our _______________.

Hebrews 2:10; 4:15                John 19:30

THE END OF THE RACE

Christ ran for the "joy" of :

• Ex_____________
• What was accomplished - Our s____________.

We run for the s______ reasons.      (Revelation 4:10-11)

THE EXHORTATION

"Consider" what Christ e______________.

We rejoice -      One day live with him forever! (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

Can live like him right n____! (Galatians 2:20)

“RUNNING WELL”

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Christian life is like a:

THE EVENT

THE KEY PHRASE:  “Let us run the race with p_______________.”

“Race” – from the word a__________.

Amos 6:1

“Endurance/Perseverance” = steady determination to keep g________.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27                             Philippians 3:12-14

Our competition in the race is NOT:

Our strength in endurance is NOT:

Ephesians 6:16

THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO RUN

“Cloud of Witnesses”?

THE POINT is not:

THE POINT is:

THE ENCUMBRANCES THE HINDER US

So “throw off” everything that

“hinders” –                           “sin that easily entangles” –

Note:  “THE SIN” – our biggest sin is U___________.

What “easily entangles” you? 

Galatians 2:20

_________________________________

“THE COURAGE OF FAITH”

(Hebrews 11:30-40)

Faith is trusting c____________ in God’s W_______.

CONQUERING IN STRUGGLE (vs. 30-34)

CONTINUING IN SUFFERING (vs. 35-38) 

1 Kings 17                             2 Kings 4

Sometimes it is God’s will to c__________ in struggles,

and at times it is to c______________ in suffering.

What kind of victory does God guarantee?

Afflictions are never escapable (to the faithful) when it demands

d________ or c___________ of God’s Word.

“Tortured”                                             “Not worthy”

How look at your afflictions?

Romans 8:18                          1 Peter 1:3-9

Daniel 3:17-18:

Primary concern is not for the safety of our l_______,

but the safety of our f___________. 

COUNTING ON SALVATION (vs. 39-40) 

NOTE:  “NONE RECEIVED”!!!!                            1 Peter 1:10-12 

“SOMETHING BETTER”     “MADE PERFECTED/COMPLETE”

John 20:29

“THE COURAGE OF FAITH”

(Hebrews 11:30-40)

Faith is trusting c____________ in God’s W_______.

How big is your God?    Can you trust him?

Faith is our source of c_______________.  Courage in:

CONQUERING IN STRUGGLE                         Examples:

Israelites at Jericho (vs. 30)

Rahab (vs. 31)

Joshua 2                 Matthew 1:1, 5

Others (vs. 32-34)

Gideon             Judges 7

Barak               Judges 4-5

Samson            Judges 13-16

Jephthah          Judges 11

David               1 Samuel 17:45-46                  Acts 13:22

Samuel             1 & 2 Samuel

The Prophets

THE POINT OF ALL THESE EXAMPLES?

COURAGE COMES FROM T________ GOD - BY F_______! 

TRUST GOD!?