Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

In one paragraph

Pastor Carl opened at Hebrews 12, backing up from where the previous week left off to linger over the passage more carefully. The sermon traced the movement from the "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 11 through to the command to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. The aim was to show why that focus is the only thing that keeps believers from growing weary and losing...

Read together

1. Hebrews 11 the hall of faith, listing examples of those who acted by faith
2. Hebrews 12:1 since we have so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us
3. Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross
4. Hebrews 12:3 consider him who endured such hostility by sinners against himself so that you will not grow weary and lose heart
5. Hebrews 1:1-4 the exordium describing Christ as the radiance of God's glory and exact imprint of his nature
6. Hebrews 2:10 it was fitting for him to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings
7. Hebrews 3:1 carefully consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus
8. Colossians 3:1 since you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God
9. Acts 3:15 they put to death the author of life whom God raised from the dead
10. Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his right hand as prince and savior to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins

Talk about it

1. The pastor described the 'great cloud of witnesses' in two ways: as those cheering us on, and as those whose testimony we look back on as proof of faith. Which of those two pictures is more meaningful to you right now, and why?
2. The pastor talked about the difference between encumbrances and sin, saying some things that slow us down in the race are not sinful in themselves. What is something in your own life that may not be sinful but is still weighing you down in following Christ?
3. When the pastor talked with the man who called after Kurt Ripley's funeral, he told him to fix his eyes on Jesus by reading the Gospel of John and looking at how Jesus treated different kinds of people. How well do you feel you actually know Jesus that way, and what would help you get a clearer picture of him?
4. The word translated 'author' in 'author and perfecter of our faith' carries the idea of a pioneer and file leader who goes ahead and blazes the trail. How does it change the way you think about your own suffering or endurance when you consider that Jesus went through it first?
5. The pastor said that running the race with endurance is not just an individual calling but a second-person-plural command, meaning we do it together. Where in your life right now do you most need the people around you to help you not grow weary and lose heart?