Sermon Tone Analysis

If Jesus is your Living Hope this morning – and I pray He is – I want to challenge with the words of Hebrews 12:1-2 …

There are 4 things these 2 verses say you need to do:

1. Get rid of any encumbrance in your life.

- anything in your life that is hindering your walk with the Lord – hindering you living for the Lord –

- This isn’t talking about sin because the author deals with this next – he’s referring to anything that isn’t wrong in itself but that maybe hindering you to live for God the way He wants you to.

TS – 2nd…

2. Get rid of any sin that is entangling you – that trips you up!

TS – 3rd…

3. Run the race – the Christian life – with endurance = no quit in you.

TS – 4th…

4. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

- Stay focused on Him – fix your mind on Him –

- Don’t get distracted by all the other stuff going on around you = the world –

- When you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, you will be able to run the race – and finish the race – and finish it well!

Conclusion

Folks it’s time to get serious about living for the Lord and stop playing church – stop playing Christian!

Is He your living hope today?

If not would you make Him your living hope today?

There’s no hope in anything else in this mixed up world.

Christian: how are you doing in running your race in the Christian life?

Do you need to get rid of some hindrances – do you need to get rid of some entangling sin?

Are you eyes fixed on Jesus or are there things in the world that are distracting you?

We’re going to sing our invitation hymn Without Him and this is the time to do business with God because He’s here doing business with you.

The altar is open if you need to come forward this right now – maybe to receive Christ as your living hope – maybe to rededicate your life to the Lord – maybe to deal with something in your life you need to deal with – I’ll be here at the front…come as the Lord leads you this morning.