Look to
Jesus
Today’s Focus:
Character of Jesus
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are an amazing God. Thank you for sending
your son to be our Savior. We are sorry for our
sin. Help us to fix our eyes on You to see the
example You set for our lives so that we can be
more like You. Please bless our time together. In
Your Name, Amen.
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before
him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today’s Focus
Jesus!
Hebrews 12: 2
“2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before
him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Introduction Video
Eye on It
By
Tobymac
Video
Introduction Video
What was this song about?
Think About It
Jesus was often referred to as ‘teacher.’
What is the role of a teacher?
How does that title make us think of
Jesus differently?
The only proper way to run the race
is by looking to Jesus
By looking at Jesus we can see what
we can become.
Today’s Questions:
What does
“fix your
eyes” mean?
What does it
mean “Jesus
What example did Jesus
is the
set for us to follow?
author” of
our faith?
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
Does this mean we
should carry around
a photo of Jesus in
our wallets, and
hang a picture of
Him in every room
of our house?
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
No. We can’t just
look at Jesus
passively like you
would a picture in
your house.
A Christian looks to Jesus Like…
A ship’s captain looks at the light house
guiding him to safety.
A Christian looks to Jesus Like…
A golfer keeps his eye on the ball with
intense concentration.
If we take our eyes off of Him…
We will miss Him
And if we miss Him
We miss everything.
And if there is One Thing
we don’t want to miss…
it is the Awesomeness
of our Triune God.
Awesome God
Rich Mullins
Neh 9; Ps 68; Dan 9:1-19
When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain’t just putting on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
The Lord wasn’t joking when
He kicked them out of Eden.
It wasn’t for no reason that He shed His blood.
His return is very close and so
You better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God;
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love.
Our God is an awesome God.
And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
Our God is an awesome God.
And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
Our God is an awesome God.
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light.
Our God is an awesome God.
Judgment and wrath
He poured out on Sodom;
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.
I hope that we have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God;
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love.
Our God is an awesome God.
Author and Perfector
Hebrews 12: 2a
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, …”
What does “author” mean?
The original Greek
word for
“author”
can also mean
“captain,”
“chief leader,”
or “prince.”
This mean Jesus
controls our faith
He steers and guides it
like a captain steers a ship
And presides over it and cares for it like a
king or queen presides over their people
Author and Perfector
Hebrews 12: 2a
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, …”
What does “perfector” mean?
The original Greek
word for
“perfecter”
can also mean
“completer”
or “finisher.”
Christ has created our faith and He
will watch over it, care for it, and
sustain it until completion.
He is the Author of our Salvation and
He is the only way we can be saved.
Mighty to Save
Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Savior;
The Hope of nations.
Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory
of the risen King...Jesus (repeat)
Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
Savior, You can move the mountains,
You are Mighty to save,
You are Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes, You conquered the grave.
Joy
“2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.”
Joy
“who for the joy set before him”
• Jesus’ joy comes from our redemption
“endured the cross, scorning its shame,”
• He endured beatings, mockery, a crown of
thorns, and nails through His hands and
feet
• He endured this shame for you.
John 15:11
“11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in
you and that your joy may be complete.”
Jesus ran with difficulty and attained joy. He
longs to give you His joy and He longs for that
joy to be complete.
However..
Don’t be surprised by difficulties as you run.
Life isn’t necessarily easier as a follower of
Christ. However, if we look to Jesus as we run
we will find joy through Him.
What difficulties might you encounter as you
run the race?
Finally
“…and sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God.”
Why is Jesus sitting?
He is seated because His work is done.
Nothing else is required for our redemption.
Finally
Running the race is not about trying harder,
but instead looking to Jesus and the joy only
He can fill you with. This joy can radically
change your life.
Amazing Grace/All My Chains Are Gone
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free,
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love Amazing Grace.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free,
My God my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love Amazing Grace.
(Repeat)
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine,
Will be forever mine,
You are forever mine.
Confession
L: Let us make a confession of our sins.
C: Merciful Father, we poor sinners confess that we
are guilty of our sins. We sin when we try to rely
on ourselves instead of on You. We sin when we
focus on things other than Jesus as we run the
race. Help us look to Jesus and the examples He
sets for our lives so we can be more like Him.
Lord, we are sorry and seek your forgiveness.
Forgiveness
L: Our loving Father sees our pain and the pain we give
to others. Christ lived, died, and rose again, so that
there would be forgiveness to replace the hurts of
our lives. Through the love and grace of Christ, we
are forgiven.
C: May we go out into the world knowing we are
completely forgiven and that You will guide our
thoughts and actions so that we can be more like
Jesus. Amen!
Small Groups
Qualities of Jesus
 Read the following versus and develop a
skit to show one or more of the traits
Jesus exhibits in His life.
Small Groups
Qualities of Jesus
 Matthew 12:1-8
 Matthew 11:4-5
 Mark 10:45
 Matthew 22:36-40
Meet back in about 20 minutes to perform
Small Groups
Performances!
Share the traits you are trying to demonstrate
Philippians 2:5-11
5 You
must have the same attitude that Christ
Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
Philippians 2:5-11
8
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore,
God elevated him to the place of
highest honor and gave him the name
above all other names,
Philippians 2:5-11
10 that
at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Love the Lord
Mt 22:37-39
Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
And all your soul and all your mind,
And love all humankind as you would love yourself.
And love the Lord your God with all your heart,
And all your soul and mind and love all humankind.
We’ve got Christian lives to live.
We’ve got Jesus’ love to give.
We’ve got (clap) nothing to hide
Because in Him we all abide.
Pastor’s Message
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried. He descended
into hell.
Apostle’s Creed
The third day He rose again from the dead. He
ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will
come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian
Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy
name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Final Thoughts
• 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
“16 But when anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is
taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Holy Spirit.
And where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom
is also there.
18 Our faces are not covered with a veil. We all
display the Lord’s glory. We are being
changed to become more like him so that we
have more and more glory. And the glory
comes from the Lord, who is the Holy Spirit.”
Final Thoughts
• When we fix our eyes on Jesus we can become
more like Him and when we become more like
Him we can experience the joy He wants for us.
Turn Your Eyes
Upon Jesus
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Closing
L: Lets us fix our eyes on Jesus
C: The author and perfecter of our faith
L: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
C: So that we can be more like Him.
Benediction
L: Jesus is here, Jesus is there, Jesus is everywhere,
but especially, because He loves us, He lives
right here in our hearts.