Look to Jesus

Today’s Focus: Be Like Jesus

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 develop habits and become more aware of our words and actions so that we can become more like You. Please bless our time together. In Your Name, Amen.

Opening Prayer

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.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Be Like JesusIf we are running the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus, what does that look like?

What would our daily routines look like?

Today’s Focus

If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be

enough evidence to convict you?

Quick Reflection

Philippians 2:13 

13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose.

A Quick Verse

Luke 5:12-16 (The Message)

12 One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”13 Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

Story of the Leper

14Jesus instructed him, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.”

Story of the Leper

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has a plan for us, and if we live for Him, we will have hope and JOY!

One More Verse

Joy is the flag flown highFrom the castle of my heartFrom the castle of my heartFrom the castle of my heart

Flag Song

Joy is the flag flown highFrom the castle of my heart

When the King is in residence there.

So let it fly in the skyLet the whole world knowLet the whole world knowLet the whole world know

So let it fly in the skyLet the whole world know

That the King is in residence there.

Joy is the flag flown highFrom the castle of my heartFrom the castle of my heartFrom the castle of my heart

Joy is the flag flown highFrom the castle of my heart

When the King is in residence there.

So let it fly in the skyLet the whole world knowLet the whole world knowLet the whole world know

So let it fly in the skyLet the whole world know

That the King is in residence there.

Why should we practice good works?

Why look to Jesus?

How will our lives be

different if we look to

Jesus?

Today’s Questions:

Changes

If we are running the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the joy of Jesus will

make us want to change to be more like Him. Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you

that way.

Change #1

Change your purpose in life.

Change #1

More Jesus, less world.

Change #1

More Jesus, less world.

Matthew 6: 19-21“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Change #2

Believe you can change with God’s help

Excuses are easy on this one. Many people may say, “I can’t change,” or “I’m only human,” or “that’s just my personality.” If you trust in God, trust that He can change you.

Change #2

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

God can do anything if you just seek Him and ask for His help.

Create in me a clean heart O God,And renew a right spirit within me.Create in me a clean heart O God,And renew a right spirit within me.

And cast me not away from thy presence, O Lord,And take not thy Holy Spirit from me;

Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation,And renew a right spirit within me.

Create in Me

Change #3

Listen to the following story and see what change you may need to make based on

Jesus' example.

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Change #3

So what did Jesus do in this story?

Change #3Memorize Scripture.

It is good to memorize Scripture verses so that you can use them to defeat your own

temptations.

Does anyone here know any Scripture verses?

Change #4

Repent of Sin

What does it mean to ‘repent’?

Change #4

Have you ever had someone apologize to you for something, but you know they

really didn’t mean it?

How do you know when someone truly apologizes for a wrong they committed?

Change #4

Repent means to ask for forgiveness AND to try to change the action that caused pain or

damage to yourself or someone else.

Repent not only for the sins you commit against others, but the sins you commit

against God.

Change #5

Accountability

How are you going to make sure you stay accountable for starting good habits, trying

to avoid sin, truly forgiving, etc…?

Change #5

Who can you rely on to help hold you accountable for running the race with your

eyes fixed on Jesus?

Change #6

Pray

Prayer is an important part of a spiritual life. When is the best time to pray?

Change #6

Always! You can pray anywhere in any fashion. God loves it when you come to Him for support, guidance, and to show your appreciation for all the crazy neat

stuff that surrounds you the He created and put in your life!

Change #6

Just remember when you pray:

Be open and honest Repent and ask forgiveness

Be thankful and adoringPray for others

Pray for God to work in youPray that all is done by His will

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.

Lord’s Prayer

Change #7

Seek Help

Surround yourself with other Christians to help you run the race with focus.

Sing Alleluia! Amen!Let your prayers and your praises ascend.

Lift up your voices and singTo our Lord God, our Savior and King!

Here brought together by grace;We are gathered as friends in this place.

Brothers and Sisters in ChristTerry K. Dittmer 1 Co. 1:10

And assembled as one In the name of the Son,

Lifting hearts, lifting hands, Celebrating as friends,

And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford

We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Man walked alone and in needWithout faith, hope, or promise, or creed,

Wandering, aimlessly lost,Unaware of the staggering cost:

That God in His mercy would saveAll His people from death and the grave.

And assembled as one In the name of the Son,

Lifting hearts, lifting hands, Celebrating as friends,

And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford

We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lord, teach us how to proclaimAll Your goodness, Your love, and Your name;

Lord, teach us how to forgive,And in love, teach us, Lord, how to live.

Raising our voices in song,Help us tell all the world we belong.

And assembled as one In the name of the Son,

Lifting hearts, lifting hands, Celebrating as friends,

And proclaiming the Lord, All our praises afford

We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Change #8

Act

James 1:22-24

22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

Video

Example

Change #9

Substitute

Substitute Good Habits for Bad habits. If you just try to give up a bad habit, it can easily come back. Replace it with something better.

Change #10Avoid Temptation

Stay out of situations where you will more easily tempted to make decisions that will hinder you in your race.

1 Corinthians 15:33

33 Don’t let anyone fool you. “Bad companions make a good person bad.”

Change #10

Be careful who you spend most of your time with.

This doesn’t mean to not reach out to others. You are still held accountable to Matthew 28:19-20.

“19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

ConfessionL: 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 change to be more like Jesus, not because good actions save us, but to show our gratefulness to Jesus for saving us. Lord, we are sorry and seek your forgiveness.

ForgivenessL: 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!

How will you change?

In your small groups share some of your bad habits. What new habits will you try to add?

How will you start moving away from the world and towards Jesus?

Meet back in about 20 minutes to share

Small Groups

Share!

Share the new habits you are going to start and how you will move more towards Jesus.

Small Groups

Video

Pep Talk

“We are all on the same team, so let’s start acting like it!”

You were created to be Awesome!

How will you make this day awesome for those around you?

Pep Talk

Pastor’s Message

Apostle’s CreedI 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 CreedThe 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.

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.

Lord’s Prayer

Turn your eyes upon JesusLook full in His wonderful face

And the things of Earth will grow strangely dimIn the light of His glory and grace

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Final Thoughts•Remember, the race will not always be easy

and it won’t be easy to change.

•Two men were walking up a mountain. One man says, “How will we ever make it?” The other man says, “One step at a time.” That is how your race will take shape, one step at a time.

Final Thoughts•Hopefully this chorus will get stuck in your

head.

•Video

ClosingL: Lets us fix our eyes on JesusC: The author and perfecter of our faith

L: Let us fix our eyes on JesusC: So that we can be more like Him.

BenedictionL: Jesus is here, Jesus is there, Jesus is everywhere,

but especially, because He loves us, He lives right here in our hearts.

Look to Jesus