Select an option and chat directly with a member of our support team. 2:5) Therefore, we want to stay focused on the work Jehovah has given us to do. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The one who came to seek and save the lost all the way to the cross. Want to get in touch? Will I stop trying harder and begin to train wisely to develop my endurance? From their vantage point, many in the stadium could see motorcycles with their flashing blue lights, encircling someone making his way toward the stadium. It’s very easy to implement, and you can start improving your focus today. John Stephen Akhwari said this: "My country did not send me over 11,000 kilometers to start a race. D istraction is the nemesis of focus. How do we keep our eyes on him? It was over. We're used to reading this particular passage with an … First Service: 8:00am Second Service: 10:15am Third Service: 12:30pm. Stay aware, walk with His wisdom. THE PROBLEM OF BROKEN FOCUS: Focus helps you to direct the energy of your life for higher impact. Ann, the oldest, was married and had two daughters at the time. Will I be sold out to Jesus, straining to be like him more and more each day? Study his performance. Take a hard look at him. The one who selected unattractive, unlikable, and unreliable men to be his followers and loved them to the end. Customer Service Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT Monday - Friday Phone: 1-800-458-2772. Everyone remained seated to see the last chapter of the Olympics take place. 6:22), all of our lives will be filled with His light. Then drawing his last breath, pushing his feet down on that Roman nail, he shouts, "It is finished!". Philippians 3:15-16, MSG So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. In this article I want to share 11 simple techniques and habits that you … This article was right on time. 7594 Old Hickory Boulevard Nashville, TN 37189 615.254.7296 ... Mt. Let’s get started. They are looking back and wanting to go back, but the Hebrews' writer is exhorting them to finish the race. All the while we hiked through the woods, we told one another how we were going to jump off that cliff. The sacrifice had been made. A cry of defeat? You have to keep your eyes straight ahead. sermon: Don't Lose Your Focus! What can I imitate for my own life?". 10 Bible Verses about Staying Focused . God has called you to run this race and he expects you to finish. Have I kept commitments that were pledged? Though my job was loading trucks for the salesmen, I learned a lot We must stay focused! And my twin brother and I were four years old. In fact, he finished strong. If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus…yes, if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Sharon and I had the privilege of seeing Greece in all its mountainous glory. When I was a boy I took a summer trip with the Boy Scouts. Will I stick with it until the race is completed? your faith, like every other component of your life, needs focus. Is there anything he didn't finish? The medals had already been awarded. Staying focused can help you accomplish a variety of professional and personal tasks, from studying for a test to finishing your work an hour early. Please see below for details. Credit his strong sense of mission. We'd love to hear from you. Diane November 29, 2020 at 11:09 pm. Letters begun but not completed. “I had to stay ready because once the opportunity does come to play, I don’t want to be behind.” For even Jesus was focused. With Jesus' run to the finish line the history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The writer is encouraging them to look at the star runner - Jesus. Stay focused on that for the unity of the church. Have I sat down in the race and quit, not finishing, when I should of kept going? You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. An unevangelized world. Daily devotions, relationship advice, encouragement and more! Listen to the chorus of the committed testifying from the stands that you can finish. He is seated "at the right hand of God's throne" (Heb. Theme: Keeping our focus on what is most important. 12:3 HCSB). Roll up your sleeves and go at it again. The question that arises with some regularity: do I intend to finish the race - the race of becoming a spiritual champion? 5. In this sermon, the focus is on Emmanuel (God with Us) in the midst of a pandemic. The job was finished. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. After our meeting, my oldest sister, Ann, told us she had come across a note Daddy had written her many years ago, that she thought we would like to read. Colossians 2:6-8 Our human tendency is to quit too soon. Some years after both of my parents had died, I drove to Alabama to handle some business matters with my family. To focus on the things above, we must consciously remove our focus from “earthly things” (verse 2), and the reason is given: we have died to self, and Christ is our very life (verse 3). He has set the standard. The Struggle to Stay Focused. The last marathoner had come in hours ago. 5 The work of Kingdom preaching deserves our careful attention today. Will I lose the extra weight of the sins and the distractions that easily hinder my progress? In Psalm 37, David starts off with the instruction of not fretting about evildoers because their days are limited. How do you focus, and how to stay focused, in this age of distractions? He will faithfully guide us in all of his ways if we’re listening to his voice. Hardly. I am with you.". An amazing story came out of the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City. The lighting has raised their eyes toward Jesus. Staying Focused (8 of 8) Series: Setting The House In Order Jeff Schreve Titus 3:9-15 So, if you have your Bible, turn to Titus chapter 3. Church stay focused on Jesus. A job hopper. Don't allow your focus to drop from the great command to the great complaints. Scripture As they went on their way, they came to a town where a woman named Martha lived. Have I followed through on beliefs and convictions? And there he was, over 40 kilometers later, stumbling his way to the finish line. To stay focused, we can learn much from the example of Scripture. They encouraged Akhwari through the last few meters of his race with a thundering ovation that far exceeded the one given the man who, hours earlier had come in first. Engaging your audience in sermon preparation through sermon focus groups. Objects: A camera - preferably a digital so you can show the photo results. I yield myself to You now, and I commit myself — as You give me strength and help by Your great grace, to keep my attention and energies fixed on Your priorities for me. Your Bible study. You have come too far not to finish what you started. We read the story in Matthew 14:22-33 that Jesus sent his disciples to go before him while he went aside to pray in the mountain. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. He would not give up. The song had been sung. Colossians 3:1–4 contains much that can help us stay focused on Christ: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Mark 1:35-39 How to STAY FOCUSED in Life What prevents us from living our life to the fullest? For more information, see our Privacy Policy. March 15, 2020. 19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. He knew why he had come to earth and what he had to do to finish his race. And we’re all in it for the same reason—to fuel the church’s mission of making disciples. How to Stay Focused in Class. Accept God's forgiveness and go one more round. If I am, I want to encourage you to look at Jesus. Have I done things in my life marginally rather than excellently? PROPOSITION: Sermon on Staying Focused: To teach the Bible’s doctrine of living the focused life by the example and teaching of the apostle Paul. As you go about your daily routines say prayers, reflect on God's goodness, have devotional calendars and notes around to remind you of Jesus. Slowly, I stopped my car and put my camera with my telephoto lens in … Jesus is the creator and sustainer of the universe. The man "who both began and finished this race we're in" (Heb. He continued in the race. KidzHouse & Ignite (ages 4-12) runs concurrently with each service. The blood had been poured. An incomplete landscaping project. STAY FOCUSED ON JESUS Hebrews 3:1-6 The other day, I went over to the Ross Barnett Reservoir to take some pictures. And the word faith refers to the body of truth around which the spiritual champion has organized his or her life. Can't resist temptation? The second is the right kind of thinking. The next day, Akhwari appeared before sports journalists to field their questions about his extraordinary feat. First, Luke 9:23 teaches, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." I had to learn How To Stay Focused On Jesus even when it felt like evil triumphed. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. The first question was the one any of us would have asked, "Why, after sustaining the kinds of injuries you did, would you ever get up and proceed to the finish line, when there was no way you could possibly place in the race?" Will I hang in there? In the passing of the baton from Elijah to Elisha, Elijah said that Elisha had to see him leave if he was to receive his request of a double anointing. You have to keep your eyes straight ahead. Sermon Illustrations: Focus If you look at something while driving, you tend to steer off the road. Remember Jesus selected you for the race. May God continue to bless you. First, Luke 9:23 teaches, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." A wrecked marriage. You can improve, you can change, you can progress, you can make a difference. Second, followers of Jesus must stay focused on the word of God. The thunder has silenced the crowd. “Stay focused.”. Don't quit. His track led him to a cruel Roman cross unjustly accused for crimes he did not commit, but running his race taking our place instead. Or, it shows up in life's most painful areas: An abandoned child. I hope this Bible study on staying focused helps you begin to change how you respond to the challenges and distractions life throws at us all every day. Next was Linda, she was in college. This ability to focus - to stay centered, to bring to bear intense concentration - is a key factor in finishing the race, whether as an Olympic champion or a spiritual champion. Don’t Stop Living Part III, Sermon April 19th. The note was hand-written on a homeowner's insurance invoice that my Daddy had sent to Ann and her husband. Here’s how to put the kibosh on their attack. At least he walked on the water until he turned his gaze away from Jesus … Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. The charge of embezzlement was eventually dropped. The message of God to man was finished. He was running for himself; he was running for his country; he refused to quit. A cry of victory. Focus is improved by overcoming the temporary discomfort challenges and inevitable setbacks to stay on task. The star in this race is Jesus. by Rick Warren — September 30, 2018. He has finished the race victorious. A course to finish a degree. Then one of the boys saw it: an 85-foot cliff wall with a small ledge at about 75 feet up.We fought through briars and brush to get to the top of that wall. Confusion was evident among the crowd. We cannot pick and choose from among the three. It is the job of those in leadership positions to keep the Church focused on the basic commission Jesus gave to the Church— preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the world, warning the world of coming cataclysmic events, and feeding the flock. The word source implies something begun or started. Perhaps, using this phrase was his way of encouraging my sister. Sermon Illustrations: Focus If you look at something while driving, you tend to steer off the road. Mt. I have met thousands of people who’ve told me they want to be used by God but who will never be used by God. There will be ideas we can agree upon. Then the announcer asked them to remain in their seats. Says something about his unyielding faithfulness to stick with people. The apostle James wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. SermonSearch.com is an online resource for sermon outlines and preaching ideas. The word perfecter suggests something finished, brought to its full completion. It is a cry of completion. All three aspects are important. Reply. Do you feel like calling it quits with a child? Bev Savage's sermon on Philippians 3 has a few "twists" here and there. We must remain focused on the spiritual task before us. Focus on God (31 of 31) Series: Grace-Energized Men John Barnett July 20, 2008 Jesus said that if our eye is single (Mat. Helping us stay focused on Christ is the Find answers to some of the more asked questions. When you are dealing with a dangerous task, whether you’re chopping with a knife or driving a car, you want to stay focused so that you can do the job well and safely. Here's the secret with God: Everyone who finishes gets the gold. Series: Sermons During COVID-19. To stay focused in life and do the work God has entrusted us, we must constantly pose the questions of purpose and priority. Your community. Are you close to quitting? 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