September 11. Focal Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2 Key Phrase: JOY! Key Question: Will you allow the cross to take you to joy?

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Derick Martin
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1 September 11 Focal Passage: Hebrews 12:1-2 Key Phrase: JOY! Key Question: Will you allow the cross to take you to joy? Review of Key Historical Facts: No one knows for certain who authored this book. Most scholars are content with just claiming an anonymous author. Some scholars debate Paul, Luke, Apollos, or even Barnabas as the author. Hebrews was most likely written before A.D. 70, specifically between A.D Hebrews was written to persecuted Jewish believers. The purpose of the book was to remind these Jewish believers of several things: the preeminence of Christ over everything, salvation for all who believe in Christ, to live by faith instead of legalism, and to persevere in their faith during difficult times. Joy is the exhilaration of the soul that has chosen to believe God and praise Him! (Avant) Happiness comes from temporary circumstances but joy comes from eternal truth! (Avant) Before You Begin Each Day: Pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to see Him and hear His voice through His word. Remember when you understand His word, you are having an encounter with Him! This is not to be something to check off your list of things to do. This is time to build a relationship with Christ and to know Him better through His word. If you do not understand the question just put an asterisk (*) by it. No worries! Day One 1. Read Hebrews 12:1. According to the text, who are we surrounded by? 2. Read the following passages. Look for the following in each scripture reference: What sacrifice did each person have to make in order to obey God? What did they receive after their obedience? What emotion do you believe they experienced after obedience? Ø Hebrews 11:8-10 Ø Hebrews 11:24-27

2 Ø Hebrews 11: Read Hebrews 11:1 Write out a definition of faith according to this scripture. Action: Is there anything in your life currently that you are having to have faith for? Write it down here. Say these verses out loud as you pray about the situation above: Know therefore that the Lord your God is God. He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things; things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 Day Two 1. Read Hebrews 12:1 again today. What does God s word tell us to throw off? 2. What hinders you in your Christian walk? What sin easily entangles you or clings closely to you? Personally, when I ask myself the above question several sin struggles come to mind. However, this is when it is great to do a spiritual check-up and notice that I didn t say spiritual check-list! To do this, you take God s word and examine your life against His word. Many times when I practice this, He reveals things in my life that He wants me to throw off that I was unaware of before. 3. Read Galatians 5: Take time to read this passage and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything in your life you need to throw off. Read Galatians 5:25 again. Who enables us to throw off sin and walk in newness?

3 Action: Today look at Question 2 again. Ask the Lord what fruit of the Holy spirit is the opposite of the sin you struggle with? In other words, what is the fruit of the Spirit that you need in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to throw off that sin and begin to see His fruit invade your life. Day Three 1. Read Hebrews 12:1. What are we to run and how are we to run it? Side-note: It is really important to know as you study this week that this passage is written in the plural so this is not an individual race! This is a relay race! Think through the implications of that fact as you finish this week s lesson. 2. The Greek word perseverance/endurance/patience in the above verse means patience with circumstances. Read the following passages that have this same Greek word in them. What does the Lord say to you about perseverance/endurance/patience? Ø James 1:2-4 Ø Romans 5:1-5 Ø Hebrews 10: In Hebrews 12:1, the Greek word for race means contest for victory. The word implies stress and force in the contest. Now read 2 Timothy 4:7, which also contains the same Greek word. What does the Lord say to you? Action: Are you struggling with running the race with endurance? Pray and ask the Lord for His strength to run the race He has called you to? Is there someone you know that is struggling to run the race with endurance? Contact them this week. Encourage them. Pray for them. Day Four 1. Read Hebrews 12:2. Who are we to fix our eyes on as we run the race He has called us to? Who is the finish line?

4 2. What does this passage refer to Jesus as? Side-note: Some translations call Jesus the finisher of our faith. The Greek word means completer, perfecter, or one who brings something to the goal so as to win and receive the prize. 3. When you finish a race or win, what emptions do you experience? Action: Take time today to think about what you want to finish or complete in your life. What are the goals you have for your life? Read Hebrews 11:1 out loud. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. What do you hope for? Who do you hope for? Day Five 1. Read Hebrews 12:2. What emotion did Jesus embrace as He experience the cross? What emotion did He reject as He experienced the cross? 2. What does the Lord say to you about joy through the following passages? Ø Philippians 2:1-11 Ø John 15:9-12 Ø 3 John 4 Ø James 1: According to Hebrews 12:2, where did Jesus race take Him? Where will the race you are competing in take you? If you are unsure of the answer to this question, read 2 Timothy 4:7-8 and John 14:1-4.

5 Action: Pray the Lord will use you this week to encourage someone who is struggling in their race. If you are struggling in the race, as yourself am I running the race that God has given me to run? Going Deeper Action: Pray that the Lord will use you this week to encourage someone who is struggling in their race. If To go deeper you are this struggling week in in your the race, quiet ask time, yourself here are if you some are additional running the materials right race. to use. people in your group have experienced His love. Have someone share how and when they first experienced Christ s love. 1. Read Hebrews 11. Now list every person that is named as having faith. Beside their name, write what they had Ø to Be have prepared faith for/what to share they how hoped one comes for. List to what know they Christ. suffered, if anything, by choosing to walk by faith. List also the emotions they may have experienced during their race and after they received what they hoped Ø Discuss for. what love is and how it looks in the body of Christ. Name Ø Discuss What They that Hoped without For/Had the Faith power For of What Christ, They loving Suffered one another Emotions is impossible. Before Emotions After Ø Discuss how those who do not go to Concord at West Hills or any church, will know about Christ. Ø Discuss as a small group practical ways your group can love one another best and love those who are yet to know Christ. 2. Read John Take time to worship Him for what He endured for us!

6 Small Group Facilitator Guide for September 11 By going through the daily questions and allowing the participants to share you should cover the following: Discuss Pastor Avant s definition of joy. Discuss the difference between happiness and joy. Discuss who the great cloud of witnesses is according to Hebrews 11. Share with each other a definition of faith and what others in the group are having faith for in their lives. Discuss how we are to be patient in circumstances and what that practically means in our everyday lives. Discuss about the implications of our race being a relay race. What does that mean for us as a small group and as a church? Share with one practical ways of encouraging one another. How will the cross take them to JOY?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Pressing on 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy