GREATER

GOD’S GREAT KINGDOM

Hebrews 12:18-13:25

YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION
          Hebrews 12:18-24


     Mount Sinai

     Mount Zion
          Hebrews 12:25-29


JESUS DOESN'T CHANGE
          Hebrews 13:1-25

  - His power doesn't change.


  - His proclamation doesn't change.


  - His peace doesn't change.
          Psalm 125:1-2

GREATER
THE ADVERSARY
James 4:7-10

WHO IS HE?

  He is the enemy of everything that is good.

He is a created being.

WHAT IS HE LIKE?

He is subtle and crafty.

Genesis 3:1-5

He is incredibly strong.

HOW DO WE RESIST HIM?

James 4:7-10

1.  Pray

2.  Purify your heart.

3.  Treat sin seriously.

4.  Humble yourself. 

Greater
HOLINESS
Hebrews 12:14-17

WHY?
– Without holiness, we can’t see God.

SEE TO IT THAT…
– No one falls short of the grace of God.

– No bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

– No one is sexually immoral.

– No one is Godless like Esau.

THE PRACTICAL PURSUIT OF HOLINESS:
1. It doesn’t just happen, it must be pursued.
1 Peter 1:14-15     Ephesians 4:22-24     1 Corinthians 6:9-11

2. It takes a team effort.
Hebrews 10:24-25

3. Godless choices have consequences.
2 Samuel 12:9-14

4. The pursuit never ends.
Philippians 3:12-15 2 Peter 1:3-11

GREATER

PEACE WITH OTHERS

Hebrews 12:14-17

TWO VIRTUES WE NEED TO PURSUE:

1.  Peace

2.  Holiness

PURSUING PEACE WITH OTHERS

     -  Understand you cannot be at peace with everyone.

     -  Stop keeping score.
        1 Corinthians 13:4-6          Proverbs 19:11

     -  Don't try to fix everything and everyone.
        Proverbs 26:17

     -  Don't expect Christians to live like Christians.
        1 Corinthians 5:9-13

     -  Treat your enemies like Jesus treated His enemies.  
        Titus 3:1-5

PEACE WITH GOD

Hebrews 12:11-14

NO JESUS, NO PEACE

Hebrews 12:11-14     Philippians 4:4-9     1 Thessalonians 5:23

Peace is a privilege.

KNOW JESUS, KNOW PEACE

Philippians 4:6-7     Hebrews 10:22

3 rules:

1.  Be careful for nothing.

2.  Be prayerful for anything.

3.  Be thankful for everything.

Greater

OUR GREAT FATHER

Hebrews 12:4-13

His discipline is not about our past, but our future.

Hebrews 12:4-13          Proverbs 3:11-18

–  It is preparation and training, not punishment.

A dad who doesn’t discipline, is a dad who doesn’t love.

John 10:10

His goals are for us are:

Hebrews 12:10-11

Holiness

Righteousness

Peace

Greater

ENDURING FAITH

Hebrews 11:1-12:2

THE FAITH THAT GOD REWARDS

– Trusting God enough to do what He says.

FIVE IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT FAITH

Hebrews 11

1.  Faith doesn’t always “work”.
2.  Faith is a journey.
3. Faith is measured by obedience.
4. All we need is a little faith.
5. God is good no matter what happens.

WE UNDERSTAND FAITH – NOW WHAT?

Hebrews 12:1-2

We have to change all of life’s price tags and priorities.

Greater

FAITH IS NOT…

Hebrews 11:1-34

FAITH IS….

     Hebrews 11          James 2:14-26

     –  TRUSTING GOD ENOUGH TO DO WHAT HE SAYS. 

FAITH IS NOT…

1.  Risk taking

Proverbs 22:3          James 4:13-16

2.  Positive thinking

1 Thessalonians 5:18

3.  The absence of fear

Mark 14:32-36

4.  The absence of doubt

Acts 12:5-16

5.  Believing a set of facts

James 2:19

6.  Irrational behavior

Greater

The Marks of a Hall-of-Famer

Hebrews 11:20-31

What are these “by faiths” showing us?

Isaac-

Jacob-

Joseph-

Moses-

Israelites-

Rahab-

Three Questions to ask in order to make a big impact:

Hebrews 10:35-12:3

1.  The identity question:

Who am I?

2.  The priority question:

What is most important?

3.  The tenacity question:

Will I endure?