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Staying Right
by Steve May
Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:13-17
Topic: Why hope when things seem hopeless
Big Idea: One key to learning how to feel better is to cultivate the habit of perseverance—of staying in the battle regardless of how much you want to quit.
Keywords: Perseverance; Hope
Introduction:
- Illustration: May tells the story of the Chicago Bears improbable comeback against the Browns (3 touchdowns in under 2 minutes to win the game) to illustrate the foolishness of giving up too soon.
- Big Idea: One key to learning how to feel better is to cultivate the habit of perseverance—of staying in the battle regardless of how much you want to quit.
- Illustration: May quotes the regret of a man who believes he gave up on his marriage too soon.
- Illustration: May cites three examples of news events following 9-11 that illustrate the struggle against fear and despair.
- God offers you reasons why you should persevere.
Remember that you are a work in progress.
- Illustration: May retells a conversation with his son where he pointed out that coaches continue to work on their team—even when nursing a large lead—because they are concerned with not just one game, but the long-term performance of the team.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
- There’s a sense in which, as you go through the process of your life, you’re being saved—i.e. you’re being made holy, like Jesus.
- Philippians 1:6
Rely on the teachings of the Bible to get you through.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15
- The Bible is full of exhortations to keep on keeping on—even through life’s most difficult challenges.
- -Proverbs 24:16
- -Galatians 6:9
- -Mark 13:13
- -Philippians 3:13-14
- The Bible will remind you that life is to be taken seriously, that sin is to be taken seriously, that faithfulness is to be taken seriously, and that in order to succeed you have to stay in the fight.
Beat the blues by doing good.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16-17
- Paul is saying when you do something good, when you say something good, God encourages and strengthens your heart.
- Illustration: May tells the story of a burned out pastor who took a job in a secular field and found himself recharged by taking the role of a servant, helping his coworkers.
- Proverbs 11:17
Conclusion:
- Illustration: May quickly cites three examples of NFL players and teams that experienced unexpected success because of their perseverance.
- Imagine then, since we’re striving for a prize that is eternal, how much more important it is for us to stay in the fight.
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