Vonetta Flowers spent about 20 years persevering and training to win gold in the Olympics, and she is an example of crazy perseverance.

Scripture Texts

Galatians 6:9

Main Points or Ideas

Perseverance: A steady persistence in a course of action, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It is not about the talents. It says, “I will not quit.”

3 Enemies of Perseverance:

1. A Lack of Vision of the Glory of God

   • If your purpose is anything less than the glory of God, you are going to struggle
   • How are you bringing God glory?
   • If you spend all your time asking “why is this happening?” you won’t get an answer. A better question is this: “How can I bring God glory?”
   • James 1 - Count it all joy!
2. A Wrong Belief That Life Should Be Easy
• Galatians 6:9 - Let us not grow weary in doing good
• We deceive ourselves if we believe that life is easy
• People do not realize how close they are to success because they give up in the trials before getting through the other side.
• 1 Peter 4:12-13 - Trials are not strange; keep on rejoicing
3. A Wrong Belief That Success is a Destination

• George W. Truett - “Success is finding the will of God and doing it.”
• What is this success?

1. Faithfulness - 1 Corinthians 4:17

2. Serving - Matthew 20:28

3. Loving - Matthew 22:36-39

4. Praying - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1. “The pastor who isn’t praying is playing; the congregation who isn’t praying is straying.”

5. Holiness - 1 Peter 1:16

6. Perseverance - Galatians 6:9

Conclusion

Keep serving where the Lord puts you!

This passage is a wellspring of resources for those in ministry.

Scripture Text

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Main Points or Ideas

• The key is  something that goes beyond methodology and goes into authenticity

• Christ wants us to lead with Christlike authenticity

Three Marks of Christlike Authenticity:

1. Pure Motives (vv. 1-6)

• Pure, pleasing God instead of men
• If our motive is God, then our ministry becomes pure, bold, and ultimately pleases Him

2. Sacrificial Love (vv. 7-9)

• Genuine love makes all the difference
• It is not just going through the motions, it is an action to be taken!
• Do I really love my people, or am I just here for the program?

3. Upright Conduct (vv. 10-12)

• Characteristics:

1. Devoutly, uprightly, blamelessly

2. Faithful to preach, teach, disciple

3. Patient, gospel affection

4. Encouraging, imploring

• A call to walk worthy of the calling
• It takes hard, authentic work

Conclusion

It is not about the method. It is about true authenticity.

Preachers are the hardest to preach to because they can be very critical. What would be your main message in the end?

Scripture Texts

Ecclesiastes 12

Main Points or Ideas

Three Pieces of Advice from Solomon:

1. Generational Advice (v. 1)

• Listen to old people
• Solomon is in his older age in Ecclesiastes and urges the reader/younger ones to listen to the older people
• It is the Word of God that makes all the difference

2. Testimonial Advice (vv. 2-8)

• Wherever you are in life, use your testimony and praise God for it!
• “Remember” means to focus
• Remembering our Creator demands that we are owned, secured, purposed, and held accountable

3. Biblical Advice (v. 9-14)

• We must be people of the Book! Of the Truth!
• Words of wise men are GOADS (leads for stubborn animals/hearts) and WELL-DRIVEN NAILS that are given by the One Shepherd (who is our Lord)
• The Word of God has the best conclusion for all mankind

Conclusion

Vv. 13-14 - Fear God and keep His commandments because it applies to every person. He will judge every work and reveal every secret in the last day, whether good or bad.

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