There’s never a bad time to set a good goal. 

Goals really can move and change us and challenge us.  Over the next six weeks, we’re going to be talking about goal setting, aligning ourselves with the Great Commission and the Baptist World Alliance’s 2033 mission. 

Today we’re thinking about goals as in Hebrews 12:1-3:

“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

This is one of several places in scripture that compares the Christian walk to running.  Here, Hebrews is describing a RELAY RACE - hidden in the word “therefore.” Just before these verses in Hebrews 11, we see the faithfulness of those who have gone before us- the great cloud of witnesses as described in this hall of fame of the faith - “the world was not worthy of them.” 

It’s essential in a relay race for the next person to take the baton and be ready to run! 

When we set a goal, we choose to do some things and NOT to do others.  In our case, we leave behind the sin that weighs us down- that so easily entangles. 

This is an endurance race and we are to run with perseverance.  It's a marathon, not a sprint- we have to keep going. 

We have a perfect model in Jesus- the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  Keeping our focus on Jesus helps us not to lose heart.  Hebrews 12 doesn’t tell us to run harder- it tells us how to run. 

Let’s run.  Together!

We are all prone to procrastination, but sometimes it helps to think through tasks and create smaller, achievable goals.

What unfinished task has God given us? 

In Matthew 28:18-20, we find The Great Commission: “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

The key verb is GO!  We rarely travel by accident.  We plan, we book ahead of time, we focus. 

In eight years, the year 2033 is roughly the 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection- a good milestone for us to consider the charge Jesus gave us in the Great Commission.  How can we make disciples of all nations by the year 2033?  How are we doing?  Are we content with the progress? 

There are 7,000 unreached people groups in the world and many people in our city who live without the hope of the gospel.  The Baptist World Alliance has laid out five paths for us to focus on as we consider this work:  witness, freedom, Bible, care, and neighbor. 

We find several commissions in scripture:

1- Genesis 12:1-3, God with Abram, that every nation on earth would be blessed 
2- Psalm 96:3, to declare God’s glory and deeds among all people
3- Matthew 28:18-20, The Great Commission
4- Romans 1:5, “to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his names’s sake.”

We need to turn these ideas into action.  As a church, we will be going through 40 days of devotions on these ideas together.  How can we take steps to make progress on these paths together?  We are all called to be a part! 

We are like sheep and Jesus is like the shepherd.  We wander off the path a lot because we are prone to sin and this is why we need a shepherd.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  

Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 

We WILL go through the valley of the shadow of death. There is no avoiding it.  How do we react to being in the valley of the shadow of death? We would usually be afraid because as humans that is our natural reaction.  BUT, the verse says we shall fear no evil.

“YOU ARE WITH ME:” the outstanding truth of Psalm 23.  

WE don’t want to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  It’s hard. But overall, it isn’t about HOW we do it, it’s about WHO walks with us. 

 Fear is pervasive today.  Our culture feeds on fear.  But God doesn’t want us to fear.  He provides for us in times of suffering, even while we are surrounded by enemies.  

God wants to give us rest.  True rest is found in Him.  God’s goodness and faithfulness PURSUES us.  

What does Psalm 23 mean to you? 

It’s a psalm of God’s protection, care and provision.  Sometimes we can slide into feeling like we can provide for ourselves.  Sometimes we’re too proud or too distracted to realize how desperately we need God as our provider.  

The Lord is our shepherd.  Sheep need a shepherd.  

The Lord is my shepherd.  This is a personal relationship.  God is available to us every day through prayer and scripture.  

I shall not want.  God sometimes surprises us by providing exactly what we need for all the crises we face.  Jesus gives us meaning, a calling, a destination, a family, peace, and rest - our yoke is easy and our burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  

He maketh me lie down in green pastures.  We don’t like to be made to do things, but sometimes we don’t even know what we need.  God provides what is essential for us even when we don’t know what we need. 

He restoreth my soul.  We have so many opportunities today to abuse our souls.  Today, we can live our lives almost completely alone.  Our screens and algorithms can fill our minds with outrage, violence, and negativity, but we are called to think on what is honorable and true (Philippians 4:8).  Instead of brain rot, we need restoration for our souls.  Green pastures.  Quiet waters.  God wants to restore your soul.  

This week, we are considering what the Bible says about Hell and judgement.  Of the 23 times Jesus mentions it,  Hell is most often spoken of regarding the need for repentance. 

Universalism is the idea that everyone goes to Heaven, but this runs into problems- there is no true justice and nothing matters.  Judgement is necessary for us to feel purpose.  Jesus has called us to non-violence, but that only works if we can trust that God will ultimately administer justice. 

"If God was not angry at injustice and deception and did not make the final end to violence, God would not be worthy of our worship." Mirosalv Wolf 

In John 12:35-48, Jesus says, "... the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." 

Who will face judgement? 

1.  Actions - Those who ought to live better. 
2.  Words- Those who ought to be more careful with their speech. 
3.  Judgementalness- Those who have "oughts" for other people's actions and speech 

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 

We are judged by what we know of God in Jesus Christ- it's a matter of the heart.  Jesus came to save us and pay for our sins.  He desires for all of us to be saved, but he does not force it. 

How will you respond to Jesus? 

"There are only two kinds of people in the end:  those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it.  Without that self-choice there could be no Hell.  No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.  Those who seek find.  Those who knock it is opened." CS Lewis, The Great Divorce

What is our vision and idea of heaven?  Many pop culture misconceptions about what heaven is can flood our imagination, but what does Jesus say about heaven? 

In the Gospels, heaven is mentioned 126 times.  Many times the concept of “Kingdom of Heaven” is used-  sometimes it is a reference to God’s presence.  

What Jesus says:  

• What we experience after death is like coming home.  (John 14:1-6)
• The path to heaven is through Jesus (John 14:6, John 3:16)
• Jesus often used word “life” and “eternal life.”  (John 11:25-26) He also used the metaphor of a banquet or a party.  
• Resurrection is our future and our future is life.  Revelation paints a picture of a New Heaven and a New Earth. 

We don’t know exactly what it will be like, but we do know that Jesus is Lord, giving us life and He invites us to join Him.  

Last week’s sermon was about how God interrupts his people as individuals to call us into deeper trust.  This week, we look at the church and see how disruption is a consistent part of our story.  

The Body of Christ is alive and dynamic.  She has a mission that requires us to go and to do, to stretch and to change.  When the church experiences disruption, it’s never meant to destroy, but to deploy.  There are no forces from within or without that will stop the Bride of Christ.  When disruption knock on our doors, it’s not a herald of the end, it’s an opportunity for growth.  

Acts 5:17,40 tells us about a time in the early church when things were going well until the disruption of persecution came, but it never changed their tune.  Stephen was put to death by stoning, but in Acts 8, when the church was scattered because of this persecution, they preached the word wherever they went.  We also need to stay committed to the mission.  When change comes, we need a powerful, unifying vision.  During these times, we should expect God to be faithful.  The faithful followers of the early church could never have imagined the fruit of their faithfulness in this time of displacement- it led to widespread evangelism.  They didn’t leave as refugees, but as missionaries. 

You cannot squash the church- it’s like kicking a dandelion.  God is faithful.  He didn’t promise us an easy life, but a full one.  He is making things new. We are not a people of stagnation, but of adaptation.  Everything is secondary to the mission.  We keep going.  

Nobody likes to be interrupted. Interruptions remind us that we’re not in control.

But one thing we see clearly in Scripture: God interrupts.

From creation, to Joseph, David, the disciples, and ultimately the Incarnation—God steps in, disrupts, and redirects. He interrupts to change us, to invite us into deeper trust and a greater life.

The story of Paul is a story of interruption. Raised in a system that resisted change, Saul was hunting down Christians. Then, in a flash, Jesus breaks in and everything changes.

God uses interruptions to help us know Him more.

They are invitations to deeper purpose and faithful service. When God calls us, He also equips us with gifts to serve His kingdom.

God’s interruptions also lead us to love one another, putting aside petty divisions and choosing Christlike love.

They aren’t easy. Interruptions bring change, and change can bring pain. But they are ultimately good. Jesus calls us to a better path, a higher way, the way of selfless love.

Listening is essential to our relationship to God.  The Hebrew word for listen is SHEMA.  In Hebrew culture, there is an expectation to respond to what one hears.  It was a listen AND obey scenario.  Listen AND act.  In fact, in ancient Hebrew, there is no separate word for listen and obey- they were just two sides of the same coin.  

In today’s passage in Isaiah, we see what happens not only when we listen, but also when we don’t listen.  What’s the cost of not listening to God?  Abiding peace and intimate relationship with Him.  But God is a God of redeeming grace.  He has hope for us and a better plan for us.  

When we DO listen to God, we experience a new thing- joy and peace that lasts.  How do we do that?  Accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives is the first step.  Next is a daily commitment to listen to God.  James 1:22-25 encourages us to digest, understand, and obey the word of God. Jesus, our Good Shepherd trains us to listen to His voice.  Henri Nouwen says that, “Jesus’ life was a life of obedience.  He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ‘all ear.’ THAT is true prayer: being all ear for God.  The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.  

How can we listen every day?

1. Pray for others
2. Study God’s word 
3. Serve others

“Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends…” Henri Nouwen 

“A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking.  But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer listening.”  Soren Kierkegaard 

When we begin to listen, it becomes easier to hear that faint, small voice.  God is always there.  We always have a chance to listen to Him.  

Let’s start with what the Kingdom of God is not.  It is not any modern nation, not Republican or Democrat.  It is not Christian Nationalism. We don’t build, bring, or extend the Kingdom of God.  But instead: 

• Jesus’ coming brought the Kingdom of God
• The Kingdom of God starts small and spreads everywhere 
• The Kingdom of God is where God sets things right 
• The Kingdom of God is here… but it is also coming 
• The Kingdom of God is a gift 

We enter, receive, and inherit the Kingdom of God.  

We are not the heroes of the kingdom and we are not the King.  We belong to the King and we enter the Kingdom of God when we are faithful and serving and embodying Jesus’ teaching.  When we are following Jesus’ mission, purpose, and plan, we are in the Kingdom of God.