Sunday Morning Service 8:30AM- Stay the Course ~ Acts 20:24 ~ Tyler Buchanan

it'll just be a quick one yeah all right here we go last one all right good morning church family I'm really glad you're here I want to invite you to stand with us we'll pray and we'll get started father we come before you this morning we thank you for another day and we just thank you for allowing us to be here or got its pray that you bless this time Lord help us to focus completely on you this morning God set everything else aside in our lives and just to focus on you to lavish praise upon you Lord God to glorify you what God and we just we just ask your blessing upon this time Lord we invite your Holy Spirit to come and move mightily in our lives by the power of your word by the power of

your Holy Spirit we love you and we praise you in Jesus name Amen you guys can go and have a seat if you like

again love made a way to let mercy come in was arrested my life in there ash was redeemed only pure quiet my feet rose to dance the rest of heaven's mercy seems it's the Lord God Almighty's and it's because you should I sing and I will I sing and I will you can stand with me for the last one and stop the light from getting through Lord God we come before you God and we just we lavish praise upon you because you are worthy because you have overcome all the trials and all the hell and the grave because you've given us new life because you've paid for our sins on the cross by the by the shedding of your blood or God we just give you praise and we give you things because you are worthy of all praise and honor

and glory amen amen let's have some fellowship all right everybody if you could start making your way back to your chairs we'll go over a few announcements and we'll get started so if you look on the left hand side of your bulletin there is what's going on this week it's the normal or back to the normal stuff after VBS we're ready to get back into it I think it was a fun time at VBS but everyone's tired ready get back into regular life so there it is on the left side if you aren't plugged into something get plugged into a home fellowship or come to Wednesday night or both so vbs i think there is a video for vbs maybe there is praise god right yeah uh vbs is like an amazing time it's incredible um it's it's awesome to get to

see the joy that children have and like so much excitement about the word and about getting to learn about jesus and it's an incredible time so i thank you to everyone who helped um and made this possible for all the kids um as we continue on through our week um we have a false creek parent meeting this week on friday uh june 19th uh 6 p.m uh down at the other end of the hallway and that's for the parents of the kids going to false creek and then a reminder that we have uh baptism coming up july 15th and if you're interested in getting baptized there's a sign-up sheet out there and you can put your name down your phone number and pastor ryan will give you a call and give you details and talk to you about stuff

i think that's it we got a guest speaker this week so tyler's going to come come give the word and it's going to be amazing how's this you guys hear me all right awesome all right well i like to start off by saying jesus loves you he made you on purpose for a purpose and with a purpose and i'm so excited to get into the word today um as you can tell i am not pastor ryan as much as i would like to be he's awesome um i am going to have to minister the way that the lord leads me to so i'm super excited to bring the word with you guys um i like how chuck smith and greg lauren the jesus revolution would open up they say this is god's word this is truth this is life let's open it together so we usually start off with um your

guided reading so if you have a bible around you look in the seats if you don't have one um to fit along with our vbs theme we're going to be doing psalm 23 so pastor alan's going to come up um if you're able to please stand for the reading of god's word and we're going to be in psalm 23 i will read the odd verses you guys can read the even verses and then we will read the second verse and then we'll get into the message for today psalm 23 the lord the shepherd of his people a psalm of david verse 1 the lord is my shepherd i will not i shall not want he makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me besides quiet waters he restores my soul he guides me in the path of righteousness for his namesake even though i walk through the valley of the

shadow of death i fear no evil for his name's sake even though i walk through the valley of the death i fear no evil for his name's sake even though i walk through the valley of the shadow For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Yes, Lord, you are a good shepherd. Lord, thank you that you lead us, Lord, that you care to be involved in our lives. Father, as mentioned, we have been made on purpose, for a purpose, and with a purpose. Lord, so help us to trust you in that. Lord, today we're going to be learning about staying the course. Lord, so as we get into your word, I ask that you just speak from it.

Lord, remove anything of me, and just allow your Holy Spirit to be present in this place. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, you guys can be seated. As is mentioned, the title of today's message is Stay the Course. Stay the Course. We're going to be in Acts chapter 20. So if you want to flip there. Acts chapter 20. And while you're turning there, I want to kind of paint a little picture,

give you guys a simple thought. Many things have a course. There's obstacle courses. There's, like, I like to ride dirt bikes. There's motocross tracks. There's, like, American Ninja Warrior. All these things have obstacles. Nobody signs up for them expecting for them to be easy. Nobody sees obstacles and says, something must be wrong. No, the bumps don't mean that you're off the track.

The obstacles don't mean that you haven't failed. The challenges don't mean you've gone in the wrong direction. They're simply just part of the course. And I think sometimes as Christians, we can forget that. Sometimes we think that when life gets hard, trials come. Or when disappointment comes, plans change. When people go home to be with the Lord, we sometimes begin to wonder, did I do something wrong?

Or we think, did I miss God's will? Has God forgotten me? But I'm here to say today that difficulties do not necessarily mean you've left the will of God. Sometimes difficulties are evidence. That you're still faithfully following Him. Obstacles are often a part of the course. And this morning, I want to encourage us with this simple message. Stay the course.

So, Acts chapter 20, we are going to be starting in verse 17 and going to the end of the chapter. But what I want to do is try to give the context. Understand where we're at, what's going on. We're jumping in the middle of a text, and we're talking about a theme. But I want you to understand what's going on. Acts chapter 20 is taking place near the end of Paul's third missionary journey.

So, Jesus came, He died on the cross. Pentecost happens, the Holy Spirit is delivered to His disciples. Then it says, This is happening. Paul is doing that. So, Paul's been preaching the gospel for years. Planning churches, strengthening believers, serving faithfully. And now he's making his way towards Jerusalem. He knows suffering is coming. He knows difficulties are ahead.

Yet before leaving the area, he calls the elders from Ephesus to meet him. Verse 17. And what follows is one of the most important things. One of the most personal and heartfelt speeches in all of Acts. These are Paul's final words to these men. He loves them. He cares for them. So, he wants to encourage them to remain faithful after he's gone. All right. So, look down.

Verse 17. We're going to read from 17 down to 21. I'm going to split it up into three sections. So, this is section number one. Verse 17. From Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, You yourselves know from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews, how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So, point number one, first section, I'm calling it, Remember How You Started. Remember How You Started. As Paul begins speaking, he starts by reminding them of how he lived among them.

He points them backwards before he's going to point them forward. He reminds them, you know how I lived. You know how I served. You saw my life. Paul wasn't perfect, but Paul was faithful. Verse 19 says that he served the Lord with humility, not pride, not self-promotion, not seeking recognition. He simply wanted to serve Jesus. And that should be the same goal for us.

Also, he's not building his kingdom. He's not making his name great, but serving the Lord. Humility has always marked godly men and women. And notice something else. Paul mentioned tears. Paul mentions tears. I feel like that's kind of interesting. He's getting ready, giving this last encouraging message, and then in this encouraging message, he's mentioning tears.

Seems kind of counterintuitive. Well, he doesn't say, I served the Lord with strength. I served the Lord with success. I served the Lord with ease. He says he served with tears. In other words, ministry isn't always easy. I'm sure a lot of you guys can attest to that. There were burdens, heartbreaks, difficulties, and yet Paul stayed the course. I think that's encouraging.

I know it's encouraging for me. I hope it's encouraging for you guys. Because sometimes we think that mature Christians never struggle. Right? If I'm just following the Lord, it's going to be sunshine and roses. But Paul struggled. Paul hurt. Paul cried. Real emotions, real people, real problems. And he remained faithful. Guys, tears do not disqualify you from following Jesus.

Sometimes tears are evidence that you're faithfully following him. Paul also speaks about trials. Oppositions came, people resisted, life was difficult, yet he continued. Then Paul said something beautiful. He did not shrink back from declaring anything profitable publicly. And from house to house, Paul faithfully taught the word. I'm down in verse 20, if you're wondering.

Not only from the pulpit, but in personal relationships. I get to be up here sharing today. But this shouldn't be the only time that my life is representing Jesus. Because Christianity has always been more than just Sunday mornings. It's life together. It's discipleship. It's encouraging one another. It's praying together. It's bearing one another's burdens.

And finally, as we're wrapping up this first section, Paul summarizes his message with repentance towards God. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That has always been the message. Not become a better person. Not clean yourself up by repentance and faith. Turning from sin and trusting in Christ. The gospel hasn't changed and it never will. One of the blessings God gives us people is faithful examples.

Once you guys look around, I know we all got to do fellowship, interact, say hi. But as I'm looking around, we can probably think of God, people God has used to encourage us. People whose lives have pointed us to Christ. At least I hope that's the case. That's what we came here to do. That's what we want to do with our lives. And I'm thankful for those examples.

Because faithful people have a way of reminding us. That the Christian life really is worth living. Some of you guys have been those examples. You've walked with Jesus for years. You've endured hardships. You've remained faithful. And younger believers are watching. We just saw VBS. All those kids that got to come and hear about the love of Christ. That God's a good shepherd.

Why is that? Because faithful people like you guys have decided, hey, I want to share this love with other people. So, never underestimate what God can do through a faithful life. So before recapping point one. Before Paul talks about the future. He talks about the future. He's talking about the past. Why? Because remembering God's faithfulness behind gives us confidence for what lies ahead.

Sometimes when life becomes difficult. We tend to forget everything God has already done. We forget his faithfulness. His provisions. His goodness. And sometimes we need to stop and remember. Remember how God saved us. Remember how he carried us. Remember how he provided. How he brought us through previous trials. So, that brings us to our next section. We must face the future.

And Paul knows that difficult days are ahead. Look down in verse 22. You know suffering is coming. Point number two I'm calling it. Don't let difficulties move you. Verse 22, and now. Behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem. Not knowing what will happen to me there. Except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city. Saying that bonds and afflictions await me.

Boy, that sounds exciting. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself. So that I may finish my course. And the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus. To testify solemnly. Of the gospel. Of the grace of God. Guys, these verses become the heartbeat of the message. Paul's giving this final encouragement. This exhortation to the believers in Ephesus.

And he's giving them a whole recap of how he lived his life. You saw how he lived. You saw how he did ministry. And now, look. You saw how he did ministry. Look what's ahead of me. I'm leaving and departing from you guys. But I know what's ahead. It's not exactly a pleasant thing. He says in verse 23. That the Holy Spirit keeps warning him. That chains and afflictions await him.

Oh boy. Could you imagine that? God's like, I have a task for you. I have a job. And guess what? It's got chains and afflictions involved. I don't know about you. But I'd probably say, no thanks God. I'm going to go away. Right? We've seen people like that. Jonah. He was one of the examples. But Paul doesn't. He keeps moving forward. Why? Because Paul understood something very important.

Once again, difficulty does not necessarily mean you're outside the will of God. Sometimes, difficulty is exactly where you're supposed to be. We often want God to show us the entire course. God, give me the full big picture. I know I'm like a very meticulous person. I try to figure things out. Like in my day, I like to almost try to have it hour by hour. But it never usually tends to go that way.

And God's like, nope. One step at a time. Just listen, follow, and obey me. And Paul didn't know everything. Many times, God simply asked us to just trust the next step. Paul didn't know everything, but he knew who he was following. Do you know who you're following? If you're following your schedule, your time map throughout the day, you're following your own intellect,

your own willpower, if we're gonna do anything for our salvation, what makes us think that we could do anything after our salvation? It's all through Jesus Christ alone. Paul knew who was leading him. And sometimes that's enough. Alright, we come to verse 24. I'm excited to share this message as well, because this is actually my life verse. So look down, Acts chapter 20, verse 24.

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify solemnly of the grace of God. Alright, notice what Paul doesn't say. It's often fun to just kind of reverse the thought. Paul doesn't say, I don't care about life. He doesn't say, I enjoy suffering. He doesn't say, I'm fearless.

Instead, Paul simply says, my life is not about me anymore. He's getting this self-centered focus off of himself and onto Christ. His greatest desire was not comfort. His greatest desire was faithfulness. His goal wasn't self-preservation. His goal was finishing well. And I think that's something we need today. I think oftentimes it's like, alright, I've moved to Kansas.

We got our first house. It's like, alright, now how can I get settled and established? Get a good job. You know, start putting into my 401k. Get ready for retirement. You know, like already thinking way ahead. It's like, that's not necessarily what God's wanting. Just, hey, what's right in front of you? What's the next thing? Walk into it and be faithful. So, because culture tells us,

protect yourself. Put yourself first. Pursue comfort. Avoid difficulty. That's what the world says. Jesus teaches us something very different. Life is not ultimately about preserving ourself. Life is about following him. And this is where we get the message of today's title. Stay the course. I love the phrase that Paul uses, finish my course. Not someone else's.

His course. Alright, pay attention here. God has given Paul a specific calling. God has given each one of you guys a specific calling. Open up by saying, on purpose, for a purpose, with a purpose. Some of you are raising children. Some are grandparents. Some are caring for aging parents. Dealing with health struggles. Grieving. Facing difficult situations at work.

Walking through uncertainty. All those things become part of the course God has placed before us. It's not like, God, why is this happening? What's going on? God's saying, no, I know. I've laid your steps before you. I know what's going on. You don't need to freak out. You don't need to panic. Every believer has a course. Every believer has a race. Which reminds me of Hebrews chapter 12.

Let's go over to Hebrews chapter 12. Look at verses 1 and 2. I'm going to flip there as well. When you're there, say church. You guys are fast. Good job. Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1 and 2. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses, Hebrews chapter 11 is the hall of faith. It's talking about a bunch of different people who lived their life of faith well.

Hebrews chapter 12 opens. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. How do we do it? Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him endured the cross.

That's not easy. That's difficult. But it says joy. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Alright, notice. Hebrews says the race set before us. Not the race set before someone else. I want us to think about this. Not the race we wish we had. Not the race we would have chosen. But the race set before us.

One of the dangers we face is spending so much time looking at other people's courses and not our own. Comparison is a dangerous thing. Because it often leads us to either pride, thinking, oh man, my course is so much better than that person's. Or discouragement. Ah man, why does their life have to look like that and mine looks like this. Comparison is a thief of joy.

But it's not just anybody else's race. He's asked us to faithfully run ours. What race has God called you to? You know. Where are you at right now? Are you in a bumpy season? Are you in a smooth season? Difficulties on the course do not mean you've left the will of God. I've been saying that a lot. They simply mean you're still running the race. Maybe you experienced loss.

You're weary, discouraged. Maybe you've been asking, Lord, why is this so hard? Well, hard doesn't necessarily mean wrong. You've been in the center of God's will and chains were waiting for Him. Jesus was perfectly in the Father's will. And the cross was waiting for Him. Difficulty is not proof of God's absence. Sometimes it's the very place His grace becomes the most visible.

Alright, 2 Corinthians 4, 16 through 18. Go ahead and flip there with me. 2 Corinthians 4, 16 through 18. When you're there, say, got it. 2 Corinthians 4, 16 through 18 reads, Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of

glory far beyond all comparison. While we look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Just reading this, it makes me think of Ephesians 6, 11. The armor of God, right? Not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and evil darkness powers, right?

So what do we have to do? Put on the full armor of God. But back to this passage, Paul doesn't deny affliction. He acknowledges it. He doesn't pretend suffering isn't real. It reminds us that suffering is not the end of the story. What does he say? Light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison. The finish line is so much better. Yeah, there's bumps

in the road, but when you cross that finish line, see that checkered flag, whoo, you made it. Right? I don't know. The image of war keeps popping in my head. Like the warped wall, it's like the final obstacle, you know? Like where you have to run up and hit the buzzer. Like they're super excited. They're like, let's go! They threw up their hands in the air.

But guess what? All those obstacles, all that training, all the hardship, maybe broken bones, stretched things that don't feel so good, that's all a part of the process. But when they hit that buzzer, they've made it. That's the same thing Paul's saying. There is glory ahead. There is eternity ahead. There is Christ ahead. And because of that, we do not lose heart.

Maybe that's exactly what someone needs this morning. Not an explanation. Not all the answers. Just a reminder. Don't lose heart. Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep loving Jesus. Stay the course. And if we're honest, sometimes the temptation isn't suffering. On the other end of the stick, sometimes the temptation is simply being comfortable.

Sometimes we drift. We become complacent. We become spiritually sleepy. We become distracted. Sometimes we settle for surviving rather than pursuing Christ. Maybe the Lord today is gently calling us back. And hey, wake up. Get back on your course. You've strayed. You've wandered aside. But no, I have a plan and a purpose for you. Come seek me. Find out what it is.

And he's not calling that with condemnation. Not with shame, like rebuking you. Hey, what are you doing? No, he's calling us back to himself with love. Calling us back to first things. Calling us back to the joy of salvation. Calling us back to simply walking with Jesus. You saw those smiling kids dancing to VBS songs. I still got like the motions and stuff stuck in my head

because it's catchy. Following Jesus is fun. And the goal is not merely to start well. The goal is to finish well. Paul would write the letter near the end of his life. Alright, 2 Timothy 4, 7. I'm turning these, that way you guys have these to refer back to for later if you want. 2 Timothy 4, 7. When you're there, say, found it. 2 Timothy 4, verse 7. This is Paul.

It was the end of his life. Writing to his disciple Timothy. Sharing. Verse 7. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. Man, what a statement to say. Right? That's what I want to be able to say at the end of my life. You know what I want to hear from my Savior? Well done, good and faithful servant. Right? What does that mean?

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. What a statement. He finished, not perfect, but faithfully. Ultimately, what every believer should desire. Not fame, not recognition, not comfort, just faithfulness. Lord, help us to finish well. Alright, moving on to point 3. Staying the course was never intended to be a solo journey.

Beginning in verse 25. We're going all the way down to 31 now. Paul turns his attention away from himself and begins focusing on the people around him. He's speaking to all the elders of the church in Ephesus. Because faithful Christians don't merely run their own race, they help others run theirs as well. Alright, verse 25 to 31. Let's read it. And now, behold,

I know that all of you among whom I went about preaching the kingdom will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. Wow. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole truth of the gospel. I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock

among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, verse 31 Be on alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Alright. Paul is continuing to speak and his focus is shifting. Up to this point, he's been talking about his own ministry, his own trials, his own life. Now, he's turning his attention to these elders. What do we see? Paul cares about people. He warns them, he prepares them, he shepherds them. He tells them that difficult days are coming. That false teachers will arise.

That wolves will come. Well, why? Why is he doing this? How is this relevant to the message? Because love warns, love protects, love prepares. I think one of the ways we stay the course is by helping others stay the course. We're here, gathered together as a body of believers. We get to have fellowship with each other. Why? Because we're all running our own course.

Yes, God made you on purpose, for a purpose, with a purpose. But guess what? That's true of every single person in here. Hey, run your course. Finish well. Can I help you? So, we need one another. We need encouragement, accountability, fellowship, prayer. Galatians 6.2 says, Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. A few verses later, Galatians 6.10,

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are of the household of faith. That's what we're called to do when we come to church. We don't come in to just sit and listen. That's not the message. But I pray that afterwards, you go and live it out. It's not just ear-tickling, but then motivates you to go and do it.

Alright? There's people around us who are tired, people who are grieving, discouraged, barely hanging on. And sometimes the greatest ministry we have is coming alongside someone and saying to them, Keep going. Jesus is faithful. You're not alone. Stay the course. Sometimes ministry looks like preaching. Sometimes it looks like bringing a meal. Sometimes sitting beside someone and crying with them.

Sometimes serving. All those things matter. One's not less than the other. Because faithful Christians don't merely think about themselves, they care for the flock around them. That naturally leads us to what I believe is one of the sweetest sections in this chapter. Because after warning these men, Paul doesn't leave them with fear. Hey, all these things are coming.

These wolves are coming to devour the flock. No. He leaves them with grace. Point four, verse 32 to 35. Verse 32 to 35. And now, I commend to you God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs

and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of Lord Jesus. That he himself said, is more blessed to give than receive. All right. Personally, I think verse 32 might be one of the most comforting verses in this whole chapter. Paul says, I commended you to God and to the word of his grace.

Paul doesn't say I commended you to my leadership. He doesn't say I commended you to a program. He doesn't say I commended you to your own strength. He points them to God. And he points them to God's grace. The one thing that can sustain us. Because grace is what builds weary people. Grace is what strengthens tired people. Grace is what carries broken people.

Grace is what sustains us. Verse 24 tells us to run. Verse 32 tells us where the strength to run comes from. It's from God. From his word. From his grace. And I think that's important. Because a danger with this sermon is that it could be taken as try harder. You know what? Buckle up your boots. Try harder. Be stronger. It's not pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Nope.

It's stay close to Jesus. It's stay in his word. Depend on his grace and keep walking. Because God is faithful. And the same grace that saved you is the same grace that sustains you. Point five, finish together. Point five, finish together. Verses 36 to 38. My page went back. Here we go. When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

And they began to weep aloud and embrace Paul, and repeatedly kissed him. It's kind of silly, but we'll keep going. Grieving, especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again, and they were accompanying him to the ship. Alright. I love how this chapter ends. Starts off with all the difficulties, all the hardship, but then it ends

with Paul kneeling down. They pray together. They weep together. This is real. He's leaving. They've developed a relationship and now he's departing. It's kind of like a fairy tale. No, it's real people with real emotions. The picture we are left with is not one of independence. It's one of family. These believers loved each other. They cared for one another.

They shared life together. And honestly, I think that's one of the beautiful things about the church. We get to do the same thing. We rejoice together. We mourn together. We pray together. Carry burdens together. And when one member hurts, we all hurt. Nobody was meant to run alone. And if you've been trying to carry everything yourself, don't. God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lean into the body. Allow people to pray for you. Allow people to encourage you. Because we're never meant to run this course alone. Amen? Alright, as we're coming up to our final thoughts, ultimately this message isn't about Paul. You might be confused because it's been talking about Paul. Paul's been talking the whole time. But as wonderful of an example as Paul is, Acts

chapter 20 ultimately isn't about Paul. It's about Jesus. How? Well, because Jesus had a course too. In Luke 4, Jesus faced temptation. Yet he stayed the course. In his earthly ministry, he faced opposition. Yet he stayed the course. In his earthly ministry, people misunderstood him, rejected him, mocked him. Yet he stayed the course. Luke 9, 51 tells us that Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem.

He knew suffering was ahead. He knew the cross was ahead. Yet he continued. Jesus is not our only example. As we read in Hebrews, he's the author and perfecter of our faith. He's the one that we should be looking to. He's the one who began the work. He is the one who will complete it. When Jesus hung on the cross, John 19, 30 tells us that he declared it is finished.

Jesus had finished his course. And because Jesus stayed his course for us, we can faithfully stay our course for him. Alright? Maybe today you're weary. Stay the course. Maybe today you're grieving. Stay the course. Maybe today you're discouraged. Stay the course. Maybe you've stumbled. Get back up and stay the course. Maybe you become distracted. Come back to Jesus

and stay the course. Church, God never promised a smooth course, but he did promise us his presence on the course. That's the best thing that we could ever have. And difficulties on the course do not necessarily mean that you've left the will of God. They may simply mean you're still running the race. So, keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep trusting his grace. Keep loving his people.

And by his strength, stay the course. Amen? Amen. Alright, before we leave this morning, if you need prayer, we just talked about how we're a body. We come together to encourage each other, pray for one another. Please don't carry that burden alone. And hey, you can also talk to any of the people on the leadership team. Ask for prayer. We'd be honored to pray with you because we're family.

None of us were meant to run this race alone. So, we'll close it out in prayer. I want to leave some extra time if people want to gather together and pray together. So, worship team, you guys can get ready to come on up and we'll close out. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you that your word instructs us. Lord, we thank you that your word comforts us.

Lord, and ultimately we thank that you are the one who comes and gives us your presence by the power of your Holy Spirit. Lord, and on this journey, this pilgrimage, this course that you've set before us, Lord, we know that there's easy times and hard times. Father, and as we're going through this course, help us not to get distracted, to get weighed down by the burdens. Lord, but to look to you, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Lord, so I thank you just for the opportunity to share your word. Lord, thank you for how you ministered to me, and I pray that you ministered to your people. Lord, we love you. We thank you and praise you. Go before us this week. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, God, we come before you this morning with a heart of gratitude. Lord, a gratitude for what you've done for us, Lord, for the work that you're doing in our lives, God, and we give you praise, and we give you thanks. We thank you for your word this morning, God. We ask that as we leave here today, Lord, that we would trust you more each and every day, Lord God, even when life throws obstacles our way.

God, just help us to know and rest in you, Lord God, knowing that it's all part of the race that you have set before us. Father, we love you, and we praise you, and we thank you. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. You guys have a wonderful week. God bless you.