Post on 05-Jan-2016
Series:
Why Fairview?
Message:
A Family Focused on the Savior
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
Review of message 1 & 2
Introduction
The Fairview Family
The Fairview Family As God’s family,
God desires for us to be together:
- A place to belong- A place to experience God’s kind of love- A place to grow up in the Faith- A place to discover purpose- A place from which we are launched into ministry
Introduction
The Fairview Family
We are a family founded upon the Word of
God. The Author, the Authority,
and the Activity of God’s Word.
Introduction
The Fairview Family
We are a family focused on the Savior.
We are committed to keeping our eyes fixed
upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. This focus is a commitment
to follow Jesus together.
Introduction
The Fairview Family
1 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,
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
Why are we committed to stay focused on Jesus?
The Fairview Family
1. Because of who Jesus is
The Fairview Family
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the
kingdom of His beloved Son,
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things
hold together.
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Colossians 1:13-18
The Fairview Family
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
Hebrews 1: 1-3
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2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,
whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world.
Hebrews 1: 1-3
The Fairview Family
3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact
representation of His nature, and upholds all
things by the word of His power. When He had made purification
of sins, He sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 1: 1-3
The Fairview Family
2. Because of Jesus role as the Head of church
The Fairview Family
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all
things to the church,
Ephesians 1: 22-23
The Fairview Family
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills
all in all.
Ephesians 1: 22-23
The Fairview Family
Last week we looked at Matthew 28:18 & Philippians 2:9-
11 revealing Jesus authority
The Fairview Family
3. Because of our complete dependence
- Vine and Branches analogy- John 15:5
- Body and Head analogy-Eph. 1 / Col. 1
- Shepherd and sheep analogy- John 10
- Author and Perfecter of our faith- Hebrews 12:2
The Fairview Family
How do we focus together on Jesus? How do we live out this commitment and follow Jesus
together as the Head, as the Shepherd?
The Fairview Family
1. We focus together by Choice
The Fairview Family
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord,
implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which
you have been called,
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
showing tolerance for one another in love,
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were
called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all
and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Ephesians 4:1-7
The Fairview Family
1 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,
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Fairview Family
2. We focus together by Faith
The Fairview Family
19 So we see that they were not able to enter
because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:19
The Fairview Family
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession.
Hebrews 4: 14-16
The Fairview Family
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted
in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4: 14-16
The Fairview Family
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of
grace, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4: 14-16
The Fairview Family
3. We focus together by the Scriptures
- Being founded on the Word keeps us focused on Jesus.
The Fairview Family
- When the Scriptures reveal a command or principle, we know
with authority and confidence that our obedience to His Word
is following Jesus
The Fairview Family
4. We focus together by the Spirit’s Leading
The Fairview Family
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God,
these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
The Fairview Family
- The Holy Spirit leads us by revealing the Scriptures to us.
- The Holy Spirit leads us according to God’s established
pattern of authority.
The Fairview Family
Jesus is the Head, the leader of the church. By church we mean both
the world-wide church and every local expression of His church. Every member of God’s family is to be submitted to the leadership
of Jesus
The Fairview Family
How does He lead us in practical terms?
What is His pattern He has revealed that He desires
us to follow so we can be confident we are following Jesus together?
The Fairview Family
Jesus has given every member of His Body spiritual gifts
and natural talents. These are to be used under the
control of the Holy Spirit for the building up of the Body.
The Fairview Family
Some of these gifts enable the member to serve as a leader
in the family. Other gifts enable the member to serve in a variety of worker roles.
The Fairview Family
God’s gifts usually line up with the God given natural
talents and the person’s personality.
The Fairview Family
Leadership in a local church is established Biblically
by spiritual gifts, spiritual maturity, and a specific call of
God all of which is confirmed
by the Body together.
The Fairview Family
Illustration:
Pastor Joe’s testimony
The Fairview Family
Every leader at every level of the church is to have
the same pattern. Each will have been given
spiritual gifts, grow to a level of maturity,
and sense a call of God to serve in a specific area.
The Fairview Family
The church then confirms this leading.
The specific area may change many times yet it will be the
same pattern of gift, call, and confirmation of Body
The Fairview Family
The family analogy is helpful here. The leader leads in the
context of the family.
The Fairview Family
The leadership of the church models a walk of spiritual
maturity which gives confidence from the Spirit to the family.
The Fairview Family
Decisions, vision, direction from leaders to the family must line up with God’s Word and be a result of a process of prayer, of love, of unity, and seeking to best
fulfill Jesus commands.
The Fairview Family
The family confirms the leaders and the leaders seek to lead the
family to be effective in obeying Jesus.
The Fairview Family
The leaders seek to equip and encourage all of the members to grow in faith and serving.
As everyone does the part God assigns, the family is able to
grow in every way.
The Fairview Family
Major decisions should be born out of prayer and confirmed by
the family in prayer, in love and in unity.
Leaders know that if the direction
is from the Spirit of God He is fully able to confirm His
desire in the minds and hearts of all
of His children.
The Fairview Family
Often God’s timing is found in this process of seeking the Spirit’s confirmation.
The Fairview Family
No local church family does this perfectly.
However, that is not an excuse for a lack of unity, love, or obedience.
The Fairview Family
Jesus leads by His Spirit and His Word through His gifted and maturing children following His pattern for leadership in His
family.
The Fairview Family
Closing Thoughts
The Fairview Family
Closing Thoughts
The family can only follow Jesus together
if we are each following Jesus personally.
The Fairview Family
Closing Thoughts
We are to seek to grow in faith and use the gifts God has given
us. We are to encourage one another
in these areas. We are to work together with each one doing our God given assignment in unity and love.
The Fairview Family
Closing Thoughts
Focusing on Jesus leads us to put Jesus first and to desire
to serve one another and serve others together.
Every one of us is vital to the family.
Series:
Why Fairview?
Message:
A Family Focused on the Savior
Hebrews 12:1-3