Sermon Tone Analysis

Activity | Blindfold Superfood test

For the last few weeks, we've been talking about growing stronger, so I've been doing a little research.

All of my "how to get stronger" Google searches led me to a list of superfoods.

A "superfood" is any food that is packed with lots of nutrients.

These foods are supposed to make you stronger and healthier, so I thought we could try them out together and see what we think.

After that game, I think some of you would agree — just because something is good for us doesn't mean we're going to like it.

After that game, I think some of you would agree — just because something is good for us doesn't mean we're going to like it.

What’s something that’s good for you, but that you absolutely hate?

Why do you hate it?

Image | Things We Hate (Even though they are good for us)

Studying

Sleeping

Brushing your teeth

Waking up

Showering

Exercising

Why do we know the benefits of studying, getting enough sleep, moving our bodies, or brushing our teeth, but it’’s sometimes still such a challenge to actually follow through and do these things?

Why is it so hard to persevere through things that are boring, uncomfortable, or difficult?

And why does it even matter if we do or not?

Persevering can be painful

Story | Talk about a time you had to persevere.

Have you ever been happy you persevered through something you didn't want to do?

Why are you glad you stuck with it?

What is perseverance?

Broken relationships, medical diagnoses, physical limitations, financial hardship, loss of a loved one — these are all difficult situations that many of us have to endure for a very long time, if not for our entire lives.

Life gets hard for all of us sometimes.

But some things don't get fixed.

Some things don't get easier.

Some things require perseverance.

What is perseverance?

To persevere means to keep going, even when it's hard, and even when you're not sure things will ever change.

Maybe that sounds depressing, but here's what I've learned about facing times of pain and difficulty: we persevere because, even if our circumstances never change, we can change for the better.

Scripture |

Last week, we looked at a passage of Scripture that I want to look at one more time.

Last time, we talked about how, after Jesus died, rose again, and left earth, Jesus' followers experienced a lot of pain and difficulty.

Because the Roman government was threatened by the message of Jesus and the new Kingdom Jesus came to announce, Jesus' followers were being captured, imprisoned, tortured, and killed.

In the midst of all of that difficulty, a man named Paul wrote a letter to some of the Christians who were suffering and dying because of their beliefs.

Paul says we can "rejoice" in our pain because loss and failure produce perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope — and hope never lets us down.

Paul understood perseverance

So what does Paul know about perseverance?

Sure, he's telling these other Jesus-followers to persevere through their pain and difficulty, but are these just empty words, or is Paul speaking from experience?

HIS EARLY LIFE

When Paul was young, he took his education seriously.

He learned from the best teachers, studied extensively, and did very well.

Paul also ran his own tent-making business.

If you've ever studied really hard or tried to find new ways to make money, you know these things don't happen by accident.

They require perseverance.

HIS CONVERSION

When Paul met Jesus for the first time, God struck Paul blind for several days, with no promise that his sight would ever return.

During those days, Paul fasted and prayed continuously.

That required perseverance too.

HIS MINISTRY

When Paul began traveling the world sharing the message of Jesus, his life didn't get easier.

He nearly died several times, survived a shipwreck, got bit by a venomous snake, had multiple disagreements with the other apostles, and wrote letter, after letter, after letter to help encourage and correct his fellow believers.

I don't know if I'd have enough perseverance to deal with all of that, but Paul did.

Scripture |

Although we don’t know all the details, we know there was yet another thing going on in Paul’s life that required perseverance.

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2 Corinthians

We don't know what was causing Paul so much pain.

We don't even know if it was physical pain or emotional pain, but we do know Paul pleaded with God to please take it away.

Despite Paul's pleas, God did not take away Paul's pain.

And here's what's so incredible: Paul accepted it.

Paul didn't rage, or quit, or question God.

Instead, Paul practiced what he preached to the believers in Rome.

Paul rejoiced in his suffering.

Paul understood what we need to understand: that his weaknesses could help make him strong, and that his obstacles could become his opportunities.

For Paul, his pain was . .

.

A chance to grow in faith.

.A chance to grow in character.A chance to experience the grace, power, and strength of God.Paul trusted that, when life gets hard, God helps us persevere.

A chance to grow in character.

A chance to experience the grace, power, and strength of God.

Paul trusted that, when life gets hard, God helps us persevere.

How can someone develop perseverance?

Why do you think it’s important to God that we develop perseverance?

God helps us persevere

So what's the point?

Is the point of this message to do your homework, work hard, and brush your teeth twice a day?

Um, no.

God has much bigger dreams for you than just good behavior (or good hygiene).

The point is this:

Someday, life is going to get difficult.

Maybe it is already.

When life does get difficult, God may not always fix it, but God will always help you endure it.

As you persevere through difficulty, you can be joyful because you know God will use your pain to grow your character and grow your faith.

Story | Angela Lee Duckworth

“Grit”- the passion and perseverance for very long term goals

- the passion and perseverance for very long term goals

I can't imagine any goals that are more long-term (or more important) than the goals God has invited us to be a part of, like . .

.

Love God with everything you have ().

Love others like you love yourself ().

Share the good news of Jesus with the whole world ().

Be transformed to be more like Jesus ().

These are big goals.

We couldn't possibly achieve them on our own.

But remember, when we're at our weakest, God's power is at its strongest.

Prayer | Scripture

I know we've talked about some hard things this month, but I hope it helped.

Even if you're not going through something difficult right now, I hope you'll remember these conversations when life does start to get hard.

I hope you'll remember that . . .

Jesus can redeem what's gone wrong.