It's about the end.

Talk about each session and the impact each session has made.

Now we come to the end. Which in all regards is the most important part of a weekend like this, because it’s not how you start a race that matters, it’s how you finish.

So let’s go back to where we started on Friday in 1 Peter 4, but lets read the beginning portion.

1 Peter 4:1-6 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

We spent all weekend talking about eternity and why it matters, and now we are getting ready to go home, and the greatest thing we could do once we go home is actually live out what has been preached.

Harder said then done. So for this last session let’s talk about finishing well.

One and only point: Jesus is the way we finish well and keep our eyes fixed on eternity.

So how do we do this?

1.) Keep our eyes on the one.

-We do this by remaining in His presence. When was the last time you sat and just put some worship music on, or woke up early and go into scripture? Like why bother following Jesus, if we are not willing to put the time in.

-Story of me off-roading in the Jeep.

-Focused eyes do not veer off the road. They stay clear of potholes. They avoid dark areas.

-Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of 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.”

-Share SOAP method and how I pray.

1.) Thanksgiving

2.) Telling Jesus He is worthy.

3.) Sit and wait in silence.

4.) Declare my needs and the needs of others.

2.) Stop digging up the old grave up.

-Becca and I recently were watching this movie, where these guys were grave robbers. I think a lot of us, are like those grave robbers, we get free and Jesus buries the sin, but we keep digging it back up, let it die, YOU ARE A NEW CREATION!

-2 Peter 2:20-22 “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

-Relapses with porn in the first year.

-The old has gone, and the new has come.

3.) Family encourages and brings people to the feet of Jesus.

-CHY is not just another youth ministry, this is a family of believers who loves each other and only wants the best.

-1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

-Luke 5:17-19 “One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.”

-The best thing you can do is school year is to be at YTH, come hang with believers who love you and will never stop encouraging you. Like you could come to me tomorrow and say Josh I killed someone, and I would love you and still see the best in you. (Story of this student)

End:

So how will you end? Will this just be another cool weekend, of yea that might work for some, or will this be the weekend that changes the rest of your life.

Activation:

-In the back of your weekend worship guide, there is a page that says “Action Plan”. I think in order for us to walk this out together we need to come up with a plan that works for us, only you know you best. So here is questions to help guide this time.

1.) How will you keep your eyes focused on Jesus?

2.) Who will be your mentor this school year? How often will you meet with them?

3.) What results do you want? Give at least 3.

4.) Scripture for this year and write a prayer you can pray nightly this year. Doesn’t have to be long