Finishing

Strong
I know everyone of you
has a story…
• Some of you have served through
your local church for years.
• You have stories to tell of the highs
and lows of ministry.
• Some of you haven’t found your
place to serve yet.
• You’ve heard us talk this weekend
about service, but something has
held you back in the past.
 This message is for everyone!

• For those who have struggled in ministry

in the past, this message will help you
move beyond those struggles and show
you how prevent conflicts in the future.
• For those ready to start to serve, this
message will help you avoid stress and
conflict in service.
 Why don’t people finish strong?
Or, what keeps you from serving?

• Bad experiences at churches

• Personality conflicts
• “Life” gets in the way
“Let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder
and perfecter of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1b-2a
The author of Hebrews calls us to
run with endurance. He knew the
Christian life would not be easy.
But we have an example, and that
example is Christ, the founder
and perfecter of our faith.
“Founder of our faith” means He
initiated a relationship with you.

Acts 17:26: “And He made from one

man every nation of mankind to live
on all the face of the earth, having
determined allotted periods and the
boundaries of their dwelling place.”
 So God knew…
• When you would be born
• Where you would live
• What church you would attend
• What opportunities for service you
would have
• What challenges you would face
 Jesus is also the perfecter
of our faith

Philippians 1:6, “…he who began a

good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Jesus
Christ.”
John chapter 15 tells us more
about how Jesus said we should
serve Him.
Verse 5, “I am the vine; you are
the branches. Whoever abides in
me and I in him, he it is that bears
much fruit, for apart from me you
can do nothing.”
 Quotes from those who have
experienced (or will experience!)
discouragement in service:
• “If I don’t do it, no one else will.”
• “I don’t want to let my pastor (or Sunday
School director, committee chair,
preschool class…) down.”
• “Everyone expects me to do this.”
“The fear of letting people down,
especially in spiritual matters, can
often cause us to feel obligated or
pressured into meeting unrealistic
expectations, or worse, spending
more time doing things for God
instead of being what God wants us
to be. That can lead to serious stress”
(Anne Jackson).
 What happens to lead to
discouragement?
• We make an idol out of service.
• We prioritize what we do over why we
do it.
• You may be trying to prove that you
love Jesus more.
“I had allowed spending time with
God to be replaced by spending
time doing things for God.”

Remember what Jesus said about

this: “…apart from me you can do
nothing.”
“Satan loves to steal and destroy
what God has intended for good. He
wants us to kill our ministry, our
passion, and our hope so that we’re
useless. Through Christ, we’re made
complete. It’s time to truly realize that-
and begin to claim back what is
rightfully ours” (Anne Jackson).
 So how do we finish strong?

• Follow God’s agenda.

2. Set boundaries.
3.Don’t expect perfection, from
others or from yourself.

• Remember, there are no perfect

churches to serve in, no perfect
pastors to work for, and no perfect
environments.
4.Say no, or not now, or let me
pray about it.
5. Train someone else to do
your job.
6.Do not live on your own
strength.
“I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me. And my God shall supply
all your needs according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:13 and 19)
 “Let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us, looking
to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1b-2a