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

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15 He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:13-18

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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The family analogy is helpful here. The leader leads in the

context of the family.

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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