1. Hebrews 12:1- 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, NASU

2. Matthew 10: 22 - 22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. NASU Matthew 24:13 - 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. NASU In the parable of the sower Jesus tells us Luke 8:15 - 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. NASU

6. 2 Timothy 4:9-10 - 9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; NASU Matthew 24:11-12 - 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

7. Hebrews 3:12-14 - 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, NASU

8. Acts 6:1 (NASB) 1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

9. Mark 5:22-34- 22 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet 23 and implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 24 And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. 25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well."

10. 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garments?" 31 And His disciples said to Him, "You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction." NASU

11. 1 John 1:7-10 - 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. NASU

12. Galatians 5:16-17 - 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. NASU

14. “If there’s a hypocrite standing between you and God – realize the hypocrite is closer to God than you are.”

15. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tender- hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. NASU

16. “Life Is Messy—Clean It Up.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Timothy 3:12 – still says - 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. NASU.

17. 2 Timothy 2:15- 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NKJV

18. AAAARRRGGGGGHHHH! (That’s in the Hebrew) … 2 Peter 3:15-16 - and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. NASU

19. Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. NASU

20. 1. God is real—and He loves sinners. TO TURN SINNERS INTO SAINTS. Inefficient, imperfect, inconsistent, and sinful - SAINTS!

21. 2. The Bible is true—and God still speaks to us through it.

22. 3. The Church is filled with messy sinners—loving Jesus and living life together.

23. BUT JESUS And most encouraging of all let’s end with BUT JESUS … But Jesus is present in a special way when we meet in his name. But Jesus But Jesus makes us saints. But Jesus Life is messy. But Jesus makes it worth living. But Jesus The Bible can be confusing. But Jesus is in the middle of it. And all the way through it. And he’s worth it. But Jesus God is frustrating. But Jesus said “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

24. Mark 8:36-38 – 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? NASU

25. SONG OF INVITATION 915 – Trust and Obey