1. Headlines from Hebrews Wk 1 Wk 1 Jesus at the centre Wk 2 Wk 2 From heaven to earth Wk 3 Wk 3 Persevering through difficulty Wk 4 Wk 4 Faith triumphant Wk 5 Wk 5 Running a good race Wk 6 Wk 6 Our constant companion

2. Headlines from Hebrews Persevering through difficulties Hebrews 10: 19 - 39

3. Happisburgh, Norfolk

4. 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with

5. the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up

6. meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

7. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the

8. the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly

9. exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

10. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’

11. 38 And, ‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’ 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

12. Ever felt you were hanging on by a fingertip? Bible has 200+ references to trouble. Our 21 st century experience? Trouble of our own doing By someone else's hand Random chaos

13. Ever felt you were hanging on by a fingertip? Jesus said In this world you will have trouble… But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

14. The reality Difficulties can: irritate and annoy disturb and distress swamp our emotions confuse our minds wound our hearts challenge our beliefs erode our faith

15. The reality Difficulties have no respect for Age Wealth Education Faith

16. Foundation stones from Hebrews to help get us through difficulties and tough times.

17. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful. v23 Brick one

18. Difficulties can breed despair. We can fall into a pit of hopelessness. What does unswerving hope look like in the face of difficulty?

19. Draw near to God v22 Our difficulties are on God’s mind. We can approach him with confidence. v19 Knowing our part What’s for us to do? Trusting God with the outcome. He is faithful. v23

20. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another… v25 Brick two

21. Difficulties can cause powerful emotions in us. Fear, shame, anger, hurt can make us shrink back. v39 Pressing through our natural inclination to withdraw strengthens and encourages us. v25

22. What does this look like? Coming to church when we don’t feel like it. Allowing people to minister to us when we’re vulnerable. Keeping engaged and accountable with God and others. v26

23. Remember those earlier days… when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering v32 Brick three

24. Difficulties can do us in They can bring Erosion of joy Erosion of faith Eph 6: 10 - 13 We are in a spiritual battle. Satan would love to take us out. What does it look like to stand our ground?

25. Recall memories of what God has previously done. v32 Like the Psalmists we choose to praise despite our circumstances. Praise and thanks always disarm the enemy.

26. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. v35 Who is our anchor-man? Brick four

27. Difficulties can bring doubt and confusion. Difficulties can severely test our faith. What is God saying and showing us? Where does our confidence lie? Who is our anchor-man? Brick four

28. God promises to be one thing in life that never changes. Rev 1:8 Faith grows through difficulty. We see positive outcomes in the worst of times. Next week … Who is our anchor-man? Brick four

29. Headlines from Hebrews Wk 1 Wk 1 Jesus at the centre Wk 2 Wk 2 From heaven to earth Wk 3 Wk 3 Persevering through difficulty Wk 4 Wk 4 Faith triumphant Wk 5 Wk 5 Running a good race Wk 6 Wk 6 Our constant companion

30. God is here today to help us deal well with our difficulties to help us to persevere to keep us from being done in and destroyed to save us from despair Brick One, Two, Three, Four

31. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. v39 Brick One, Two, Three, Four