1. Hebrews 12:1-2

2. The Persistent Christian ___________________, 2013

3. The Persistent Christian Do we know what it means to be a persistent Christian? What are the characteristics of a Christian? – “Faith” – “Hope” – “Love” – “Courage” – “Forgiveness” – Very few, if any, would mention “Persistence.”

4. The Persistent Christian

5. If it doesn’t take work to follow Christ, then why would He say this? Matthew 10:38

6. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

7. The Persistent Christian If it doesn’t take work to follow Christ, then why would He say this? Matthew 10:38 Do we truly understand what a persistent relationship is with Christ? If we do, then why don’t we do it? “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison

8. The Persistent Christian If it doesn’t take work to follow Christ, then why would He say this? Matthew 10:38 Do we truly understand what a persistent relationship is with Christ? If we do, then why don’t we do it? “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison

9. The Persistent Christian

11. “I don’t like it when people say things about me” – What do you think people said about Noah and his family? – Don’t you think their feelings got hurt? “I just don’t see any results from my being a Christian” – What if you saw no results for 100+ years? – Our faith is not what it should be in light of the example of Noah.

12. The Persistent Christian

13. Philippians 3:17-20

14. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

15. The Persistent Christian

16. Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

17. Philippians 4:8-9

18. The Persistent Christian So how do we develop persistence? How do we learn anything? – By example! – By doing! – Timothy not only had the examples in his life, but he also followed them by doing! – 2 Timothy 1:4-5 – “that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice…” – “…and I am persuaded is in you also.”

20. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

21. The Persistent Christian

23. Hebrews 6:7-8

24. The Persistent Christian

25. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

26. The Persistent Christian

27. “Energy and persistence conquer all things” – Benjamin Franklin 1 John 5:4 – “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.” Through Christ, our faith, love, hope, forgiveness, patience, kindness, etc. – are synonymous with persistence. We simply cannot quit!

28. The Persistent Christian ___________________, 2013