Sermon Notes on Focus and Faith

Sep 15, 2024

Church Service Sermon Notes

Opening Remarks

  • Cold weather discussion; surprise at Texas' weather.
  • Gratitude for church attendance, both physical and live stream.
  • Personal anecdote about a recent trip to Florida with friends.

Main Sermon Topic: Staying Focused on God's Promises

Important Instructions for 2024

  1. Stay in faith.
  2. Remain focused on God's promises.
  3. Refuse distractions from worldly events.

Personal Journey to Faith

  • 1969 transformation; Brother Copeland's influence.
  • Experience of hiding a Bible, later embracing faith.
  • Devotion to studying the Word documented through reel-to-reel tapes.

Key Lesson: The Art of Continuing

  • Emphasis on consistency: "Stick with it."
  • Departure from past distractions and quitting tendencies.

Importance of Quality Decision

  • Defined as a life-based decision without compromise.
  • Personal experience with distractions and learning to be focused.

Examples of Distractions

  • Personal anecdotes about being easily distracted in youth.
  • Transition from being a quitter to a winner by staying focused.

Focus in Faith

Remaining Focused on Promises

  • The ability to remain focused is crucial to experiencing God's plans.
  • Focus allows seeing God’s vision and moving toward it.
  • Daily meditation on God's promises is essential.

Flight Training Analogy

  • Comparison of staying focused to instrument flying, avoiding distractions.
  • Hood training to concentrate on instruments, akin to focusing on God's word.

Biblical Examples

Authority and Faith

  • Story of the Centurion (Matthew 8): "Speak the word only."
  • Authority of words and importance of letting God’s word be the final authority.

Mary’s Faith

  • Acceptance of God's word with "Be it unto me according to your word."

Faith Comes by Hearing

  • Romans 10:17: Continuous hearing builds faith.
  • Example from Acts 14: Faith to be healed comes from hearing Paul preach.

Encouragement to Focus on God's Word

  • Focus on promises for what you can be, do, and have.
  • Avoid wasting focus on negative or unwanted things.

Vision and Goals

  • Dare to look ahead; God will fulfill His promises.
  • Example of using model airplanes as a focus tool for faith in aviation ministry.

Maintaining Focus

  • Proverbs 4:25: Keep eyes straight, ignore distractions.
  • Emulate Jesus' unwavering focus (Hebrews 12:1).

Practical Application

  • Make note of Biblical instructions involving 'see' and 'look'.
  • Genesis 13: God’s promise to Abraham and the importance of looking beyond the current situation.
  • Avoid being nearsighted; see beyond current challenges.

Conclusion and Encouragement

  • Hebrews 6:13-15: Follow examples of faith and patience.
  • Proverbs and Hebrews: Keep a steadfast focus on Jesus.
  • Rally for strong faith and focus in 2024, expecting progression and fulfillment of promises.