Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.
You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.
Adam Bueltel
This Sunday, Adam Bueltel will be preaching as a part of our Morning Gathering. Adam will be the main teacher for our students during their Disciple Now activities this weekend.
Adam was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and became a Christian at a young age. In his early teenage years, his family moved to Southwest Florida where he would eventually feel God calling him to pastoral ministry. In pursuit of this, Adam attended Maranatha Baptist University where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Pastoral Studies.
In August of 2012, he moved to Kansas City where he pursued an MDiv at The Expositors Seminary while serving as the Student Ministries Pastoral Intern. He graduated in 2016, and became the full-time Student Ministries Pastor. He is married to Alyssa and they have one son, Ezekiel.
Carefully Think
- Read Hebrews 12:1-3 to focus on the passage for this Sunday. Read Hebrews 11 to gain context for the passage.
- What is the great cloud of witnesses refering to in verse 1?
- In what ways were the faithful in chapter 11 laying aside every weight and sin? Why would that be important in running a race? What race is the author referring to that is being run?
- How were the faithful in chapter 11 running with endurance the race set before them?
- In verse 2, why does the author write about looking to Jesus? Why is it important that Jesus is the founder AND perfecter of our faith in relation to running a race? What example is given that Jesus has completed that is to encourage us in the running with endurance?
- What is the hope and encouragement to be received by Jesus' example?
- The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.
Prayerfully Meditate
- Prayerfully consider how important it is to have a "faithful cloud of witnesses" surrounding us. What has the Lord provided to us today as a tangible cloud of witnesses?
- Think on the importance of laying aside weights in running a race and prayerfully seek to remove and kill sin that clings so closely to us that we are slowed in the Christian "race".
- God has given us the body of Christ to help us lay aside these weights and to keep our focus on Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith. How does this relate to what we have been studying in 1 Corinthians, regarding church discipline. Keep in mind that church disciple is discipleship.
- Prayerfully look through the gospels to gain perspective on Christ sufferings and his endurance to complete the race set before him and claiming that "it is finished". Be encouraged that the very same God empowers you through Christ, His Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the race set before us as well.
- Meditate on how we can encourage and build up others in the "long" Christian race, that sets a life-time of enduring and persevering. How can those who have been in the race for many years encourage those new to the race and youg in their faith?
- Look for tangible and practical ways to engage in a Titus 2 mentality to come alongside those younger, even much younger and encourage so "that the Word of God may not be reviled" (Titus 2:5) and "that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." (Titus 2:10)