RECAP: Let’s be honest. 2020 has been a dumpster fire and it would be easy to just want to crawl in bed, put the covers over our head and peak our head out in 6 months like it’s Groundhog Day. But the longer we are stuck, the harder it is to get moving again. In the first week of the series we talked about moving forward and not shrinking back. The life of faith is like an endurance race and in Hebrews 12 the author talks about running our race well, throwing off the things that slow us down, fixing our eyes on what’s important and with endurance finishing the race well and not giving up. Call it your “pep talk for 2020” if you will. It’s so easy to get focused on our circumstances and just get stuck, but instead we’re called to fix our eyes on Jesus not our circumstances. When we do, we find the strength, the courage, the stamina to keep moving forward in faith toward our ultimate victory. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus we can thrive, not just survive.

QUESTIONS:
1. Have you ever had a hard time focusing? Why do you think it’s difficult to have “laser focus”?
2. If you had to be in an endurance race right now, how do think you would do? Winner winner chicken dinner/S.O.S./I’ve fallen and I can’t get up. Why did you answer the way you did?
3. Where are you more focused on circumstances than on Jesus?
4. Read Hebrews 12:1-3. What do you notice about this race of faith from these verses? List everything that stands out to you and why.
5. In Hebrews 12:1 it talks about the “great cloud of witnesses”. How should their example encourage you in your journey?
6. In Hebrews 12:2 there are a couple of things mentioned that will help us run the race of faith to the finish line. What are those? Is there anything right now that is hindering or entangling your faith journey?
7. In Hebrews 12:3 we see the even greater example of Jesus. What should reflecting on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus do for us in the race we’re running?
8. How can you “fix your eyes” on Jesus this week? What’s one step you can take to have “vertical vision”?

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, if I’m honest I too often get sidetracked by the circumstances all around me. Help me to “fix my eyes” on Jesus, to be focused on the promised hope we have. I need your help to throw off the things that want to distract me from what’s most important. I want that laser focus. Thank you that you’ve made a way for me, help me to keep moving forward in faith and to run the race with endurance and focus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to not stay stuck, to not shrink back. I don’t want this uncertainty to keep me spinning my wheels. I want to have forward movement, I want to live “by faith”. Thank you that you are with me. That you promise to not leave me. Help me to turn this place of frustration into a place of transformation. Today, I commit to take a step forward in my faith, to take a step forward in my life. I need your help to get moving again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.