Never Lose Heart
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About Today's Speaker
As founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, Chris Hodges is known for his relevant teaching style and his passion for raising up leaders all around the world to fulfill the Great Commission. Chris and his wife Tammy have five children and live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Church of the Highlands began in 2001. Chris and Tammy are passionate about providing a life-giving church focused on the simplicity of the Gospel and the power of an intimate relationship with a loving God. Chris’ leadership skills are changing the way church is done worldwide. Under his leadership, Church of the Highlands offers 18 worship services each weekend at seven different campuses in Alabama and has grown to over 12,000 members. Chris has a deep passion for developing leaders and planting life-giving churches. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) in 2001 which has planted over 150 churches all across the USA.
Meaningless
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIV84
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Hating Life
Ecclesiastes 2:17 NIV84
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Useless
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 GNT
It is useless, useless, said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless. You spend your life working, laboring, and what do you have to show for it? Generations come and generations go, but the world stays just the same.
Weariness
Ecclesiastes 1:5-8 GNT
The sun still rises, and it still goes down, going wearily back to where it must start all over again. The wind blows south, the wind blows north—round and round and back again. Every river flows into the sea, but the sea is not yet full. The water returns to where the rivers began, and starts all over again. Everything leads to weariness—a weariness too great for words. Our eyes can never see enough to be satisfied; our ears can never hear enough.
No Satisfaction
Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 NLT
Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.
How to Never Lose Heart
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV84
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Set Your Mind
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV84
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Make It Last
John 6:27 NIV84
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Characterized by Generosity
Psalm 112:9 NLT
They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
Eyes on the Prize
Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV84
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Talk It Over
It’s been a busy week, but taking time to talk it over with someone can help you take your next step toward loving life again. On a scale of 1-10, how much would you say you love life right now? How did you land on that number—was it from being frustrated, tired, or unfulfilled? What truths from the Bible do you need to find to outweigh your problems? How will you go about that? How will you do all four things this week to refocus your mind on the eternal?
Prayer Request
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Online Resources
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