Finishing Well

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Finishing Well
The Finish Line
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Core Value
God looks for men and women of integrity who live
holy lives that are accountable to God and to the
Body of Christ. Integrity glorifies God, protects
leaders from stumbling, and encourages growth.
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Teaching Objective
That each participant will evaluate their
spiritual life and passion for their calling and
commit to finish well.
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At once he began to preach in the synagogues that
Jesus is the Son of God. The Holy Bible New
International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan
Grand Rapids
Acts 920-22
Like Paul
Gods Plan for us
Start Right
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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 47
Like Paul
Gods Plan for us
Finish Well
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Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking
according to the statutes of his father David
The Holy Bible New International Version.
1996, c1984 . Zondervan Grand Rapids
Like Solomon
1 Kings 33
Start Right
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As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart
after other gods So Solomon did evil in the
eyes of the Lord he did not follow the Lord
completely, as David his father had done. The
Holy Bible New International Version. 1996,
c1984 . Zondervan Grand Rapids
Like Solomon
1 Kings 114-6
Finish Poorly
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Of all leaders will not Finish Well
The Hard Truth
70
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Drop Out
What Happened to them?
for Demas, because he loved this world, has
deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. (2
Timothy 410) The Holy Bible New International
Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan Grand Rapids
10
Plateau
What happened to them?
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their
stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their
mind is on earthly things. (Phil. 319) The Holy
Bible New International Version. 1996, c1984 .
Zondervan Grand Rapids
11
Disqualified
What happened to them?
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to
salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly
sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 710) The Holy Bible
New International Version. 1996, c1984 .
Zondervan Grand Rapids
12
How did this happen?
Ask Solomon
Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher.
Utterly meaningless! Everything is
meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 12) The Holy Bible
New International Version. 1996, c1984 .
Zondervan Grand Rapids
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
discipline. (Proverbs 17) The Holy Bible New
International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan
Grand Rapids
13
How did this happen?
He Forgot What He Had Written
And Became a Fool
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How do we lose integrity
One Step at a Time
In the Wrong Direction
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WHAT HAPPENED??
The Big Four
oney
M
ex
S
ower
P
ride
P
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The Big Four
Money
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The Big Four
Sex
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The Big Four
Power
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The Big Four
Pride
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Four More
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear
the word but the worries of this life, the
deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other
things come in and choke the word, making it
unfruitful. (Mark 418) The Holy Bible New
International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan
Grand Rapids
Often Forgotten
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Stop Listening and Learning
What has been will be again, what has been done
will be done again there is nothing new under
the sun. (Ecclesiastes 19-10) The Holy Bible
New International Version. 1996, c1984 .
Zondervan Grand Rapids
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Gods Answer
Keep Learning

• Luke 252 Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and
  grace
• Matthew 11 29 Learn from Me
• Proverbs 15 99 Let the wise listen and add to
  their learning.

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Have a personal growth plan?
Do you...
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Stop Living by Convictions and Weaken character
As Solomon grew oldhis heart was not fully
devoted to the Lord So Solomon did evil in the
eyes of the Lord he did not follow the Lord
completely
I Kings 114-6
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Gods Answer
Affirm your Convictions and Examine your
Character

• Ps.13923-24 Search me, O God
• Acts 420 We cannot help speaking about what we
  have seen and heard
• Daniel 316-18 We will not serve your gods or
  worship the image of gold you have set up.

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have at least one person that will confront you
about your life and witness
do you...
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Stop Walking in Awareness of our Influence
and Ultimate Contributions
There is no remembrance of men of old, and even
those who are yet to come will not be remembered
by those who follow. Ecclesiastes 111
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Gods Answer
Renew Your Commitments

• John 1719 For them I sanctify Myself that they
  too may be truly sanctified
• Make Gods Ultimate Your Ultimate Transformed
  people 2 Tim.21-2 Reliable Reproducers of The
  Christian Life

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have a Timothy in whom you are investing in so
they are faithful disciples and reproducing
themselves in others?
do you...
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Lose their once vibrant relationship with
God
The LORD became angry with Solomon because his
heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of
Israel, who had appeared to him twice. (1 Kings
119)
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Gods Answer
Become More Intentional about Personal and
Intimate Relationship with God

• Psalm 274 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is
  what I seek
• Psalm 51 12 Restore me the joy of your salvation

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have a consistent devotional and intercessory
prayer time?
do you...
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Which of the four more is a present danger in
your life?
Reflection
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Our Goal is
The Finish Line
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How do we Finish Well?
One Step at a Time
Paul and others have crossed it. II Tim. 46-8
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How to finish well
Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You
are not swayed by men because you pay no
attention to who they are but teach the way of
God in accordance with the truth. Mark 1214
Be a person of Integrity
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How to finish well
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere
in them, because if you do, you will save both
yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 416
Be Willing to be Held Accountable
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How to finish well
let us throw off everything that hinders and the
sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with
perseverancelet us fix our eyes on Jesus
(Hebrews 1212)
Stay Focused on the Goal
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how to finish well

• Be a person that stays focused on the goal

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The Prayer of the Finisher

• I consider my life worth nothing to me if only
  I may finish the race and complete the task the
  Lord Jesus gave me the task of testifying to
  the Gospel of Christ.
• Acts 2024