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#8: Why Does My Perseverance Matter?
49 Plays3 months ago
Episode Show Notes
Perseverance is more than pushing through hard seasons—it’s the sacred ground where God shapes character, strengthens faith, and writes a deeper story than comfort ever could. In this episode of the NextGen Matters Podcast, Rich Brown closes out the opening series, Why It Matters, by exploring why perseverance is essential for ministry leaders and followers of Christ.
We’ll define perseverance, trace its biblical roots, and look at how God uses it to transform both leaders and the people they serve. You’ll hear powerful examples from Scripture—Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Nehemiah, Job, Paul, and Jesus—that reveal how endurance through trials becomes testimony. Together, we’ll uncover practical ways to guard against losing perseverance: staying rooted in God’s Word, cultivating rhythms of rest, surrounding yourself with encouragers, remembering your calling, celebrating small victories, and fixing your eyes on Jesus.
Finally, we’ll reflect on the rewards perseverance brings—deeper character, enduring hope, strengthened faith, credibility in ministry, compassion for others, a godly legacy, and eternal reward.
This episode is an invitation to see perseverance not as a burden, but as a gift. Because your perseverance matters—for your story, your ministry, and the gospel itself.
Resources Mentioned
• https://www.nextgenmatters.com/contact
• The NextGen Matters Podcast on YouTube
· The Bible (Scripture references in order: 1 Peter 5:6-11; Hebrews 12:1-4; Romans 5:3–54; James 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Proverbs 22:1; James 1:12)
Timestamps
• 00:00–01:30 – Introduction and series wrap-up: Why perseverance matters
• 01:30–04:30 – The danger of walking away from ministry and faith
• 04:30–07:20 – Defining perseverance and why difficulty can be sacred ground
• 07:20–10:45 – Perseverance vs. struggle: understanding the difference
• 10:45–20:55 – Biblical examples of perseverance (Joseph, Moses, Hannah, David, Nehemiah, Job, Paul, Jesus)
• 20:55–26:20 – A biblical pattern of perseverance from 1 Peter 5
• 26:20–35:50 – Guarding against losing perseverance (six practical practices)
• 35:50–40:20 – The rewards of a life marked by perseverance
• 40:20–43:40 – Final encouragements, call to action, and what’s next for the podcast
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Next Gen Matters Podcast
00:00:01
NextGen Matters
Hey friend, welcome to the Next Gen Matters podcast, a show for ministry leaders seeking to move beyond overwhelm and move into leading with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
00:00:15
NextGen Matters
Have you ever noticed the difficult situations or even difficult seasons that you and I will face? We also seem to resist. And yet those same seasons that are difficult, those same difficult situations that we're seeking to resist are often the very ones that God uses to shape you.
00:00:39
NextGen Matters
I'm Rich Brown. And that's what today's episode focuses on, and we will fully intend on answering.
Theme Introduction: Why Perseverance Matters
00:00:48
NextGen Matters
So speaking of this episode, this concludes our first series on the Next Gen Matters podcast.
00:00:55
NextGen Matters
As we've leaned into the question, why it matters, by providing a look into eight topics that each Next Gen ministry leader needs to face head on.
00:01:09
NextGen Matters
Each episode is scaled or built upon the previous one. And if you haven't yet listened to the previous episodes, I incredibly and strongly encourage you to go back and listen to them.
00:01:23
NextGen Matters
So as we are having this on-air coffee conversation, let's investigate why does my perseverance matter?
00:01:35
NextGen Matters
Here's an honest question. have you noticed that so many people you knew going back even to high school or possibly even college, the people that you knew back in the day when you were much younger and they and you were all pursuing ministry.
00:01:58
NextGen Matters
Have you noticed that those same people, many of them are no longer in ministry or sadly, sadly are not even walking with the Lord anymore.
00:02:11
NextGen Matters
Or even more sad, is they've deconstructed their faith and are actually now denying the Lord that they said they loved and they would always serve.
00:02:24
NextGen Matters
As a professor of youth ministries over the years, I unfortunately have seen this take place. And ironically, it seems like it's the ones who were the the biggest rah-rahs, the biggest champions of the cause of Jesus and the the cause of reaching students for Christ.
00:02:42
NextGen Matters
And yet, for whatever reason, have just bounced. What happened? What happened? Just like the Apostle Peter 2,000 years ago, who claimed he would never deny Christ,
00:02:58
NextGen Matters
the ones that seemed like they were rocks of the faith, have crumbled. And I'm even going to go deeper with it. Not even the ones that we know, but how about those national figures, those podcasters, those pastors, those ministry influencers that we highly have valued and looked up to.
00:03:20
NextGen Matters
And you think, what happened? So the real question is, It shouldn't even be what happened to them. But honestly, y'all, the real question, the deeper question needs to be asked, could it happen to me?
00:03:37
NextGen Matters
Could it happen to me?
Exploring Perseverance: Key Questions
00:03:40
NextGen Matters
Well, in this episode, I promise that we're going to be looking into three key areas. There's questions I'll be asking you. And as you listen, I want you in your mind to actually begin to try to to answer these questions.
00:03:55
NextGen Matters
It's the best way I can try to provide a coffee conversation with just me in front of a microphone. But here's the three questions we're going to be looking into.
00:04:05
NextGen Matters
How does God use perseverance in our lives? How does God use perseverance in our lives? How can we guard against losing our perseverance?
00:04:18
NextGen Matters
And what are the rewards of a life that is focused on perseverance. In other words, what are the rewards a life of perseverance brings?
00:04:33
NextGen Matters
Well, first of all, like in so many of these episodes, we have to define our
Defining Perseverance: Etymology and Meaning
00:04:36
NextGen Matters
word. So we're going to define perseverance. simply put Simply put, perseverance is the steady, faithful choice to keep moving forward, even when the path goes.
00:04:52
NextGen Matters
is difficult, unclear, or slower than we hoped. I'm going to say that again.
00:05:01
NextGen Matters
Perseverance is the steady, faithful choice to keep moving forward even when the path is difficult, unclear, or slower than you hoped.
00:05:13
NextGen Matters
Now, not to get a little geeky, but here's the etymology of the word Perseverance. So in other words, the history and its origins.
00:05:25
NextGen Matters
The word perseverance originates from the Latin. It seems like some of our English words do, right? But it originates from the Latin and it simply means to fit to persist steadfastly.
00:05:39
NextGen Matters
To persist steadfastly. It then goes from Latin into Middle English through the Old French, retaining its core meaning of steadfastness and dedication.
00:05:50
NextGen Matters
Perseverance. So perseverance isn't just about pushing through hard moments and hard situations and circumstances. It's not just about pushing through.
00:06:02
NextGen Matters
Perseverance goes deeper. It's about paying attention to what those moments are producing in us. So when life gets uncomfortable, our first instinct is we want to run.
00:06:17
NextGen Matters
It's usually to escape or to fix, or we want to fast forward. You know, we want we want to just get through it and not learn the lesson that perseverance should be teaching us.
The Sacredness of Perseverance
00:06:29
NextGen Matters
But what if the very places we want God to remove in our lives, like the Apostle Paul said, the thorn in my flesh, God is actually using to reshape us from the inside out In this episode, we're going to be exploring how to persevere and how perseverance can become, you ready, sacred ground.
00:06:57
NextGen Matters
Sacred ground where character is formed, faith is strengthened, and a deeper story is' being written in us than any kind of comfort could ever bring.
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NextGen Matters
When you think of the word perseverance, what words come to your mind? If I was asking you the question, and I am right now, I'm asking you this question, what would be words, like one word definitions that you would use when someone says perseverance?
00:07:29
NextGen Matters
Here's a list I have. See if you resonate with some of these or came came up with some of these. Persistence. So perseverance, how would I describe it? One word answers.
00:07:41
NextGen Matters
Persistence. I love the next word. Tenacity. Tenacity. Y'all seen a pit bull or a bulldog? Yeah, that's tenacity. Not a hound dog. That's not that's not tenacity.
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NextGen Matters
Tenacity. Determination. I'm in it to win it, right? Determination or resolution. i am resolved. Dedication. Endurance.
00:08:08
NextGen Matters
grit. That sounds like a John Wayne thing, right? Grit, steadfastness. By the way, if you're under 40, you're thinking, John who? Anyway, yeah ask your parents or grandparents about John Wayne.
Biblical Examples of Perseverance
00:08:20
NextGen Matters
So here's our first question. How does God use your perseverance? How does God use your perseverance? Well, I would invite you to look back into episode three.
00:08:34
NextGen Matters
In that episode, we talked about why does my struggle matter? Why does my struggle matter? Now, while there is considerable considerable overlap between struggle to perseverance, I think there's a difference enough that I want to point a few things off.
00:08:51
NextGen Matters
I think the difference between that episode of why does my struggle matter to this one and why does my perseverance matter is this one, the struggle here focuses on the present while perseverance is more long range.
00:09:11
NextGen Matters
So let me kind of break this down. Struggle focuses on the present, whereas perseverance, I think, is more of that long-range mentality. So struggle and perseverance. Let's contrast the two. Struggle is what happens to you.
00:09:28
NextGen Matters
It may be the hardship you're going through, maybe this pressure you're facing, ministry disappointment, personal disappointment, various setbacks, Even circumstances in your personal life or your ministry life, you didn't choose.
00:09:44
NextGen Matters
You know, the the elder board or the deacon board preacher, whoever chose for you. Struggle is the storm.
00:09:55
NextGen Matters
Struggle is the storm. What's perseverance? Perseverance is how you respond to what happens to you. Perseverance is the decision to stay faithful, to keep moving forward, keep trusting God, and continuing to show up even when the struggle remains.
00:10:22
NextGen Matters
Perseverance is the endurance through the storm. The struggle is the storm. Perseverance is the enduring through the storm.
00:10:35
NextGen Matters
As I've said in previous episodes, you have your war stories and so do I. And I won't take the time to walk through some of them right now.
00:10:45
NextGen Matters
But if you're a ministry long enough, you probably will lose your job. Either you call the shot and you resign or someone calls it for you and they throw this offer to you of we're we're offering you the chance to resign or you're fired, your choice.
00:11:02
NextGen Matters
I've been there and it's not fun. And when you resign and you're not even sure why, because some political decision was made way above your head and you take the high road and keep, let me say the game face on.
00:11:20
NextGen Matters
And I shared some of that in that episode three, so I don't need to repeat that. But to me, perseverance is even showing up until you're finished in that particular ministry where you're kind of that lame duck for a week, two, three weeks.
00:11:38
NextGen Matters
And that's just a small, maybe a small window into what perseverance looks like. But it means still showing up even when it's not going well. Let me recall something I mentioned in the episode on struggle.
00:11:53
NextGen Matters
Your struggle matters because it is both formative and transformative. Let me break that down. Formative. Formative is shaping you into the leader God is calling you to be. It's forming that Christ-like image into you, just like he went through hardships. Oh my goodness, yes.
00:12:16
NextGen Matters
And now we are going through hardships, struggle. We are being made conform more into his image than by going through struggle.
00:12:26
NextGen Matters
And also then it's transformative. In other words, our struggles can be impacting the lives that we're ministering to, the lives that surround us.
00:12:37
NextGen Matters
That's definitely true for struggle, but I would say while there is some contrast between struggle and perseverance, that's where they're very similar. The same could be said for perseverance.
00:12:50
NextGen Matters
hey, you know me, I'm going to bring the Bible up because that's what this is all about. And I promised in my intro episode that every episode, the most the most consistently quoted source will be the Word of God.
00:13:06
NextGen Matters
i unfortunately know so many ministry podcasts that barely mention the Bible or a verse or two is totally out of whack and out of context. I'm like, come on, let's do better than that. I want us to always bring up the word of God.
00:13:19
NextGen Matters
So when I think of perseverance, there are biblical examples that I want to bring to the table right now. Some of them we've even we've even went through the last couple of weeks.
00:13:32
NextGen Matters
I've eight listed, including, of course, the Lord Jesus. Joseph talked about the man last week in integrity. Joseph's long road from the pit to the palace. These are biblical examples of perseverance. Joseph's long road from the pit to the palace. Remember, Joe was betrayed. He was falsely accused. He's forgotten while in prison. And yet Joseph remained faithful.
00:13:57
NextGen Matters
And God used every setback to position him for purpose. Number two, our second character here, biblical example, is Moses.
00:14:10
NextGen Matters
Moses, starting at the age of 80. Come on, right? Wasn't ageism back then, huh? Moses leading a resistant people. They were hard-necked, as he said, stiff-necked.
00:14:24
NextGen Matters
They were hard-hearted and stiff-necked. Moses leading a resistant people for how long? 40 years. For 40 years, they kept telling him no and kept complaining about man of this and man of that.
00:14:40
NextGen Matters
His perseverance in prayer mixed with his tears, his longing for them to get it together, and his faith in Jehovah, that all became
00:14:56
NextGen Matters
to the to the climax of where where he stood on the mountain. And he couldn't enter the promised land because of his disobedience to God. But he trusted God for that promise that God would deliver his people into what the word says is called the promised land. He watched those people march across the Jordan River into the promised land.
00:15:19
NextGen Matters
He trusted God. Even when the journey was timing, or tiring him, and he felt felt so endless. Now here's more of an obscure individual that doesn't get a lot of like sermon time.
00:15:34
NextGen Matters
Her name is Hannah. Hannah prayed year after year after year for a child. Her perseverance in prayer mixed with her tears, mixed with her longing, and mixed with her faiths.
00:15:54
NextGen Matters
became the birthplace of Samuel and a turning point in the Jewish story, going from the judges into the prophet, which would then turn into the era of the kings.
00:16:11
NextGen Matters
We've seen Joseph, Moses, Hannah, now David. David waiting to become king while being hunted. He was anointed, but not yet appointed.
00:16:22
NextGen Matters
You hear that? He was anointed by who? Samuel, the prophet Samuel. He was anointed. David was probably 15 to 16 years old. He's told he will become the king of Israel. And once he do, for his after show party, he goes back out to the fields where the sheep are and he just goes back to his day job being a shepherd boy.
00:16:48
NextGen Matters
He was anointed, but not yet appointed. And then comes the Goliath story. And then he gets the girl, slays the dragon, and in this case the giant. And he gets the girl, Mishal. He's a son-in-law to the king, but you know that story.
00:17:02
NextGen Matters
The king is jealous. Saul is David is his ten thousands. By the way, the movie David has just come out. I'm planning take my grandkids. Now, some are really little, so I won't take the little littles, but the five-year-old I'm going to take, as well as my my adult kids. We're going to go see the the new animated movie, David.
00:17:21
NextGen Matters
All I saw the trailer. looks pretty cool. During the time when he was on the run, he persevered through his fear, through the injustice that King Saul gave to him, and even years of hiding.
00:17:35
NextGen Matters
And he didn't take any shortcuts. I'm thinking twice he had the opportunity to knock out, to take out, to off, if you will, mafia term, right?
00:17:46
NextGen Matters
The king. And he goes, nope. even the lord Even though the Lord delivered him, he would not take his hand up against the Lord's anointed. patience. ne mayah Nehemiah, Nehemiah rebuilt the wall despite the opposition. Samballot, Tobiah, among many others, he faced ridicule.
00:18:06
NextGen Matters
He faced threats. He faced exhaustion. Yet he kept the people focused on the work God called them to do. And in 52 days, the wall was built.
00:18:18
NextGen Matters
Job, Job is holding on to God in unexplainable suffering. Job persevered not by understanding his pain.
00:18:29
NextGen Matters
He didn't, he didn't, why did it come to me? Why, why did I get this? Right? He persevered not by understanding his pain, but by refusing to let go of God.
00:18:40
NextGen Matters
His own wife said to him, curse dad cur curse God and die He goes, no, I'm not doing that. He refused to let go of God in the middle of his difficult physical and emotional suffering and anguish, let alone financial, you know, talk about, you know, financial, gum
00:19:04
NextGen Matters
we just kind of fall apart, you know, and you lose everything. That was Job. That was Job. Total collapse. New Testament, the Apostle Paul.
00:19:17
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Paul endured beatings, prison, and hardship, all for the sake of the gospel. You know, his perseverance wasn't fueled by comfort, but by his calling.
00:19:29
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I love, love 1 and 2 Timothy. I love especially 2 Timothy. Ironically, today's quiet time was 2 Timothy. I fought the good fight.
00:19:41
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I've kept the faith. I've run the race.
00:19:46
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That was the heart of the apostle Paul. He says in the very first chapter how he knew he was called. He knew he was called to be an apostle, to be to be, as a point to be an apostle, to be the shepherd, to be this church planter, to build up the body of Christ. And he did.
00:20:07
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He persevered and he built up the early church. And the last of the Bible examples is, of course, our Lord Jesus. and I'm thinking Hebrews chapter 12.
00:20:20
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Jesus persevering through the cross for the joy set before him. The ultimate picture of endurance.
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His love for us and his commitment to restore us to the father was the joy set before him.
00:20:42
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Now I have... If you're sitting down, going to get your Bible out, get your phone out and go to 1 Peter 5, 6 to 11.
Nine Points on Perseverance from 1 Peter 5
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NextGen Matters
I'm going to read this scripture because actually this was a couple of days ago when I first began preparing for the podcast and doing some research and some writing.
00:21:00
NextGen Matters
I actually that morning had read 1 Peter. And when I got to chapter five, I'm like, dude, this totally fits perseverance. I have to put this in the podcast. so So here it is. I'm going to be reading these verses And I've drawn nine different points out, what I call the biblical pattern of perseverance.
00:21:24
NextGen Matters
There's a biblical pattern. there's There's nine areas where I see of a biblical pattern of perseverance. 1 Peter 5, starting at verse 6 and then reading through verse 11.
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Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
00:21:48
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Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
00:22:09
NextGen Matters
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.
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To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
00:22:30
NextGen Matters
So as I was reading that in my quiet time, i was thinking, dude, this totally fits with perseverance. and And began looking through this, and tonight and again, I mentioned nine areas. So here they are. Here's the first one.
00:22:44
NextGen Matters
What's the biblical pattern of perseverance? Number one, it starts in a posture of humility. Verse six, humble yourselves under God's mighty hand. And that is the second point.
00:22:56
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It recognizes this biblical pattern, recognizes the strength and the sovereignty of God, God's mighty hand. he may lift you up in his due time.
00:23:09
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Number three, it calls for us to cast our struggles on him. There's a verse that that you're probably very familiar with, verse seven, casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
00:23:21
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Number four, understands the enemy, seeks to destroy us. What we're called to be controlled, self-controlled and alert because the enemy, like a lion, is wrong.
00:23:34
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prowling around, seeking to destroy us. So it understands this biblical pattern of perseverance. We understand the enemy wants to take us out. And also number five commands us to resist him by standing firm in our faith. Standing firm as a soldier would do, getting ready to go one-on-one with a guy across the line from you.
00:23:58
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think Think of that Roman era of a soldier. Think of a boxer facing us facing and a match with another boxer or UFC, et cetera, et cetera, or offensive line, defensive line.
00:24:10
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We're standing firm, right? We are to resist the enemy and stand firm in our faith. Number six, it realizes that we're not alone.
00:24:20
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I love what verse 9 says. Resist him standing firm in the faith, ready? Because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.
00:24:31
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We're not alone. You're not the only one going through what you're going through. There are people you know who are going through the same, if not similar, situations you're going through. And even if you don't know them personally, trust me, they're out there.
00:24:47
NextGen Matters
It's a big body of Jesus, and there's a lot of hurt and pain. You're not alone. Number seven, this biblical pattern of perseverance acknowledges that my struggle is real, but my destiny is also real.
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NextGen Matters
My destiny is also real. where Peter says, and the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus after you have suffered a little while will will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.
00:25:18
NextGen Matters
It acknowledges that our struggle is real, but our destiny is real. It also states that God will restore us, confirm what we're going through is legitimate, and also yet confirm us, and also strengthen us, and establish us.
00:25:35
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And then last, it promises that God's kingdom is eternal. That last verse he says in that section,
00:25:42
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To Him be the power forever and ever. The power, the dominion. God's kingdom is eternal.
00:25:52
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I should fire you up. Biblical pattern of perseverance. So, second question. How? How can we guard against losing it?
Practical Suggestions for Perseverance
00:26:05
NextGen Matters
Our perseverance. How do we guard against losing our perseverance? Here's some thoughts. I got six. These are kept in obvious, okay? There's nothing here that you're gonna go, wow, Rich, new epiphany, thanks, bro.
00:26:18
NextGen Matters
No, it's just reminders, Philippians 3.1. I write these things to remind you again. These are just healthy reminders, but they're truth. They're truth. How do we guard against losing our perseverance? Number one, stay rooted in God's word.
00:26:34
NextGen Matters
there's There's no secret to that, no secret sauce. Stay rooted in God's word. Yes, read it, but live in it. I have shared with many over the years, the question is not, am I in the Word? The real question is, is the Word in me?
00:26:51
NextGen Matters
Am I rooted in God's Word? So, as you read daily His Word, you will be constantly reminded of God's nature and God's character and how God faithfully upholds His covenant and His promises.
00:27:09
NextGen Matters
Perseverance will weaken when we forget what God has spoken. how do we forget that? We don't open up the book. We just stop reading for whatever reason.
00:27:24
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Regularly rehearsing and reading his word so that my endurance is anchored in truth, not feelings. There's something even powerful powerful about reading the word out loud.
00:27:39
NextGen Matters
So you're like rehearsing it. You know what I'm saying? Like you're're you're saying it out loud. You're speaking that truth. There's something about so the the power of speaking truth out loud. That's the power of worship. that's When i pray, I don't pray in my head. i want to pray out loud.
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I'm rehearsing. I'm hearing it. Okay? So stay rooted in God's word. Two, develop rhythms of three things. Rest, renewal,
00:28:04
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and relaxation. Develop rhythms of rest, renewal, and relaxation. Perseverance isn't about burning out. My dad's era, they were taught that in seminary. He told me that.
00:28:18
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You know, burn out for Jesus. Perseverance isn't about burning out. It's about sustainable faithfulness. Taking your Sabbath.
00:28:30
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spending time in worship and prayer, creating margin in your life. And yes, I'm going to say in having a hobby, something you enjoy that's not ministry related.
00:28:42
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helps keep your soul strong enough to endure. Third, surround yourself with encouragers. Psalm 1, Proverbs 1, both speak of the the influential power of those who surround us.
00:28:57
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Surround yourself with encouragers. I'm reminded of how Paul had a ministry team around him. And and when when he writes 2 Timothy, again, I just read that this morning, when he writes 2 Timothy,
00:29:09
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Demas had bounced. The others are on ministry assignments. He says, only Luke is with me.
00:29:15
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But Luke was a powerful and faithful friend. The medical doctor, who is also soon to be a historian because he's so into the history facts when he writes his own gospel, the gospel of Luke and the book of acts Luke is there with Paul to the very end. Luke basically, it's like he surrendered himself to be in a rest with Paul, okay?
00:29:39
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Luke was that faithful friend. Surround yourself with encouragers. Isolation erodes perseverance. I'm gonna say that again.
00:29:50
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Isolation erodes perseverance. And when you look at ministry leaders who fall into deep immoral sin, by the way, i didn't say they made a mistake.
00:30:03
NextGen Matters
When they fall into deep immoral sin, usually when you look at the patterns, they cut themselves off from other people. Oh, they knew a lot of people.
00:30:14
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They could have fun with a lot of people. They could boss a lot of people around. but who are they honest with and who could be honest with them? Isolation erodes perseverance, yet community reminds you that you're not alone and the faith of others can carry you even when sometimes yours is feeling a little thin.
00:30:37
NextGen Matters
Fourth, remember the why behind your calling. was episodes one and three. Episode one was on why the next generation matters. And episode three was on why does your calling matter?
00:30:51
NextGen Matters
Matter of fact, that has resonated because when I look at the the stats, if you will, of of those who've checked in, even on our YouTube of this of this podcast, the most views on YouTube are that episode.
00:31:05
NextGen Matters
The most listens or the most you know people have checked into the episodes. Episode three on calling is the number one episode right now. So that's resonated. Remember the why behind your calling.
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NextGen Matters
Perseverance fades when your vision fades. So keep reminding yourself of the mission you've been called to do. And I'm not talking about logistics, the structure, the program.
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When I say calling, I'm talking about the people you serve. If you're children's director, those children you serve, and their parents. Student ministry, those students, those college students, for you in college ministry.
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Ministry is about the people you serve. Never forget, God is using you, even where you are when you don't feel he's using you. Your why, which is people,
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is an eternal why. Remember the why behind your calling. Number five, celebrate small victories. Gratitude for progress, even tiny steps, fuels perseverance. It reminds you that work that a pardon me that that God is at work. It reminds you that God is at work, even when things kind of slow down and and you don't really seem to see it.
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This is why I am a fan of what I do in my own disciplines of writing down in the morning, my three G's, my three gratitudes, daily journal of three G's.
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I'm looking throughout the day, things to be grateful for. And it's just not how I finished my task list, which sometimes that is part of it. But it's also just some of the simple things like, Lord, it was a beautiful day. remember sometimes I've just jundled down. I got to work outside on the deck.
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not Now, now it's December as I'm recording this. but But before that, you know it was a beautiful fall day and it's having a cup of coffee out there and just doing some of my online professor work and or working in some Next Year Matters content, whatever. And I'm like, this was a beautiful day. Thank you, Lord. That was a gift.
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Guys, come on. Think of three things every day you're you're you're just grateful for. Celebrate small victories. And last is Hebrews 12.
Hebrews 12: Jesus as the Model of Perseverance
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Fix your eyes on Jesus.
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That chapter, chapter 12, reminds us that perseverance is sustained by looking into Christ, who endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. I'm going to read for you these first four verses of chapter 12. Worship the Lord Jesus when this scripture is read.
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Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which so clings to us so closely.
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And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Now, I memorized that in the NIV. That's the ESV. So it sounds a little different to you, maybe that's why. Instead of the author and finisher, says the founder and perfecter of our faith. But it's the same thing.
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It's all about Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. It was real. The pain was obviously real. Emotional, physical, spiritual separation, everything going on.
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despising the shame. He was being he was being despised. But then when it was done and he ascended, he took his rightful place once again right next to his father.
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Why?
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His joy was to see you and I restored to him.
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Last question.
Rewards of Perseverance
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What are the rewards? that a life of perseverance brings. What are some of the rewards that a life of perseverance brings? Now, there's many more that I'm going to list, but I have a short list.
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What are some of these rewards of a life of perseverance? Deeper character, hope that endures, strength in faith, credibility in ministry, avoiding shipwreck, compassion for others, godly legacy,
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and an eternal reward. Let me back up Deeper character. Perseverance shapes patience. Humility and courage. Qualities that comfort alone could never produce.
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Romans 5, 3, and 4. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character.
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So deeper character is reward. Hope that endures is a reward. Continuing with Romans 5, that reminds us that perseverance produces character and character produces hope. A hope that doesn't disappoint.
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As the scripture says, and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame. This is the ESV. It produces a faith that doesn't disappoint.
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Hope that endures. Strengthening of our faith. Each time you endure, You build history with God. you're You're building wins one upon another. Just like in sports, you're building a, a you're getting a winning streak going, all right?
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Each time you endure, you build a history with God. The history then becomes confidence for future storms. James 1.3, for you know that the testing of your faith produces what?
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Steadfastness. Fourth is credibility in ministry. Please hear this. People trust leaders who have walked through hardship.
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Your perseverance becomes a testimony that gives weight to your words. I remember in the classroom, students would ask a lot of questions. say Hey, what do you think about this, Doc? What do you think about that?
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But lot of times, they didn't always want my wins or my victories in ministry. They wanted to know what were What were my losses? What were my losses? People seem to resonate, don't we?
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We want to have leaders that have been through the war. We want to be able to trust leaders who've walked through hardship. 1 Thessalonians 2.10. You are witnesses in God also how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
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Avoiding spiritual shipwreck. Not only do we save our own spiritual integrity, but we also save others from possibly falling away. 1 Timothy 4.16. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your doctrine.
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Persist in these, for by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers. Compassion for others. Those who persevere listen differently, emphasize more deeply, and carry hope with authenticity. 2 Corinthians 1, 3, and 4 says, this one? legacy that godly, godly legacy. Our lives will continue to speak after we are gone.
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how about this one a legacy that is godly a gody legacy our lives will continue to speak after we are gone Years after our passing and someone mentions our name, what will they say?
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Proverbs 22, verse 1. A good name is more desirable than great riches. To be esteemed is better than silver or gold. And last is eternal reward.
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Scripture promises this crown of life to those who remain steadfast under trial. James 1.12, blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.
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So why does perseverance
Conclusion and Future Directions
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matters? Well, in this episode, we've seen how God uses perseverance in our lives, how we can guard against losing it, and what are the the rewards a life of perseverance brings.
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Perseverance matters because it transforms how we live our story. Struggle will always be part of life, but perseverance turns struggle into strength, trouble into triumph, and confusion into character.
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It matters because every step of endurance is shaping us into the people who reflect Christ's strength rather than our own strength.
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It matters because our faith becomes credible, our hope becomes contagious, and our lives become a witness that God is faithful even during the waiting.
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And perseverance matters because it connects us to the bigger story of God's redemptive plan. Come on, you ready? The final restoration.
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because it's reminding us that what we endure today is never wasted, but is woven into his divine and eternal purposes.
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Well, as the end of another episode comes to pass, I always say, here's our call to action. I'm going to list three bullet points as three options, but I want you to take one step this week to strengthen your perseverance.
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Here's the first bullet point. Maybe You need to get serious again about really daily spending time in the Word of God and not hit or miss.
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Getting serious about spending time in His Word. Second option, okay, start journaling through gratitudes. Every day, whether it's late evening or early morning as you reflect back on the previous day, journal through gratitudes. I call it my three Gs.
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Here's a vulnerable one. Reach out to someone you really do trust and have a very needed conversation of where you're currently struggling. Well, that's a wrap y'all.
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This episode concludes this opening series entitled Why It Matters. We've looked into why does the next generation matter? Why does my calling matter? Why does my ministry matter?
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Why does my struggle matter? My devotional time, my doctrine, my integrity, and now my perseverance. We're gonna be taking the next two weeks off over the holidays, and then the beginning of 2026, we will start a new series and a new look that's right around the corner.
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Now, I got three takeaways. If this episode has encouraged you, make sure you've listened to the other previous episodes. And if you wanna watch this, I have these on video as well on the Next Gen Matters podcast YouTube channel.
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Also make sure you hit the follow button so you don't miss what's next and and share with another ministry leader, especially volunteers. I just talked to a student ministry leader this last week about that. Hey, I should share this with my volunteers. I'm like, yes, do.
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And are you receiving the NGM Weekly Thursday Tool email? If not, sign up for it. I've got the link to sign up for that right here in the show notes. Until next time, remember,
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Your leadership matters because your ministry matters because the gospel matters. God bless and take care.