Endurance in Faith: Running the Race Together

Hebrews 12:1-3 calls us to a life of endurance, reminding us that faith is not a sprint but a marathon. Life brings burdens—pain, regret, anxiety, people-pleasing, unhealthy relationships, and secret struggles—that weigh us down and threaten to sap our strength. Yet, we are not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those who have gone before us, persevered, and now cheer us on. Their stories remind us that endurance is possible, and that God is faithful to bring us through.

Preparation is essential. Before we can run the race set before us, we must lay aside every weight and sin that entangles us. This is not something others can do for us; it is a choice we must make. Readiness is about the heart and mind, about what we do before we ever step onto the track. It’s about intentional preparation—prayer, reflection, and letting go of what hinders us—so that we are truly ready to move forward.

Once we are ready, we must get set. The set position is one of humility and dependence, often marked by bowed heads and bent knees. It is a posture of prayer, surrender, and waiting on God’s timing. Sometimes, God keeps us in the set position longer than we’d like, not to punish us, but to prepare us—setting our hearts, our families, our finances, and our faith for what’s ahead. Rushing ahead leads to false starts; waiting on God ensures we move in His strength.

When God says “go,” it is really a call to “grow.” The race is uniquely ours, yet we run it together. Comparison is a trap; each of us has a distinct path, but we are invested in one another’s success. As we run, God is both authoring and finishing our faith, transforming us along the way. Who we are at the start is not who we will be at the finish. Our endurance is fueled by keeping our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. When we are tempted to give up, we remember His sacrifice and draw strength from His example.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Endurance in faith requires intentional preparation. The burdens and sins we carry—whether visible or hidden—must be laid aside by our own choice. No one else can do this work for us; it is a daily act of surrender and trust, making space for God’s strength to fill us. [12:59]
• 2. The “cloud of witnesses” is not just a poetic image, but a real source of encouragement. Remembering those who have gone before—both biblical heroes and personal mentors—reminds us that perseverance is possible. Their stories become fuel for our own journey, urging us to keep going when we feel alone or overwhelmed. [16:00]
• 3. The set position is a spiritual discipline. Bowing our heads in prayer and waiting on God’s timing is not wasted time; it is the crucible where character is formed and faith is deepened. God often keeps us in this posture longer than we desire, but it is in the waiting that we are truly prepared for what’s next. [20:45]
• 4. The race of faith is uniquely personal, yet deeply communal. Each of us has a distinct path, but we are called to run together, invested in one another’s endurance. Comparison leads to envy and discouragement, but mutual encouragement and shared perseverance lead to growth for all. [22:55]
• 5. Transformation happens in motion. As we run, God is both authoring and finishing our faith, shaping us through every step. Our responsibility is to keep our eyes on Jesus, drawing strength from His endurance and sacrifice, trusting that who we are becoming is God’s masterpiece in progress. [24:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:13] - Reading Hebrews 12:1-3
• [03:37] - The Challenge of Enduring Faith
• [04:36] - Faith Under Pressure and Persecution
• [06:15] - The Race of Faith: Starting and Finishing
• [07:50] - The Burdens We Carry
• [10:57] - The Cost of Running with Weights
• [11:56] - Laying Aside Every Weight
• [12:59] - Taking Responsibility for Our Burdens
• [16:00] - Encouragement from the Cloud of Witnesses
• [19:33] - The Set Position: Posture of Prayer
• [20:45] - Waiting on God’s Timing
• [22:55] - The Uniqueness of Our Race
• [23:48] - Avoiding Comparison and Embracing Community
• [24:45] - God as Author and Finisher
• [27:37] - Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

Bible Reading

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to 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.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 12:1, what are the two things we are told to lay aside before running the race of faith?
2. In the sermon, what are some specific examples of “weights” or burdens that can slow us down in our faith journey? ([07:50])
3. Who makes up the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in verse 1, and how did the pastor describe their role in our lives? ([16:00])
4. What is the “set position” described in the sermon, and what does it look like for a believer? ([19:33])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the author of Hebrews compare the life of faith to a race, and what does this metaphor teach us about following Jesus? ([06:15])
2. The sermon says that laying aside burdens is a choice we must make ourselves. Why do you think God asks us to do this work personally, rather than having someone else do it for us? ([12:59])
3. The “set position” is described as a time of waiting and prayer. What might God be doing in our lives during these seasons of waiting, according to the sermon? ([20:45])
4. The pastor said, “God’s call to go is really a call to grow.” What does it mean for our faith that the race is both uniquely ours and also something we run together? ([22:55])

Application Questions

1. The sermon listed burdens like regret, anxiety, people-pleasing, and unhealthy relationships. Which of these (or others) do you find yourself carrying right now? What would it look like for you to intentionally lay one of these aside this week? ([07:50])
2. The pastor said, “Some of us are waiting for somebody else to come take off the weight.” Are there areas in your life where you are waiting for someone else to make the first move toward healing or forgiveness? What step could you take instead? ([12:59])
3. Who is in your “cloud of witnesses”—people from the Bible, history, or your own life who inspire you to keep going? How can you remind yourself of their example when you feel discouraged? ([16:00])
4. The “set position” is about humility, prayer, and waiting on God’s timing. Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck in the waiting? How can you use this time to let God prepare your heart, your family, or your faith? ([20:45])
5. The sermon warned against comparing our race to others. When are you most tempted to compare your journey to someone else’s? How does this affect your faith or your relationships? ([23:48])
6. The pastor said, “Transformation happens in motion.” As you look back, how has God changed you as you’ve kept moving forward in faith, even when it was hard? ([24:45])
7. When you feel like giving up, what helps you keep your eyes on Jesus? Is there a specific practice, verse, or memory of His faithfulness that gives you strength? ([27:37])