Running the Race of Faith Together

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, titled "Honorable Mention," I explore the theme of honor, particularly focusing on the concept of "honorable mention" as defined by Merriam-Webster: a distinction for exceptional merit but not deserving of top honors. This idea is illustrated through the story of my son Caleb, who received an honorable mention in his high school football team, and I draw parallels to the biblical "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11. This chapter of Hebrews highlights individuals who demonstrated exceptional faith, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others, who, despite their imperfections, were commended for their faith.

I emphasize that these biblical figures, though not perfect, set standards of faith that we can learn from. The sermon challenges us to live a life of faith greater than these heroes because we have the advantage of living after the cross, with the full revelation of God's love through Jesus Christ. The baton of faith has been passed down through generations, and now it is our turn to run the race, empowered by the Holy Spirit and united as the body of Christ.

The metaphor of a potato sack race is used to illustrate the importance of unity in our faith journey. Just as a potato sack race requires participants to move together, the church must run this race of faith collectively, supporting one another. The sermon concludes with a call to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and unity, encouraging us to live out our faith in community, inspired by the examples of those who have gone before us.

Key Takeaways

1. Honorable Mention and Faith: The concept of honorable mention teaches us that even those who are not at the top can have exceptional merit. In our spiritual journey, we may not always be the most prominent, but our faith and actions can still be significant in God's eyes. [46:38]
2. Learning from Imperfect Heroes: The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 were not perfect, yet they were commended for their faith. This reminds us that God values our faithfulness over our perfection, and we can learn from their examples to trust God in our imperfections. [56:27]
3. Living After the Cross: We have the advantage of living after the cross, with the full revelation of God's love through Jesus Christ. This should inspire us to live a life of faith greater than those who came before us, as we have seen the ultimate demonstration of God's love. [64:00]
4. Unity in Faith: The metaphor of a potato sack race illustrates the importance of unity in our faith journey. Just as participants must move together, the church must support one another, running the race of faith collectively and relying on the Holy Spirit for strength. [69:16]
5. Passing the Baton of Faith: The baton of faith has been passed down through generations, and now it is our turn to run the race. We are called to finish the race, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to live out our faith in community, inspired by the examples of those who have gone before us. [01:06:51]
** [66:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[43:11] - Introduction to Honorable Mention
[44:19] - Caleb's Story and Honorable Mention
[46:38] - The Faith Hall of Fame
[49:16] - Heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11
[50:44] - Time of Judges, Kings, and Prophets
[53:10] - Gideon's Story and God's Power
[56:27] - Imperfect Heroes of Faith
[57:20] - Living a Life of Faith Today
[61:21] - Pre-Flood and Pre-Egypt Faith
[64:00] - Living After the Cross
[66:51] - Passing the Baton of Faith
[69:16] - Unity in the Church
[71:37] - The Church's Role in the Race
[74:18] - Closing Prayer and Song

Sermon Clips

Hebrews chapter 11 is considered the faith Hall of Fame. The faith Hall of Fame and there are some really good people in the faith Hall of Fame. I mean we're talking some top level people of faith. There's people like there's pre-flood, post-flood, and then there'll be pre-Egypt and then there's pre-Promised Land. [00:46:38]

The honorable mentions are recorded in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 32 through 38. And so let's take a look Hebrews chap 11 verses 32-38 and we're going to see some honorable mentions exceptional merit. You know we just we just apparently does have enough time so Hebrews chapter 11 beginning with verse 32. [00:49:16]

And what more shall I say for time will fail me if I tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah of David and Samuel and the prophets who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. [00:50:44]

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword, they went about in sheep skins in goat skins being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated men of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. [00:56:27]

All these having gained approval through their faith did not receive what was promised because God had provided something better for us so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. They need us, you and I, the Church of today are called to live a life of faith. [01:04:00]

You and I should be faithful in the time period that God has placed us in. He has set us here for a very specific reason. You and I are here in this country at this time in order to be faithful. That's what we're here for. [01:06:51]

We should live a life of faith greater than all the heroes of Hebrews chapter 11 because we have seen something that none of them have ever seen. You see all of the Heroes of Faith were in a time before the cross and we are living in the time after the cross. [01:09:16]

We are living after the cross so we can look back and we can see the cross. There's no reason why we cannot live a life of faith greater than theirs when we have the light of the Cross illuminating our way. We know something that they never knew. [01:11:37]

The race that we are running is really a relay race. Before the Flood Abel passed the baton onto Enoch who passed the baton to Noah who passed the baton to Abraham who passed the baton to Sarah and to Isaac and to Jacob and Jacob passed the baton unto Joseph. [01:14:18]

The church has been empowered by the Holy Spirit and in united by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wasn't come to give you individual power. The Holy Spirit is come to give us unity and therefore maintain the unity of the spirit. [01:14:18]

The last leg of the race is like a potato sack race. This is beautiful. We've received the baton, the church, the body of Christ with different members in the body and yet with different members we're all supposed to run together in unity held together by the same spirit. [01:14:18]

God might have given me victory over a particular temptation, but if someone in my potato sack race is still struggling with that, then we're not going to go very far, are we? We're going to struggle, we're going to trip, we're going to stumble, we're going to fall. [01:14:18]

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