Running the Race of Faith with Endurance
Summary
As we gather today, I am filled with gratitude for each of you joining us, whether in person or online. As we look forward to 2025, I am excited about the potential for it to be the best year of our lives, not because everything will go perfectly, but because we can walk with Jesus every day. Our focus today is on Hebrews 12:1-2, which encourages us to run the race of faith with endurance, looking to Jesus as our ultimate example. This passage reminds us that God has set a unique course for each of us, and we are called to live out our Christian lives with full commitment and effort.
The book of Hebrews, unlike many New Testament writings, is more like a sermon, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite persecution. It emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over all things, urging us not to turn away from Him. As we enter 2025, I challenge you to live fully committed to Jesus, recognizing that He is greater than anything else we might pursue.
To run the race effectively, we must first look to the examples of faith that have gone before us, as highlighted in Hebrews 11. These individuals faced immense challenges yet remained faithful. We can learn from their successes and failures, applying these lessons to our own lives. Additionally, we must remove anything that hinders us, whether it be sin or distractions, to run with endurance.
Finally, our focus must be on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. By fixing our eyes on Him, we can endure hardships and remain faithful, knowing that our ultimate reward is not of this world but in the eternal presence of God. As we prepare for the new year, I invite you to commit to this race, to live fully for Jesus, and to experience the abundant life He offers.
Key Takeaways:
1. Run the Race with Endurance: Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to live out our Christian faith with endurance, recognizing that God has set a unique course for each of us. This requires full commitment and effort, trusting that Jesus is greater than anything else we might pursue. [37:46]
2. Learn from the Faithful: Hebrews 11 provides examples of individuals who remained faithful despite immense challenges. By studying their lives, we can learn valuable lessons to apply to our own faith journey, helping us to remain steadfast in our commitment to Jesus. [45:20]
3. Remove Hindrances: To run the race effectively, we must identify and remove anything that hinders us, whether it be sin or distractions. This allows us to live fully committed to Jesus, free from the weights that slow us down. [51:06]
4. Focus on Jesus: Our focus must be on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. By fixing our eyes on Him, we can endure hardships and remain faithful, knowing that our ultimate reward is in the eternal presence of God. [57:50]
5. Commit to Community and Growth: We are not meant to journey alone. Engaging with a community of believers and committing to spiritual growth through daily scripture reading and prayer strengthens our faith and helps us run the race with endurance. [47:54]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to the Race
- [03:30] - Hebrews 12:1-2 Overview
- [07:15] - The Context of Hebrews
- [12:00] - Jesus' Superiority
- [16:30] - Living Fully Committed
- [21:00] - Learning from the Faithful
- [25:45] - Removing Hindrances
- [30:20] - The Importance of Focus
- [35:00] - Community and Growth
- [40:00] - Invitation to Faith
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 12:1-2
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-2 suggest about the role of Jesus in our faith journey? How is He described in these verses? [56:00]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1? How does this relate to the examples of faith in Hebrews 11? [45:20]
3. What are some of the hindrances mentioned in the sermon that can prevent us from running the race of faith effectively? [51:06]
4. How does the pastor describe the concept of endurance in the context of running the race of faith? [56:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the pastor interpret the idea of "running the race with endurance" in Hebrews 12:1-2? What practical steps does he suggest for living a life fully committed to Jesus? [56:00]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the examples from Hebrews 11 can influence our own faith journey? How can these examples help us remain steadfast? [45:20]
3. The sermon emphasizes removing hindrances to our faith. What might be some modern-day "weights" or distractions that believers need to lay aside to live fully for Jesus? [51:06]
4. How does focusing on Jesus, as described in Hebrews 12:2, help believers endure hardships and remain faithful? What does the pastor say about the importance of this focus? [57:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some specific "weights" or distractions that you need to remove to run the race of faith more effectively? How can you start addressing these this week? [51:06]
2. The sermon encourages looking to examples of faith. Who in your life serves as a role model for living a committed Christian life? How can you learn from their example and apply it to your own journey? [45:20]
3. Consider the idea of endurance in your faith journey. What challenges are you currently facing that require endurance? How can you draw strength from your relationship with Jesus to overcome these challenges? [56:00]
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of community in running the race of faith. How can you engage more deeply with your church community to support your spiritual growth? What steps can you take to build stronger connections with fellow believers? [47:54]
5. Reflect on the concept of focusing on Jesus. Is there a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Him? What practical steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and draw closer to Jesus? [57:50]
6. The sermon challenges believers to live fully committed to Jesus in 2025. What specific goals or commitments can you set for yourself in the coming year to deepen your faith and live more fully for Christ? [56:00]
7. How can you incorporate daily scripture reading and prayer into your routine to strengthen your faith and help you run the race with endurance? What changes can you make to prioritize these spiritual disciplines? [47:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Running with Purpose
In Hebrews 12:1-2, believers are encouraged to run the race of faith with endurance, recognizing that God has set a unique course for each individual. This race is not about speed but about perseverance and commitment. The passage highlights the importance of looking to Jesus as the ultimate example, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. As we approach 2025, the challenge is to live fully committed to Jesus, understanding that He is greater than any other pursuit. This commitment requires effort and trust, knowing that the journey of faith is a marathon, not a sprint. [37:46]
Hebrews 10:36-37 (ESV): "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.'"
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your faith journey is marked by endurance and commitment, even when challenges arise?
Day 2: Learning from the Faithful
Hebrews 11 provides a rich tapestry of individuals who remained faithful despite immense challenges. These stories serve as a source of inspiration and instruction, offering valuable lessons for our own faith journeys. By studying their lives, we can learn from both their successes and failures, applying these insights to remain steadfast in our commitment to Jesus. The examples of faith in Hebrews 11 remind us that we are not alone in our struggles and that perseverance is possible through faith. [45:20]
James 5:10-11 (ESV): "As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."
Reflection: Who is one biblical figure whose faith journey inspires you, and how can you apply their example to a current challenge in your life?
Day 3: Removing Hindrances
To effectively run the race of faith, it is crucial to identify and remove anything that hinders us, whether it be sin or distractions. These hindrances can weigh us down, preventing us from living fully committed to Jesus. By shedding these weights, we can run with endurance, free from the burdens that slow us down. This process requires self-examination and a willingness to let go of anything that detracts from our focus on Christ. [51:06]
Colossians 3:8-10 (ESV): "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: What is one specific hindrance in your life that you need to remove to run your race more effectively, and what steps can you take today to address it?
Day 4: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
The focus of our faith journey must be on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. By fixing our eyes on Him, we can endure hardships and remain faithful, knowing that our ultimate reward is in the eternal presence of God. This focus provides the strength and perspective needed to navigate the challenges of life, reminding us that our hope is not in this world but in the promises of God. [57:50]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally fix your eyes on Jesus today, especially in moments of difficulty or distraction?
Day 5: Committing to Community and Growth
The journey of faith is not meant to be traveled alone. Engaging with a community of believers and committing to spiritual growth through daily scripture reading and prayer strengthens our faith and helps us run the race with endurance. This communal aspect of faith provides support, accountability, and encouragement, enabling us to grow in our relationship with God and others. As we prepare for the new year, let us commit to nurturing these relationships and prioritizing our spiritual growth. [47:54]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: How can you actively engage with your faith community this week to foster spiritual growth and mutual encouragement?
Quotes
"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, 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 deceit, and conceited at the right hand of the throne of God." [00:40:18] (27 seconds)
"Over the course of the next several chapters, the author of Hebrews then goes on to share how Jesus is greater than the angels. Jesus is greater than the prophets, including Moses. Jesus is greater than the priests. Jesus is greater than the prophets, including Moses. Because he is our great high priest. Jesus is greater than the tabernacle. Jesus is greater than the old sacrificial system. He's explaining that Jesus is superior." [00:40:45] (23 seconds)
"He's writing them saying, when you go through a difficult time, don't turn away from God because there's nothing greater that you can turn to. And church, as I studied this passage, I believe that God laid a similar truth on my heart. I believe he gave me a similar message that I want to share with you today. Today, I want to share with you how you can live your life fully committed to Jesus." [00:41:36] (24 seconds)
"The first way is this. If you want to run the race to win, if you want to live fully committed to Jesus, look to the examples that have gone before you. Look to the examples that have gone before you. Hebrews chapter 12, the very first portion of it says, therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses." [00:42:40] (21 seconds)
"You want to know how you live a life fully committed to Jesus? You look to the examples that have gone before you. You look to those who have been successful. And this is a principle that not only applies to the faith, but it applies to every aspect of our life. If you want to be a great leader, look to someone who's already a great leader." [00:44:43] (19 seconds)
"There are people around us. There are people around us within our church family that have more life experience, that are further along in their faith. There are people that have already walked through situations like you're walking through right now. And I want you to know that you were not created to go through this life on an island by yourself. You were created for community." [00:46:36] (20 seconds)
"But scripture also tells us we need to remove anything that is holding us back. Remove anything that is holding us back. The second portion of verse one says, Let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely. Remember, the Christian life is being compared to a race. If you want to give everything that you have to the Lord, if you want to run the race to win, you've got to identify the things in your life that are hindering you." [00:48:32] (30 seconds)
"Imagine trying to run a race when you're in a car accident. Imagine trying to run a race when you're in a car accident. Imagine trying to run a race when you have to lift someone's weight completely every time you lift your foot. If I tried to run a race, the smallest child in this room could beat me in a race if I had someone clinging to my legs. And yet that is the image that it gives us for sin. Sin clings so closely." [00:55:33] (21 seconds)
"We look to the examples that have gone before us. We remove the things that are holding us back. And then church, we have to run. Hebrews chapter 12, verse one, the last portion of verse one says, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. It's this idea that every one of us has a different path. What God has called you to and what God has called me to may be different, but he's called all of us to run and endure for the sake of Christ." [00:56:39] (26 seconds)
"Hebrews chapter 12, verse two says this, looking to Jesus, the founder and the 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 place. The right hand of the throne of God. We started our time today talking about the importance of looking to the examples that have gone before us. And yet in verse two, what we see is that we have Jesus as the ultimate example." [00:57:22] (28 seconds)
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