Running the Race: Perseverance and Focus on Jesus
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the metaphor of running a race to describe the Christian journey, drawing from Hebrews 12:1-2. The Olympics, particularly the story of John Stephen Aquari, served as a powerful illustration of perseverance and commitment. Aquari, despite severe injuries, finished his race because he believed he was sent to finish, not just to start. This mirrors our Christian walk; God saved us to finish the race, not merely to begin it.
We examined the importance of laying aside every weight and sin that hinders us. The Franklin expedition and Alexander the Great's army were used as analogies to show how unnecessary baggage can lead to failure. Similarly, in our spiritual race, we must discard anything that slows us down, even if it isn't inherently sinful. This could be excessive social media use, pride, or other distractions that fragment our focus.
The sermon also emphasized the significance of enduring hardships and maintaining focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Just as Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, we too must look beyond our immediate struggles to the greater reward that awaits us. This perspective helps us endure and remain steadfast in our faith.
We were reminded that our race is unique, with different struggles and obstacles. It's crucial to avoid comparing our journey with others and to focus on running our own race well. The cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11 serves as an encouragement, showing us that God is faithful and can be trusted.
Finally, we were called to examine our lives, identify what is weighing us down, and repent of our sins. Authenticity is valued, but it must lead to transformation. We must strive to handle our sins and not let them hinder our race. The sermon concluded with a call to fix our eyes on Jesus, who has already secured our victory.
### Key Takeaways
1. Perseverance in the Race of Faith: Just as John Stephen Aquari finished his race despite severe injuries, we are called to persevere in our Christian journey. God saved us to finish the race, not just to start it. This requires a commitment to endure, even when the path is difficult and painful. [16:28]
2. Laying Aside Every Weight: We must identify and discard anything that hinders our spiritual progress, even if it isn't sinful. Excessive social media use, pride, and other distractions can fragment our focus and slow us down. The question isn't whether something is permissible, but whether it helps us run our race well. [24:35]
3. Endurance and Focus on Jesus: Life's race is a marathon, not a sprint. We must endure hardships and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. By looking beyond immediate struggles to the greater reward, we can find the strength to endure and remain steadfast. [34:36]
4. Running Your Unique Race: Each of us has a unique race with different struggles and obstacles. It's crucial to avoid comparing our journey with others and focus on running our own race well. The cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11 serves as an encouragement, showing us that God is faithful and can be trusted. [33:20]
5. Repentance and Transformation: Authenticity in our Christian walk must lead to transformation. We must strive to handle our sins and not let them hinder our race. Repentance involves not just stopping sin but changing the way we think about it. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can overcome sin and run our race with endurance. [30:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[15:22] - The Olympics and John Stephen Aquari
[16:28] - Perseverance in the Race of Faith
[17:14] - Questions to Reflect On
[17:51] - Hebrews 12:1-2
[18:44] - Prayer for Endurance
[19:42] - Examples from Hebrews 11
[20:34] - The Cloud of Witnesses
[21:17] - Running the Last Lap
[22:06] - Setting an Example
[23:19] - Laying Aside Every Weight
[24:35] - Identifying Hindrances
[26:00] - Desiring God Articles
[27:09] - Legal but Not Helpful
[28:32] - The Deceitfulness of Riches
[29:34] - The Trap of Sin
[30:51] - Battling Sin
[32:02] - Endurance in the Marathon of Life
[33:20] - Running Your Unique Race
[34:36] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[35:57] - Delaying Gratification
[37:12] - Jesus Endured the Cross
[38:39] - The Role of Shame
[39:37] - Jesus Advocates for Us
[40:34] - Examining Our Example
[41:18] - Considering Sin and Jesus
[48:06] - Farewell to Austin
[49:18] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "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 is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-2 suggest we should do with the "weights" and "sins" in our lives? How are these two different? [17:51]
2. According to the sermon, what was John Stephen Aquari's reason for finishing his race despite severe injuries? [16:28]
3. What examples from history were used in the sermon to illustrate the concept of unnecessary baggage? [23:19]
4. How does the sermon describe the "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1? What role do they play in our race of faith? [20:34]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to lay aside not just sin, but also "every weight" that hinders us, according to Hebrews 12:1 and the sermon? How can non-sinful things still impede our spiritual progress? [24:35]
2. How does focusing on Jesus help us endure hardships in our Christian journey, as described in Hebrews 12:2 and the sermon? [34:36]
3. The sermon mentions that each of us has a unique race with different struggles and obstacles. How does this perspective help us avoid comparing our journey with others? [33:20]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between authenticity and transformation in our Christian walk? How should authenticity lead to repentance and change? [30:51]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some "weights" that are not necessarily sinful but are hindering your spiritual progress? How can you begin to lay these aside this week? [24:35]
2. Think about a time when you faced a significant hardship. How did focusing on Jesus help you endure that period? If you struggled to focus on Him, what could you do differently next time? [34:36]
3. Identify one area in your life where you have been comparing your journey to others. How can you shift your focus to running your own race well? [33:20]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of repentance and transformation. What is one specific sin you need to repent of, and how can you change the way you think about it to prevent it from hindering your race? [30:51]
5. John Stephen Aquari finished his race despite severe injuries because he believed he was sent to finish, not just to start. What is one area in your Christian journey where you need to persevere, and how can you remind yourself of your commitment to finish well? [16:28]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of setting an example for others. How can your life inspire others to run their race of faith better? Think of one specific action you can take this week to be a positive example. [22:06]
7. Consider the distractions in your life that take your eyes off Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize these distractions and keep your focus on Him? [34:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Perseverance in the Race of Faith
Perseverance in the Christian journey is essential, as illustrated by the story of John Stephen Aquari. Despite severe injuries, Aquari finished his race because he believed he was sent to finish, not just to start. This mirrors our Christian walk; God saved us to finish the race, not merely to begin it. This requires a commitment to endure, even when the path is difficult and painful. We are called to persevere in our faith, trusting that God will provide the strength we need to complete our journey. [16:28]
Hebrews 10:36 (ESV): "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced in your faith journey. How did you respond, and what can you do to persevere through similar challenges in the future?
Day 2: Laying Aside Every Weight
In our spiritual race, we must identify and discard anything that hinders our progress, even if it isn't inherently sinful. Excessive social media use, pride, and other distractions can fragment our focus and slow us down. The question isn't whether something is permissible, but whether it helps us run our race well. By laying aside every weight, we can run more effectively and with greater focus on our ultimate goal. [24:35]
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (ESV): "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."
Reflection: Identify one non-sinful habit or activity that is hindering your spiritual growth. How can you reduce or eliminate it to better focus on your relationship with God?
Day 3: Endurance and Focus on Jesus
Life's race is a marathon, not a sprint. We must endure hardships and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. By looking beyond immediate struggles to the greater reward, we can find the strength to endure and remain steadfast. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and we too must look beyond our current difficulties to the eternal joy that awaits us. [34:36]
James 1:12 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: What immediate struggles are you facing right now? How can you shift your focus to Jesus and the eternal reward He promises to help you endure these challenges?
Day 4: Running Your Unique Race
Each of us has a unique race with different struggles and obstacles. It's crucial to avoid comparing our journey with others and focus on running our own race well. The cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11 serves as an encouragement, showing us that God is faithful and can be trusted. By focusing on our unique path, we can better appreciate God's individual plan for our lives and avoid the pitfalls of comparison. [33:20]
Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you compared your spiritual journey to someone else's. How did it affect you, and what steps can you take to focus more on your unique race?
Day 5: Repentance and Transformation
Authenticity in our Christian walk must lead to transformation. We must strive to handle our sins and not let them hinder our race. Repentance involves not just stopping sin but changing the way we think about it. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can overcome sin and run our race with endurance. True repentance leads to a transformed life that reflects the character of Christ. [30:51]
Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Reflection: What is one sin you struggle with that hinders your spiritual race? How can you change your mindset about this sin and take practical steps towards repentance and transformation?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "God didn't save you to start the race, he saved you to finish the race. So the question this morning is, is, have you lost your focus? Has your pace slowed today? Is it time that you start running again?" [17:14] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you want more of God, then you need less sin. The more of God, the more sin is squeezed out of your life. You can't serve two masters. Your sin must go. You can't have God and continue in sin. If you're serious about running, then you're going to be serious about repenting." [31:18] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If your eyes are fixed on the greater prize, you can endure the grueling day-to-day training. You can get through those times. If you know an empty tomb is awaiting and resurrection joy is coming, you can bear your cross. It makes it all worth it." [35:57] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I want you to know this morning, a little bit of shame can be a good thing. I don't know that we're ashamed enough over some of our actions. Jeremiah talks about the sins of Judah and Jerusalem. He says, it's like you've forgotten how to blush. And I don't know about you as individuals, but look at our culture. Like we've forgotten how to be embarrassed." [38:39] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is not built on what you have done for God, but what you can or will do for God is built on what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. Faith doesn't rest in your works, it rests in his works. Do you believe this morning? Will you believe this morning? The race is already planned, the fix is on, we win." [39:37] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Every follower of God, this includes then and now, has a race to run. And you were given a whole bunch of examples in chapter 11. You were given men and women that ran their race, and they ran their race well. And the reason they were written down is to encourage you to run your race well." [19:42] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You can't run your race well when you're carrying extra baggage. But here's something I want to point out to you. This weight that the author tells us to lay aside, I don't think is sin. Look with me again in verse 1. Let us lay aside every weight, comma, and the sin which so easily ensnares us. He's going to address sin in a minute, but now he says, just lay aside weight." [24:35] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The question shouldn't be, can I, or am I allowed to? The serious Christian asks the question, does this help me run? Not, is it permissible, but does this help me run? No serious runner burdens themselves with extra weight. If you're serious about running the race of faith this morning, the question shouldn't be, can I get away with it? It shouldn't be, how close can I get to the line without crossing it? It should be, does this help me run my race well?" [27:09] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You can't cherish sin in your heart and run the race of faith well at the same time. It can't be, oh, I'm just a, just a miserable human sinner and I'm just, it has to be, I want to make war with these things. Some of you are here and you're trying to get more of God in your life. I think that's awesome. But if you want more of God, then you need less sin." [30:51] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I hope you thought about this morning, about your example. Does your example inspire people to run after Jesus? Those of you with children, when a problem comes up in your life, would you want your children handling it the same way you do? Do they know where to turn? Do they know what to do? Is your example worth imitating?" [40:34] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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