Whatever it takes - winning more than a race - Leyff Wenderson

First Corinthians 9 takes Paul from the ruins of Corinth into the arena, where every Corinthian knew runners, boxers, training, crowns, and the bima. The cross had already shattered Corinth’s confidence in wealth, philosophy, debate, and human achievement, because Christ crucified is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Acts 18 shows Paul entering that city after Athens, working with Aquila and Priscilla, reasoning in the synagogue, facing Jewish opposition, turning to the Gentiles, and staying about eighteen months because the Lord said, “Do not be afraid. Keep speaking. I am with you.”

Paul’s words, “to the weak I became weak,” show a life where the gospel became more important than comfort. The gospel did not become something Paul watched from a distance. The gospel became something he wanted to participate in, to be a partner in everything it produces: new life, freedom, disciples, churches, and eternal rewards. “Whatever it takes” becomes the shape of that life.

Paul’s race is not casual. First Corinthians 9 says to run in such a way as to obtain the prize, not with the mindset of someone looking for an excuse to quit. Philippians 3 adds the same movement: forgetting what is behind, reaching forward, pressing toward the goal. Paul does not deny his past, even the blood on his hands, but the grace of God keeps him from living stuck there.

The athlete imagery also brings self-control before victory. The athlete trains for a perishable wreath, but the believer lives for an imperishable one. Christian self-control is not just willpower; it is the fruit of a life surrendered to the Spirit, rooted in daily obedience. An undisciplined life eventually limits usefulness for the gospel.

Paul also refuses to run aimlessly or box like someone beating the air. Second Corinthians 10 shows that the real battle is not against people, but against strongholds: arguments, reasonings, prideful ideas, and thought patterns raised against the knowledge of God. A stronghold can become a fortified castle a person defends even when God’s Word is confronting it.

Paul then turns the battle inward: he disciplines his body and makes it a servant, not a master. The body is where desires become actions, so appetites cannot be allowed to rule when someone else’s salvation is at stake. The finish line is the bima, the judgment seat of Christ, not for condemnation, but for evaluation and reward. Christ has already won, so believers do not run to obtain victory; believers run from victory, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Run toward a greater prize Paul’s race is not about personal comfort, convenience, or the chair being comfy enough. The race has a goal, and souls are connected to the finish line. Grace does not erase the need to press; grace gives the strength to forget what is behind and reach forward without getting stuck in failure. [11:08]
• 2. Self-control grows from surrender The athlete’s self-control comes from rigorous training, but Christian self-control grows as fruit from a life surrendered to the Spirit. A fruit has to have a root, so visible discipline begins with hidden obedience. The gospel is too weighty for an undisciplined life to keep ruling the body, the schedule, the mouth, and the desires. [19:10]
• 3. Strongholds are fortified thoughts Paul’s warfare language points to arguments, reasonings, and thought patterns that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. A stronghold is not always first a demon to rebuke; sometimes it is a lie a person has defended like a castle for years. The Word of God confronts that fortress so repentance can replace pride and freedom can replace defense. [26:08]
• 4. Purpose outruns coming pain Paul goes bound in the Spirit without knowing every detail, except that chains and tribulations await him. That kind of life is not sustained by an easy road, but by a purpose stronger than the pain. Joy is tied to finishing the race and fulfilling the ministry received from the Lord Jesus, not to having a trouble-free path. [23:35]
• 5. Christ already won the victory Every athlete in Corinth trained for a race he could still lose, but the believer follows a Savior who has already won. The race is not an attempt to earn victory; it is a life lived from the victory Christ secured. Looking unto Jesus keeps discipline from becoming pride and endurance from becoming despair.
  
  ## [45:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:57] - Corinth and Christ Crucified
• [03:07] - Paul Arrives in Corinth
• [05:25] - Becoming All Things for the Gospel
• [08:01] - Participating in Gospel Blessings
• [10:29] - Whatever It Takes
• [11:08] - Run for Something Greater
• [15:12] - Endurance Through the Race
• [18:52] - Self-Control Before Victory
• [21:10] - Run With Purpose
• [25:16] - Do Not Waste Punches
• [26:08] - Strongholds in the Mind
• [36:03] - Discipline the Body
• [39:18] - Living for an Imperishable Crown
• [43:35] - The Finish Line Is the Bima
• [45:59] - Running From Christ’s Victory

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“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. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” [10:29]

Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [13:01]

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” [26:08]

Acts 20:22-24
“And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” [23:35]

Hebrews 12:1-2
“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.” [15:36]

Observation questions

1. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, what pictures does Paul use to describe the Christian life, and what actions are connected to those pictures?
2. According to Philippians 3:13-14, what two movements happen at the same time when Paul presses toward the goal?
3. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, how are strongholds described, and what exactly is being destroyed? [26:08]
4. In Acts 20:22-24, what does Paul know about his future, and what does he still say matters most to him? [23:35]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul says to “run in such a way as to obtain the prize.” What does that reveal about the difference between casually believing and living with real gospel purpose? [11:08]
2. Hebrews 12 says to lay aside every weight and run with endurance while looking to Jesus. What is the difference between a weight and a sin, and why can both slow a believer down? [15:36]
3. Paul says the battle is not against people but against arguments, lofty opinions, and thoughts raised against the knowledge of God. How does that change the way conflict, correction, and repentance should be understood in the church? [30:37]
4. Paul knows chains and tribulations await him, yet he still wants to finish his race with joy. What does that show about how purpose and suffering relate to each other in the Christian life? [24:33]

Application questions

1. The gospel is worth more than comfort. Where is comfort most likely to compete with obedience right now—in schedule, relationships, habits, finances, or willingness to serve? [06:25]
2. Forgetting what is behind does not mean pretending the past never happened. Is there a past failure, regret, or shame that has kept you stuck and made it hard to press forward in Christ? What would it look like to face it honestly and still keep moving? [13:32]
3. Self-control grows from surrender to the Spirit, not just from trying harder. In what area of life does that need to become practical for you right now—speech, appetite, anger, spending, purity, or time? What hidden obedience would need to take root there first? [20:02]
4. Strongholds can look like defended thought patterns, not just obvious rebellion. Is there a lie, excuse, or mindset that has become a fortified place in your thinking—something you keep protecting even when Scripture confronts it? [28:19]
5. Paul refused to box like someone beating the air. Are there places where your energy has been spent on the wrong battle—arguing with people, defending yourself, or staying offended—instead of fighting for truth, prayer, and freedom? [25:16]
6. The body must become a servant, not a master. Where do bodily appetites or impulses most often try to rule your decisions, and how has that affected your usefulness for others? [37:02]
7. Believers do not run to earn victory but from Christ’s victory. How would daily life look different this week if you truly lived from that truth instead of from fear, guilt, or the need to prove yourself? [45:59]