We're in the Olympics: Run the Race to Win!

Introduction

Family always watch olympics.

Cole Hocker, men’s 1500 m run.

It’s unbelievable how much time, effort, and discipline olympians put into training. Most began when they were children.

They train to win, to be the best in the world at what they do. They get the right coaches. They focus their entire life on this one goal: to get a gold in the Olympics.

Imagine if we were to train like this in our Christian faith—something much more important than an olympic event.

The Apostle Paul tells us that our faith is similar to the Olympics, but it has much greater significance.

1. We Are Training to Win People (v.22-23)

1 Corinthians 9:22–23 (NASB95)

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

What are we doing here? Why the church? Why Fired-up Wednesdays? We are training!

Why? => (1) To lead people to Christ (2) To be encouraged

How should we train? In what way?

2. Run the Race to Win! (v.24-25)

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (NASB95)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

We are to train in such a way as to win!

Those who win in the Olympics receive a gold medal that is perishable. We who win for the Lord receive an award that is imperishable.

1 Peter 1:3–5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

To run the race to win, we must train properly! We have to focus!

3. Train Properly! Focus! (v.26-27)

1 Corinthians 9:26–27 (NASB95)

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Do we have focus? Are we disciplined?

It is so easy to get distracted by so many things.

Blaise Pascal: “Diversion amuses us, and leads us unconsciously to death.”

Conclusion

Men’s Pole Vault: Mondo Duplantis who represented Sweeden. He cleared the height of 6 meters (19.7 feet) to win the gold medal. Because he was the second to the last pole vaulter and the last man to vault did not clear the pole, Mondo Duplantis won and did not have to complete another vault. But he did anyway. He went, as we say, the extra mile. And he broke the world record: he cleared 6.25 meters (20.5 feet).

Mondo Duplantis could have just left with the gold medal. He could have just said, “I’ve done enough to win. I’m done.”