Sermon Tone Analysis

The R-A-C-E of Faith

(NIV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

INTRO:

Now I am not a runner.

As I am sure you can tell.

But, when I was younger I would race my little brother home from home.

I lost most of the time.

I didn’t really know why.

I was skinnier then him.

I was faster then him.

So everything would say that I would win the race.

Then one day I noticed something.

I always brought home a lot more books then he did.

Now professional runners will go to any depth to make sure they have every advantage they can in a race.

Some male runners will shave their heads, chest, legs, and arms because sometimes a race can decided by just a fraction of a second.

They want to get rid of everything that would hinder them from running the race and winning the prize!

It is like that in the Christians race of faith too.

We need to lay aside everything that hinders our walk with Christ!

There are four things that we need to do to win the Christian race.

1. Reach forward and forgetting the past

(NKJV)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

C.S Lewis said that “we cannot go back and change the beginning but, we can start where you are and change the ending”

1.

Many Christians and churches live in the past.

Paul’s practice of forgetting the past gave him the freedom for straining toward the future.

This is the only time this word straining appears in the NT.

This verb means to “exert oneself to the uttermost.”

It graphically portrays Paul running a race: his body “is bent forward, his hand is outstretched towards the goal, and his eye is fastened upon it.”

Every thought and every emotion reaches out in eager anticipation of arriving at the goal

He is looking forward and not what was behind him.

You might hear the christian race compared to as a marathon where we need to pace ourselves or else we will get tired and burn out.

I want to challenge that notion and ask how can you burnout when your burning within?

We need to look at what is in front of us.

Not behind us

2. We need to follow the Apostle Paul’s example and forget the things that are behind us

We win the race when Jesus becomes our prize

Paul’s practice of forgetting the past gave him the freedom for straining toward the future.

This is the only time this word straining appears in the NT.

This verb means to “exert oneself to the uttermost.”

It graphically portrays Paul running a race: his body “is bent forward, his hand is outstretched towards the goal, and his eye is fastened upon it.”

Every thought and every emotion reaches out in eager anticipation of arriving at the goal

Remember Paul was a devout Jew.

He was a pharisee to the greatest extent.

He believed in all the rituals, and traditions, and legalism.

That’s until He encountered Christ on Damascus road.

You see even Pharisees can believe they are doing Gods Work by upholding the traditions of men.

But, that isn’t so.

They may have a form of Godliness but they deny it’s power!

3. We win the race when Jesus becomes our prize

Jesus needs to become our greatest desire and our deepest need.

We need to be so hungry for Him that we would fast for joy.

So thirsty for Him that He is the only well that we drink from.

We need to have this relentless love of Jesus.

The gospel is the good news that God in Christ paid the PRICE of suffering, so that we could have the PRIZE of enjoying Him forever.

God paid the PRICE of his Son to give us the PRIZE of Himself.

II.

Action with purpose

(NKJV)

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

As a runner straining every effort toward the finish line, Paul pressed on toward the goal.

In Greek athletic games, the winner’s prize was a garland or palm branch.

While Paul didn’t identify the prize, it seems from his writing above that the prize refers to gaining full knowledge of Jesus Christ (see also 1 Corinthians 9:24; 2 Timothy 4:7–8).

Paul aimed to win the prize, but all who finish the race win it as well.

The full knowledge of Christ is the final prize for which believers gladly lay aside all else.

As a runner straining every effort toward the finish line, Paul pressed on toward the goal.

In Greek athletic games, the winner’s prize was a garland or palm branch.

While Paul didn’t identify the prize, it seems from his writing above that the prize refers to gaining full knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Paul aimed to win the prize, but all who finish the race win it as well.

The full knowledge of Christ is the final prize for which believers gladly lay aside all else.

As a runner straining every effort toward the finish line, Paul pressed on toward the goal.

In Greek athletic games, the winner’s prize was a garland or palm branch.

While Paul didn’t identify the prize, it seems from his writing above that the prize refers to gaining full knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Paul aimed to win the prize, but all who finish the race win it as well.

The full knowledge of Christ is the final prize for which believers gladly lay aside all else.

1.

Too many Christians lack vision

Billy Graham is arguably the most influential person of the twentieth century.

He has preached the gospel to millions of people worldwide and thousands have come know Christ through his ministry

What accounts for this success?

Graham’s life is guided by a clear vision.

He wrote, “My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”

Another modern hero in the faith, Mother Teresa

She felt the call of God on her life at age twelve and became a nun.

She simply couldn’t ignore the poverty she seen.

So she started a ministry for the“the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”

Mother Teresa remained focused on her calling and those she served.

She said,

“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done.

We will be judged by “I was hungry and you gave me to eat.

I was naked and you clothed me.

I was homeless and you took me in.”

Hungry not only for bread—but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing—but naked of human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks—but homeless because of rejection.

This is Christ in distressing disguise.”

2. We should allow the Lord to order our steps

If we want to have purpose and fulfillment in life, it’s not found in pills or a bottle of jack but, it’s found in who Jesus is and knowing Him. says the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

The good news is that when we get off track in this race of faith, God gives us the grace to get back on track.