Christ-Centered Endurance (Script)
RUNNING ACROSS THE SAHARA
Topics: Ambition; Attitudes; Challenges; Courage; Dedication; Determination; Faith; Faithfulness; Goals; Motivation; Passion; Patience; Perseverance; Persistence; Self-discipline; Strength; Trials; Victory
References: Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 4:9–13; 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 1:8–11; 2 Timothy 2:1–13; 4:6–8; Hebrews 11:1–12:13; Revelation 3:10
For 111 days. Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin ran across the Sahara Desert. They touched the waters at Senegal and then made their way through Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt to touch the waters of the Red Sea.
Along the way, the trio faced blazing afternoons of 100-plus degrees; jarring, freezing nights; sandstorms; tendonitis; violent sickness; aches, pains, and blisters. But the biggest challenge they faced was finding water. Finding it in its purest, cleanest form gets to be a bit of a chore while in the middle of nowhere.
Running 4,000 miles across the Sahara Desert is an amazing accomplishment. But just as commendable are these marathon finishers:
• Christians who finish their lives still growing, still serving
• husbands and wives who stay faithful to each other “until death do us part”
• young people who preserve their virginity until marriage despite crushing peer pressure
• pastors who stay passionate about ministry until their last breath
• church members who weather conflict and remain joyful, loving, and faithful
—Anna Johnson, “3 Ultra-athletes Run across Sahara,” USA Today (February 20, 2007)
(1) The need to warn those who think they are in the race.
(2) The need to encourage with hope those who are tempted to quit.
Big Idea:
Preview:
Hebrews 1:1-4 Christ-Centered Endurance (series name)
5462 When Light Bulb Falls
The Rev. Earl Kelly, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Holly Springs, Mississippi, was preaching on the second coming of Christ.
He had just quoted Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”
At this point, a large light bulb fell from its socket in the ceiling and shattered on the floor in front of the pulpit.
As reported by Baptist Press, Kelly was equal to the occasion. He told the startled worshippers, “His coming will be just as sudden, and unexpected, and devastating to the dreams that are not Christ-centered.”
—Christianity Today
(1) God is the God who speaks. Hebrews 1:1.
(2) God is the God who speaks Cristo-centrically. Hebrews 1:2.
Apply It:
Hebrews 1:5-2:4 Consideration: Living Life for What Matters Most [Thought Health]
Choices
A child stood gazing at a freshly opened box of chocolate candies—lips pressed together, concentrating fully upon the decision at hand. The rule was “Only one, no more than one, but any one you want.” Should it be the biggest one, or would the small round one be the favorite peppermint cream? Then again, the long one might last longer. Which to choose? And how to decide?
Perhaps a child’s decisions seem trivial to us as adults. Oh, we recognize that they are important to the child, but we have a broader perspective. That is the question in making choices, isn’t it? To have an eternal perspective on life and its decisions is to know how to choose.123
Prove it:
Apply It:
Hebrews 2:5-4:16 Recreation: Experiencing it Now & Expecting it Then [Emotion Health]
I have already said what a great joy the garden was to us. At first, there was always something fresh and new to interest us; and when, by degrees, the novelty of its possession wore off, then we loved it all the better, because we knew more about it. Here my clear husband enjoyed, not only rest and recreation for the body, but stimulus and quickening for the mind.
Recreation is not the highest kind of enjoyment; but in its time and place it is quite as proper as prayer.
St Irenaeus
Prove it:
Apply It:
Hebrews 4:14-10:39 Confidence: Proactively Living without Fear [Will/Psyche Health]
The Fear of Man Bringeth a Snare
The pioneer evangelist Peter Cartwright spent 70 years in the work of the Lord and always preached the Word of God without fear or favor. One Sunday he was asked to speak at a Methodist church in the southern part of the United States. During the song just before the message, the pastor whispered to him that Andrew Jackson had just entered the sanctuary. He cautioned Cartwright to be very careful of what he said lest he offend their famous guest. The evangelist, however, knowing that “the fear of man bringeth a snare” (Prov. 29:25), was determined not to compromise the truth. He also knew that great leaders need the Lord as much as anyone, so he boldly proclaimed the gospel. In fact, halfway though his sermon he said, “I understand that Andrew Jackson is present in the congregation today. If he does not repent of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he will be just as lost as anyone else who has never asked God for His forgiveness.”
Instead of becoming angry, Jackson admired the preacher for his courage. He listened with keen interest to the message and felt such deep conviction that after the service Cartwright was able to lead him to the Lord. From that moment on, the two became the best of friends.
The fear of man should never keep us from speaking out for Christ. The gospel is a powerful message, and the indwelling Holy Spirit will impart power to our words (2 Tim. 1:7). Holy boldness is needed, and if we trust Christ, holy boldness will be given. - H.G.B.
Our Daily Bread, May 20
Prove it:
Apply It:
Hebrews 11:1-13:25 Perseverance: Living Life Like There's No Re-Spawn [Practice Health]
Prove It:
Apply It:
Bridge to Conclusion:
Conclusion:
RUNNING BLIND
Topics: Achievement; Hope; Perseverance; Persistence; Success; Winning and Losing
References: Acts 20:24; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Colossians 3:1–4; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 12:1–3
U.S. runner Marla Runyon, legally blind for twenty-two years, competed in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She qualified for the finals in the 1,500-meter race, then finished eighth, just seconds behind the medal winners.
Runyon can’t see in color; all she sees is a fuzzy blob. So when she races, she just follows the blob of figures in front of her. The real difficulty is rounding the final turn and racing toward a finish line she can’t see. “I just know where it is,” she said.
—Today Show, September 22, 2000
He that has long been on the road to Heaven finds that there was good reason why it was promised that his shoes should be iron and brass, for the road is rough.
CHARLES SPURGEON*