Sermon Illustrations

Run the Race

”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, 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.“

Hebrews 12:1-2

Great cloud of witnesses.

People are watching.

Don’t live for their approval.

God and his angels are cheering you on!

Throw off the things that hinder.

Pleasure

Busyness

Family and friends

Anything that takes you away from God

Get rid of the sin that so easily entangles:

Lust

Pride

Anger

Addiction

Lying/cursing

Fighting

Gossiping

Sin takes us places we never thought we’d go.

Sin makes us stay longer than we ever intended

Sin costs us more than we ever intended to pay

Run with perseverance

Your body wants to keep going long after your mind quits.

Jesus persevered through three temptations and many more.

In high school I decided to run cross country. I kept quitting each race. My coach said no more quitting. He helped, guided, and encouraged me to not give up.

Race marked out for us.

Good has a plan for your race.

Bring him glory

Be like Jesus

Love others

Fix our eyes on Jesus

Peter walked on water. When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink.

Focus is in Christ, the world tries to get us to take our eyes off Jesus.

Pioneer and perfect or of our faith.

He will give us strength, guidance, perseverance

Joy sat before him……

Jesus was not joyful about having to go to lacrosse, being arrested, suffering a beating. The joy for Jesus was in doing the fathers will, and bringing his grace to us through his death.

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