Champions

• Text: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
• Topic(s): Self-Discipline, Crown, Purpose, Running
• Big Idea of the Message: Using athletic metaphors, Paul strongly encourages believers to faithfully run the race that God has set before them in such a way as to win the eternal crown.
• Application Point: To run our race in a winning manner, we must be willing to train ourselves, to live each day intentionally, and to bring our bodies under control through self-discipline and the power of the Holy Spirit. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: 

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. The Scriptures often use athletic illustrations to describe the life of focus, discipline, and perseverance that disciples of Jesus need, in order to overcome the challenges they face in life and to advance the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, the apostle Paul uses an illustration of the strict discipline athletes must implement to compete for the athletic prize. Paul begins by stating, “Do you not know… ?” (v. 24a). The answer is, obviously they did know. The people of Corinth would have connected with Paul’s metaphor especially well; their city was the location for Isthmian Games, which were held every two years. The Isthmian Games were part of the Panhellenic Games of ancient Greece, which also included the Olympics. See this article for more information on the Isthmian Games: http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Ancient/en/IsthmianGames.html.
2. Paul begins his athletic illustration by stating that, in a race, every runner competes; however, only one receives the prize. Paul then instructs the believers o “run in such a way as to get the prize” (v. 24b). As we will see next week, Hebrews 12:1 informs us that God has marked out a “race” for each one of us. That is, in our spiritual race we are not competing against other believers to win the prize. We are seeking to faithfully complete the individual races that God has set before each of us and to gain our prize. 
3.  Paul then elaborates on what it means for us to run our race in such a way to win the prize. First, just as competing athletes undergo strict training, we also are to train ourselves for our race. Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who currently holds several world records, is an Olympic champion, and is considered by many to be the greatest sprinter of all time. Here is a video of his training regimen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SteLm_-jWb8&t=29s.
4. Paul tells Timothy, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7–8). As followers of Jesus, we train ourselves, by the grace and power of God, to embrace the lifestyle and practices of Jesus, such as solitude and silence, prayer, rest, simple and sacrificial living, intense study, and meditation upon the Scriptures, and service to others. Spiritual disciplines or practices are means by which we train ourselves to run our race to win.
5.  Next, we must realize that the prize we are competing for is a crown that does not perish over time but is eternal. The Encyclopaedia Britannica states that in the Isthmian Games, “the victors’ prize, originally a crown of dry wild celery, was changed to a pine wreath in Roman times, the pine being sacred to Poseidon” (s.v. “Isthmian Games,” accessed March 7, 2019,
   https://www.britannica.com/sports/Isthmian-Games). After a time, these crowns would grow brittle and fall apart. As believers, we are running for an eternal crown, which James described: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
6. Third, Paul says, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air” (v. 26). Paul is telling us that as we run our race to win, we cannot run without an aim or a target. We have to have a purpose and goals. Our ultimate purpose is to know God by walking in relationally with him. William Paulsell proclaimed, “It is unlikely that we will deepen our relationship with God in a casual or haphazard manner. There will be a need for some intentional commitment and some reorganization in our own lives. But there is nothing that will enrich our lives more than a deeper and clearer perception of God’s presence in the routine of daily living” (John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997], 200). Paul concludes by calling believers to exercise intense self-control in all areas of our lives.
7. Paul declares, “I strike a blow to my body” (v. 27). The Greek word for “strike a blow” means “to keep under control, to exercise self–control” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains [New York: United Bible Societies, 1996], 751). It is important to understand the metaphor Paul is using here. As Gorden Fee states, “His point, after all, is the need for self-restraint, not asceticism (which he thoroughly rejects) or self-flagellation” (Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987], 439). 
8.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit and intense self-control, we are to bring our bodies—our flesh, our minds, our emotions—under the control of Jesus. Rather than us being controlled by our flesh, we are to make our flesh subject to the Spirit and to ourselves. Paul’s reason for self-control and bringing our flesh under subjection is so that as we run our race to win, we do not disqualify ourselves. Paul does not mean that we can lose our salvation through sinful acts. Again, his illustration is to encourage believers to faithfully run their race in such a way as to win. Paul wants us to finish our race well. The word for disqualified means “not approved, not standing the test” (Johan Lust, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie, s. v. “ἀδόκιμος,” A Greek–English Lexicon of the Septuagint, rev. ed. [Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart, 2003]). We are not disqualified from our salvation, but in this context, Paul is referring to being disqualified from receiving rewards or winning the crowns.
9. Lance Armstrong was the most decorated cyclist of all time, with seven wins in the sport’s most prestige event: the Tour de France. Yet Armstrong cheated through doping, was disqualified and stripped of his titles, and received a lifetime ban from cycling. This website has more information you can use: https://www.usada.org/lance-armstrong-receives-lifetime-ban-and-disqualification-of-competitive-results-for-doping-violations-stemming-from-his-involvement-in-the-united-states-postal-service-pro-cycling-team-doping-conspi/. And here is a CBS News video you could show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdRPooAo2rE.

• Text: Hebrews 12:1–2
• Topic(s): Race, Endurance, Focus
• Big Idea of the Message: Living for God is compared to running a race: free from distractions and entanglements—and not giving up.
• Application Point: In running the race that God has set before us, many distractions and the weariness of life will tempt us to give up. Yet we keep running with endurance by keeping our eyes on Jesus rather than our circumstances while we celebrate his victory!

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. The author of Hebrews uses a sports analogy of running a race to call Christians to live for Jesus faithfully. The opening scene portrays as being “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” (v. 1). However, this does not mean that people in heaven are watching us. The comment begins with the word “therefore” and thus ties the illustration back to the stories of faith in the previous chapter. “The witnesses are the heroes and heroines of the previous chapter and, changing the metaphor to more biblical terms, we are watching them for encouragement rather than them watching us in examination” (Philip H. Hacking, Opening up Hebrews, Opening Up Commentary [Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006], 82). 
2. This passage states that each one of us is to run “the race marked out for us” (v. 1). That is every follower of Jesus has a “race” that has been set before us. Again, the race metaphor describes the life and journey that God has prepared for all of us. You and I have a race to run.
3. To run the race that God calls us to, the Scriptures direct us to do several things. First, we are to lay aside everything that would hinder us from effectively running our race. The Greek word for “hinders” means “that which serves to hinder or prevent someone from doing something” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains [New York: United Bible Societies, 1996], 164). When running a race, runners do not want extra things attached to their bodies weighing them down and preventing them from running their best.
4. You can get either to do a video recording or a live presentation with this idea: have someone in your church who is fairly athletic do some unhindered running. Then give them a lot of extra baggage (weighted backpack, heavy luggage, etc.) and then have them run. Notice the difference!
5. Many things in our life can hinder us and weigh us down from effectively running the race God has set before us. These weights or hindrances are not necessarily sinful, but things that exert their influence over our lives and impede us from following Jesus. The author states that we are to “throw off” these impediments. We don’t carry them with us as we run; rather, we get rid of them by putting them on the sidelines. What are some things in your life, that is not sinful, but weigh you down and keep you from running your race effectively?
6. Next, the author addresses personal sin issues by saying we also throw off “the sin that so easily entangles” (v. 1). Sin entangles and ensnares us. Sin hampers us from moving forward in our race for God. That is why we need to put off sin in our lives. Here is a video of a runner about to win a race who became entangled: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=js76GO8DbDo.
7. Third, to run our race, we will need endurance. We are told to “run with perseverance” (v. 1b). Life can be brutal at times. In the hardships, pains, and challenges of life, we must not give up. Oftentimes, when we grow tired, we want to quit. However, Hebrews encourages us not to do so but to keep running with endurance. Hebrews 10:36 says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Patiently enduring the tough times is essential to laying hold of the promises of God.
8. The key to running our race is to keep our eyes on Jesus. When our race is going great, we still need to keep our eyes on Jesus. When we are tired, and life is hard, we especially must keep our eyes on Jesus. The author of Hebrews encourages us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” The word for “fix” means “to look away from all others at one, to have in full view” (H. G. Liddell, A Lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon [Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996], 139).
9. We fix our eyes on Jesus by doing the following: (1) Remembering Jesus; he has run and endured the most difficult race ever. (2) Celebrating that Jesus won his race and enables us to win our race (1 Corinthians 15:57). (3) Focusing on God and not our circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7). As we run our race, we must not be looking around at other things and becoming distracted. Here’s a funny video that illustrates how being distracted can keep us from seeing the “prize”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeX9w25LBIo. 

• Text: 1 Timothy 6:12
• Topic(s): Faith, Fight, Eternal Life
• Big Idea of the Message: Another sports metaphor for the Christian life is fighting the good fight of the faith to lay hold of the life of God.
• Application Point: As believers, we are to put forth intense energy and effort in our fight for the faith of Christ, as we take hold of the eternal life that is available to us now.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. In his letter to Timothy, Paul encourages him to “Fight the good fight of the faith” (v. 12). Paul tells Timothy to fight. The word “fight” in the Greek means to
   “compete, fight, struggle, strive to do with intensity and effort” (James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek: New Testament [Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997], no. 76). We are to put forth intense energy and maximum effort to compete and win against evil, sin, and the devil. We will not gain the eternal prize that awaits us in heaven (that we talked about in the first message on 1 Corinthians 9:24–27) by being haphazard disciples of Jesus; rather, we are to be fully engaged in the battles of life.
2. The way we fight is through vigorously striving for “the good fight of the faith” (v. 12). The word “fight” is used a second time as a noun from the Greek word agōn which “means place of assembly, then place of contest, then contest, then conflict. It is often applied figuratively to life as a struggle with a prize” (Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament [Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1985], 20). Once again, Paul illustrates the life of a believer as a contest that requires tremendous effort and struggle.
3. Notice that Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is not “to fight the good fight of faith” but “to fight the good fight of the faith” (emphasis added). “The word ‘faith’ is preceded by the definite article in the Greek text, ‘the faith.’ It is not ‘faith’ in general as exercised by the Christian, to which reference is made here, but to the Faith” (Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997], 7:98).
4. Paul is not merely encouraging Timothy to live by faith (although this is a vital principle for followers of Jesus within the Scripture, such as 2 Corinthians 5:7 and John 20:29). Paul is encouraging Timothy to struggle for the faith—the truth of God and the way of Jesus. In the first part of 1 Timothy 6:12, “this phrase literally means ‘compete in the good competition of the faith’” (Biblical Studies Press, NET Bible [Biblical Studies Press, 2005], 1 Timothy 6:12n, https://netbible.org/bible/1+Timothy+6). As disciples of Jesus, we are to compete well for the faith.
5. How do we compete well for the faith? First, we must know about our competition. We are not competing against other people. Paul reminds us that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood opponents but against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). Second, we fight the way Jesus fought by obeying God. Third, we compete well for the faith as Jesus did by loving and serving others. Fourth, we fight for the faith but live uncompromised lives to the truth of God. Finally, we compete by making the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God the priority of our lives (Matthew 6:33).
6. Paul’s second encouragement to Timothy is to “take hold of the eternal life” (v. 12). Paul is not suggesting that Timothy can acquire eternal life himself in his efforts. “Now, when Paul exhorts Timothy to lay hold of eternal life, he does not imply that he does not possess it. Timothy was saved, and possessed eternal life as a gift of God. What Paul was desirous of was that Timothy experience more of what this eternal life is in his life. The definite article appears before ‘life,’ marking it out as a particular life which the Scriptures say God gives the believer” (Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997], 7:98).
7. So what is the eternal life we are to seize? First, it is not a future life but a present reality. Paul is not referring to some future life that awaits us after the future resurrection. Second, eternal life is living relationally with God. Jesus defined eternal life this way: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Knowing God does not mean acquiring information and truth about God. Knowing God is being in an interactive relationship with him. The Greek word for “know” can mean
   “familiar with, learn to know, through personal experience” (James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek New Testament [Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997], no. 1182). Third, eternal life is the life of Jesus in us (Colossians 3:3–4).
8. How do we take hold of the eternal life Paul is talking about? Jesus has taken hold of us, and we are to take hold of the life that Jesus offers. In similar language, Paul states in Philippians 3:12–14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “Again, Paul refers to pressing on to win the eternal prize that awaits us. Here is a powerful video of a runner (Heather Dorniden) forgetting what happened and straining forward to win the prize: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjejTQdK5OI&t=28s.
9. Paul concludes his two encouragements to Timothy by reminding him that he has been called by God and of his confession of Christ in the presence of many witnesses. “The connection with God’s ‘calling’ and the aorist tense of the verb ‘[when] you confessed’ suggests reflection on a particular event in Timothy’s life, and that it was probably to Timothy’s initial confession of faith at conversion/baptism” (Philip H. Towner, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, The New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006], 412). This could be a great time to explain the importance of a person’s initial confession and baptism into the life of following Jesus. 

• Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
• Topic(s): Community, Teamwork, Encouragement
• Big Idea of the Message: Another athletic analogy that enables us to live the Christian life and to advance God’s kingdom on the earth is teamwork.
• Application Point: God’s design for our lives is to journey with other believers as a team so that our labor for God’s kingdom will be more effective and so we can be there for one another during difficulties and opposition.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. Athletes rarely rely on individual effort. Even if the sport involves a single athlete competing against another athlete (such as wrestling, singles tennis, boxing, running, etc.), the “lone” professional athlete has a team—perhaps a coach, a trainer, a strength and conditioning coach, a nutritionist, etc. Teamwork is vital to the athlete’s performance. Also, in team competitions (such as football, soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, etc) a team’s success is determined by their level of teamwork. Likewise, as followers of Jesus who seek to run the race God has set before us, working with others to advance the kingdom of God upon the earth, our teamwork enhances our performance.
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 is a verse that is often quoted at weddings. However, the truth of the passage applies to all of us and includes relationships beyond marriage. From this passage, we learn the vital importance of being in genuine relationships with others, rather than striving through life in isolation.
3. First, God’s intentions are for us to journey in life together. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, begins this passage by stating, “Two are better than one” (v. 9). God never meant for us to go through life flying solo. We need one another and the joy of togetherness. The kingdom of God is about forming a community of people who share life together. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42–47).
4. Second, teamwork produces a greater reward than individual work. Jesus could have doubled the number of villages and areas that he sent his seventy-two disciples into if he had sent them out as individuals rather than in groups of two. After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1). Yet Jesus realized that the labor of two people together created a more desirable result. Here is an illustration of how draft horses can work together to pull more than the individual efforts combined: http://timmaurer.com/2012/01/16/horse-sense/.
5. Third, when we fall in life, we pick one another up. “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10). At times, we all need help to stand against the various things in life that seek to knock us down: anxiety, depression, pain, financial hardships, sin, despair, sickness, tragedy, weariness, emotional pain, etc. The following video is from the 1992 Olympic Games when Great Britain’s Derek Redmond pulled his hamstring. As he got back up, the pain was tremendous as he bounced on one leg. All of a sudden, his father joined him and helped him finish his race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2G8KVzTwfw.
6. Teamwork allows us to endure against the challenges and difficulties of life.
   “Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:11). Solomon is explaining that the harsh elements of the cold can have devastating effects on a person. However, when with another person, we can overcome the harshness of the world. Life is brutal at times. That is why the author of Hebrews stated, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25). Being in community with others allows us to encourage one another and to stir each other up to run our race in love and good deeds.
7. Teamwork protects us against the opposition. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). We are in a spiritual war
   (Ephesians 6:12–18) against our Enemy, the devil, who is out to devour us (1 Peter 5:8–9). If we isolate ourselves from the body of Christ and do not invite others into our journey, we stand a greater chance of being overpowered in this world. Rather than seeking to stand against evil and the devil alone, we must come together. The following funny videos illustrate how being part of a team defeats the opposition. The clips are from De Lijn, a Belgium public transportation company built around the slogan “It’s smarter to travel in groups: take the bus”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MXIuXVFEMA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F7QSnVqhb8, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY6ixNYyJuk.
8. The final phrase that Solomon shares is “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Again, this passage is primarily associated with weddings, where the threefold chord consists of the bride, the groom, and God. Naturally, marriages tend to become stronger when Jesus is a part of them; however, the verse, in its context, is merely once again stating the strength of plurality over isolation. When we choose to do life together with others and be a team, then we stand a much better opportunity of experiencing victory than running alone.

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