Running with agony
Hebrews 12:1 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.
- Let’s start with the exhortation itself, at the end of the verse.
- A good way to understand the word “run” here is our English word__a__________.
- The writer is telling us that the Christian life won’t be easy.
- This word translated here as Run really as the idea of great struggle behind it.
- But in this exhortation the writer also calls us to perseverance.
- A good way to understand the word perseverance is with the word__s_____________
- So how we do this, how do we run this race?
- let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
- Most English translations say something like “throw off” or “lay aside.”
- But the Greek grammar here makes this a bit more emphatic.
- To ______ or _____ _______ is well within how this could be seen and understood.
- The author is making the point do whatever it takes to not let sin get in the way of you running this race.
- While the writer here is clearly using athletic imagery here, this concept also reminds us of the words of Jesus in Matt 5:29
- As I think about this quote from C.S. Lewis I also think we need____________.
- We run this race of the Christian life by keeping our eyes focused on _________ and Jesus alone.
- But I also want you to remember the emphatic and dramatic nature of this verse.
- So, the question becomes, do we love Jesus enough to strip away everything that hinders?
- Now, the question we each need to ask ourselves is what do I need to strip away?
- What is hindering my faith?
- __________________________
- __________________________
- There are both hindrances and sin that can cause us to drop out of the race.
- So, we need to look at not only the sin issues we may have in our life, but also the_____________
- Many English translation use the word ____________
- So, this may be a reference to pride. Which works well with the image of running naked?
- What are the things weighing down your Christian life?
- _____________________
- ____________________
- Then verse ends with, that so easily entangles.
- There is an element of sneakiness here to this word.
- There is also the idea of being completely surrounded.
- What are the weights that are weighing us down?___________________________