Hebrews 12:1-13

A study of how a runner prepares to run a race will help clarify how a Christian should prepare to live the Christian life. As a runner profits from the experiences of athletes of the past, so the Christian should profit from the experience of great Christians who have lived before for Christ.

A runner who studies the technique and training patterns of successful runners and applies the lessons to their training will experience more success than someone who just decides one day to stand at the starting line of a race. A runner identifies and overcomes any handicaps to running. A runner is willing to submit to the corrections of his coach for continual improvement. As they improve on their training, conditioning, and technique, they will be better prepared to run their races.

• Great Christians (Hebrews 11)
  • Noah exhibited faith (Hebrews 11:7)
    • Noah had not experienced rain and had no point of reference, yet he trusted God and built the ark
  • Abraham exhibited obedience (Hebrews 11:8)
  • The common thread amongst them all was hope (Hebrews 11:13-14)
• Removing handicaps
  • Sin
  • Other encumbrances
• Submission to correction (Hebrews 12:5-11)
  • Reproof
    • The Lord loves those He corrects
  • Correction is a form of love
  • Submission brings peaceable fruit of righteousness

Therefore, through this runner analogy, we can see how, as Christians, we should prepare our lives to live for Christ. We need to study, prepare, train, and submit to correction.