1. Looking to Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-3

2. Christian faith brings great disadvantages for us?
Introduction
What happens when our
Christian faith brings great
disadvantages for us?
Heb 10:32-34
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received
the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest
in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult & persecution; at other times you
stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison & joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that
you yourselves had better & lasting possessions.

3. We want to answer five questions: 1. What is the setting?
Heb 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, & sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary & lose heart.
We want to answer
five questions:
1. What is the setting?
2. What must we do?
3. How do we do it?
a. What do we focus on?
b. What will result?

4. The Christian life is like a race (agon)
1. What is the setting?
The Christian life is like a race (agon)
a. Struggles are expected
b. Every race is special
c. Spectators are themselves
successful competitors
Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles,
& let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

5. a. Don't carry too many things b. Don't turn away from God
2. What must we do?
Run with endurance
(i.e. Run to win / finish)
a. Don't carry too many things
b. Don't turn away from God
c.f. Heb 3:12
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders &
the sin that so easily entangles, & let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

6. Look to Jesus (the ultimate winner) 3. How do we do it? Heb 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith

7. (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
3. How do we do it?
Look to Jesus
(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
i. Who Jesus is
Founder of Faith:
He lays for our faith
a foundation
Finisher of Faith:
He brings our faith
to completion
He has shown us how to finish well
He helps us
to finish well
Heb 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith

8. Derek Redmond
…at the 1992
Olympics

9. “Whatever happens, he had to finish…And I was there to help him finish
“Whatever happens, he had to finish…And I was there to help him finish. I intended to go over the line with him. We started his career together, I think we should finish it together”
9,028,103 views

10. Because He sought God's purpose
3. How do we do it?
Look to Jesus
(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
ii. What Jesus did
He endured the cross:
Pain & shame
didn't deter him
Heb 12:2-3
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, & sat
down at the
right hand of
the throne of
God…who
endured such
opposition
from sinful
men
Because He sought God's purpose

11. (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
3. How do we do it?
Look to Jesus
(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
ii. What Jesus did
He endured the cross:
Pain & shame
didn't deter him
He endured opposition:
Rejection & opposition
didn't deter him also
Heb 12:2-3
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning
its shame, & sat
down at the
right hand of
the throne of
God…who
endured such
opposition
from sinful
men
Because He sought God's purpose
Because He knew God's principles

12. (the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
3. How do we do it?
Look to Jesus
(the ultimate winner) a. What do we focus on?
i. Who Jesus is ii. What Jesus did b. What will result?
We will not lose hope
or courage & give up
Heb 12:3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary & lose heart.

13. Who Jesus is What Jesus did
Hebrews 12:1-3
1. What is the
setting?
2. What must
we do?
3. How do we
do it?
a. What do we
focus on?
b. What will
result?
The Christian life is
like a race (agon)
Run with endurance
(i.e. Run to win / finish)
Look to Jesus
(the ultimate winner)
Who Jesus is What Jesus did
We will not lose hope
or courage & give up