2. Must Exercise Discipline & Self-Denial
“Competes in athletics” is one Greek word (athleo)
A Christian takes his task seriously
A dedicated athlete will:
Keep to his schedule & let nothing interfere
Engage in prescribed workouts & training
Live a strictly separated life
Control his appetite & follow a rigid diet
Push himself to do more & do better all the time
Set his standard of fitness and not deviate
This is NOT a spare-time thing
It is a whole-time dedication of life (cf. 1 Tim. 4:7; 1 Cor. 9:27)

3. Must Compete According to the Rules
In athletic competitions, there are rules/standards that govern competition and must be followed
If not followed = disqualified
In Christianity, there are rules/standards that govern our lives and must be followed (2 Tim. 1:13; Matt. 7:21-23; John 12:48)
If not followed = disqualified (2 Cor. 13:5)
It’s not enough just to know the rules; must compete using Bible as the standard (Jas. 1:22-25; 2:14-26)
The only way to please God and run the Christian race successfully is to adhere to his laws (2 Tim. 2:15)

4. Must Press to Win the Prize
The imagery of the athlete demands this
It’s not simply a hope
It’s the whole objective of the Christian athlete (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27)
The Christian athlete must aim for heaven (Phil. 3:12-14; 2 Tim. 4:7-8)