1. Heb 12:1-2a

3. Hearing The Crowd v. 1  There exists a “crowd” of past faithful servants cp. 11:1-40  They “surround” present-day runners  They inspire us with their faithfulness  Why did the Holy Spirit eulogize them? 11:13-16, 39-40 cp. Rom 15:4

4. Heb 12:1-2a Removing The Obstacles v. 1  Runners in this race cannot run with unnecessary hindrances  These are “encumbrances” or “weights”  They easily “entangle” or “ensnare” us  These “encumbrances” = SIN and must be “set aside” cp. 2 Tim 3:6

5. Heb 12:1-2a Running The Appointed Race v. 1  This race must be met with determination to finish it  It must be run “with endurance”  “Run” Ù continual process  Runners must never quit running this race cp. Rev 2:10 1 Cor 15:1-2

6. Heb 12:1-2a Running The Appointed Race v. 1  This race is “set before” its runners  The course is not selected by those who run the race  Runners can’t choose their own “shortcuts”  Runners must respect authority of the race cp. Mt 7:21-23 Lk 6:46

7. Heb 12:1-2a Seeing The Finish Line v. 2  Successful runners are focused  They eye their target, are not distracted  We must “fix our eyes” on Jesus  “To turn the eyes away from other things and to look only at one thing” [Thayer]

8. Heb 12:1-2a Seeing The Finish Line v. 2  Jesus is always our Example to emulate Mt 10:25 Rom 8:29 1 Pet 2:21ff  Especially when considering His earthly sojourn Heb 4:14-15 Phil 2:2-5  We will not run successfully if we take our eyes off Jesus cp. Heb 11:24-26

9. Heb 12:1-2a Conclusion  To run this race requires preparation, “training” cp. 1 Cor 9:24-27  Earlier exhortations in this epistle give the importance of preparation so that we will be able to run this race cp. 2:1 3:12-14 6:1 10:35, 36

10. Heb 12:1-2a Conclusion  This race will not always be easy  We’ll have to run “the strait and narrow way” Mt 7:14  It will be a “conflict” or a “fight” Phil 1:30 1 Tim 6:12  Same word as “race” in Heb 12:1

11. Heb 12:1-2a Conclusion  Yet, God has “set this race before us” and has commanded us to run it  We have a crowd to cheer us on  We have a finish line on which to focus  We must remove all hindrances  We’ll need endurance to complete it

12. Heb 12:1-2a