Post-event Lesson to be used after the Winterfest event
“Run In Such a Way as to Get the Prize”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 “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. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1. There Are Witnesses Watching Our Journey
1) Hall of Fame Heroes Who Have Gone Before are Watching
Hebrews 11
2)Our Friends are Watching
Share this poem (Author Unknown):
Isn’t it strange that princes and kings
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings
And common people like you and me
Are builders of eternity?
Isn’t it strange?
Each is given a bag of tools
A shapeless mass, a book of rules.
And each must shape e’er life is gone,
A stumbling block or stepping stone.
3) Other Christians are Watching
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see
the Day approaching.” Encourage one another! Look for ways…….
4)Non-Christians are Watching
Share another Poem: (Annie J. Flint)
You might want to consider asking one of your students ahead of time (especially if they have a gift for the spoken word) to memorize this poem and recite it at this point during the lesson.
Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongue
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed.
We are the Lord’s last message
Given in deed and in word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
2. We Must Get Rid of Everything that Hinders or Entangles Us to Run Successfully
- Can you imagine an Olympic runner performing with a 40 pound backpack on his back? Or an Olympic swimmer trying to do that? Or a gymnast? Or a pole-vaulter?
- What is it in your life that is weighing you down and holding you back from running with Jesus?
- What do we do with the junk that gets in the way?
1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
3. We Must Run the Christian Race with Perseverance
The Persevering Frog
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl,
One was an optimistic soul;
The other took the gloomy view,
‘We will drown’, he whined, without more ado
So with a last despairing cry,
He flung up his legs and he said ‘Goodbye.’
Said the other frog with a happy grin,
‘I can’t get out, but I won’t give in.
I’ll just swim around ‘til my strength is spent,
Then I will die the more content.’
Bravely he swam ‘til it would seem
His struggles began to churn the cream.
On the top of the butter at last he stopped,
And out of the bowl he freely hopped.
What of the moral? “Tis easily found:
If you can’t hop out, keep swimming around.
- Share a personal story of perseverance. It can either be one where you did or did not persevere. You may want to share one of each variety.
4. We Must Fix Our Eyes on Jesus and Keep Our Eyes on “the Prize”
Revelation 21:1-4 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the HolyCity, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
You hit a shot in basketball when you aim.
You hit the target in archery when you aim.
You hit the goal in soccer when you aim.
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
What is your aim? What is your goal? Don’t be distracted!
We must keep our eyes on the goal as we aim at the Prize!
Will you be there?