Sermon at the Haynes Street church of Christ on March 22, 2015. Title: "The Spiritual Athlete" Preacher: Steven Matthews

1. Times of Services
Sunday:
9:30 a.m. Bible class
10:30 a.m. worship
Wednesday:
7 p.m. Bible class

2. Paul uses sports and athletes to teach lessons
about our spiritual lives.
Heb. 12:1-4: If we are ever going to finish this
race in the proper manner, we must get rid of the
things that hinder us.
This race is demanding, hard and sometimes
agonizing.
Unfortunately, many Christians don’t finish.
Jesus is the best example of One who kept going,
saving His best work for last.

3. II Tim. 4:6-8: Paul did not make these
comments until the end of his race.
Heavenly rewards aren’t limited to a chosen few.
The winner’s circle is for God’s children.
We are in a race for an “imperishable crown” (I
Cor. 9:24-27).
The victors stay with it (James 1:12).
The spiritual athlete exercises and trains (I Tim.
4:7-8; Heb. 5:14).

4. The spiritual athlete competes according to the
rules (II Tim. 1:13, 2:5).
The spiritual athlete competes hard to win (Heb.
12:1; Phil. 1:17, 3:14).
The spiritual athlete runs with certainty (Matt.
7:7-8; John 5:39; II Tim. 3:16-17).
Man alone does not know the direction (Jer.
10:23).
We must look beyond our own wisdom (I Cor.
2:4-5; Col. 3:1-2).

5.  God is not the author of confusion (I Cor.
14:33).
 Our entrance into heaven will be abundant (II
Pet. 1:11).
 Matt. 20:1-16: The parable of the workers in
the vineyard.
 No matter how long you’ve been running this
race, the reward is the same.
 This is the most important race you will ever
enter—winning is everything.

6.  Hear (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17)
 Believe (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6)
 Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
 Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33)
 Be baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16)
 Live faithfully (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 6:33;
Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 15:58)

7.  Hear (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17)
 Believe (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6)
 Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
 Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33)
 Be baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16)
 Live faithfully (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 6:33;
Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 15:58)