Faith Olympics Christ Example Talk 1 Hebrews 12:1-4 July 29, 2012

Faith Olympics Talk 1-Christ Example I bet if Paul was alive today he would be interested in the 2012 Olympics in London. The key that runs through this chapter is Endurance or patience. The Jewish believers the read Romans were tired and ready to give up; but Paul encouraged them to keep moving forward in their Christian lives. Like runners in a race. Phil. 3:12-12 Christ Example-Heb. 12:1-4 1. a. b. 2. a. b. Look around at the Winners. (v. 1) A Cloud of Witness. Heb. 11:2, 4-5, 39 Examples in the OT were written for our learning. Romans 15:4 Look at Yourself. (v. 1b) Like Training Weights on a Baseball Players bat. Unbelief hinders us from entering into our spiritual inheritance in Christ.

3. Look at Jesus. (vs. 2-4) a. He is the author and finisher of our faith. b. Looking unto Jesus describes an attitude of faith and not just a single act. c. Jesus had faith in God-Heb. 2:13-a quote from Isa. 8:17. d. Heroes of the Faith-Heb. 11 e. Other verses for study: John 17:4; Matt. 4:1-4; Ps. 16:8-10; Acts 2:24-36; Ps. 110:1,4; Jude 1:24; Throughout this epistle, the writer emphasized the importance of the future hope. His readers were prone to look back and want to go back, be he encouraged them to follow Christ example and look ahead by Faith. Like Peter, in Matt. 14:22-33, if we take our eyes off of Christ, were going to sink. Two Olympian Examples to Encourage Us: 1. Gabby Douglas 16-Gymnasticshttp://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=gabrielle-douglas/index.html 1. Kirsten Armstrong Cyclist-39- Defending gold medalist in the women's individual time trial-2012 is her third Olympics. In May, she crashed her bike and broke her collar bone in Boise, ID. The doctors said she hurried her recovery and made the Olympics.