Sermon Outline for August 2, 2020

Hebrews 12: 1 - 2

 

“LESSONS FROM THE LOCKER ROOM”

 

INTRODUCTION:  Not everyone is a sports fan.  I recognize that.  Still, sports are an important phenomenon in our culture.  The apostle Paul was a sports fan, an avid sports fan.  He was especially fascinated with the Olympics, and with the running events in particular.  Images drawn from foot racing turn up again and again in his writings. The author of Hebrews, at least in the two verses which compose our text, indicated an equal interest in athletics.  From these verses which open Hebrews 12, we can learn three lessons from the locker room:

 

  I.  VICTORIES ARE FIRST WON NOT ON THE PLAYING FIELD, BUT IN THE TRAINING ROOM.

 

       A.  The key to life is discipline.

       B.  The Christian life involves good mental, emotional, and physical habits.

 

 II.  VICTORIES RESULT FROM A CLEAR-CUT SENSE OF DIRECTION AND PURPOSE.   

 

       A.  After his conversion, Paul focused everything he was and everything he hoped to be                on one thing:  serving Christ.

       B.  We must fix our eyes on the goal and get rid of anything that is slowing us down.

 

III.  VICTORIES MUST BE EXPERIENCED IN ADVANCE.

 

       A.  Paul knew God’s grace would carry him to victory.

       B.  We need anticipation in our lives, too.

 

 

I CORINTHIANS 9: 24 – 27

PHILIPPIANS 3: 12 – 14

GALATIANS 2: 2

II TIMOTHY 4: 7 - 8