Bible Study

Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon:

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Sermon Notes

Introduction: The Race of Faith

• Faith = endurance race, not a sprint

• Requires commitment, laying aside sin & distractions

• Perseverance comes by fixing our eyes on Jesus

Main Question

• When we fix our eyes on Jesus, what do we see?

• Jesus = Founder and Perfecter (Pioneer) of faith

  • He makes faith possible and brings it to completion

  • He blazed the trail by running it himself

Three Things We See in Jesus

1. Empathy

   • Jesus walked our path and understands our struggles

   • Hebrews 4:15–16 → he sympathizes with our weakness

2. Guidance

   • As pioneer, Jesus shows the way forward

   • Not “Google Maps” style, but relational guidance: “Follow me.”

3. Joy

   • He endured the Cross “for the joy set before him”

   • Shares that joy with us to keep us going to the finish line of glory

Discussion Questions:

• Describe a time when someone showing you empathy gave you strength.
• Describe the difference between situational guidance (tell me what to do God!) and relational guidance (Jesus: "follow me").
• What did Randy mean when he said that joy in this life feels anticipatory?
• Where are you right now in your "race of faith"? Energized? Perplexed? Angry? Bored? Distracted? Tired?
• What do you need (or think you need) from Jesus? Empathy? Guidance? Joy? Something else?

Questions?

Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email Randy Forrester ([email protected]).