Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.
Summary
Themes
Pastor's Points
Key Points
- 1.Remember the saints who endured.
- 2.Remove the weight and the sin that ensnares.
- 3.Remain focused on Jesus who endured.
- 4.Life brings severe pressure, pain, and grief across every stage of life that can make believers feel like giving up, but now is not the time to quit.
- 5.In Facing the Giants, the blindfolded bear crawl illustration reminds us that even when the journey burns and feels too heavy, we can keep pushing forward.
- 6.The "cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1 refers to the earthly faithful lives of saints standing as testaments to encourage us, rather than saints watching down from heaven.
- 7.Non-sinful weights—such as excessive phone scrolling, TV, or overscheduled activities—can slow down spiritual growth and keep us from meaningful prayer and relationships.
Sermon Moments
“In the movie Facing the Giants, young Brock had to bear crawl blindfolded with a teammate on his back, crying out 'It burns, it hurts, it's too heavy'—a picture of how life's pressures make us want to give up.”
“It is not so much as they who look at us; it is we who look to them for encouragement.”
“The weight is non-sinful things that weigh us down... like hoodies and sweatpants during track practice—not wrong, but not going to help you run the race effectively.”
“Holiness is hard. This isn't a passive ride to glory; this is an active grind to glory.”
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus means fixing the eyes of your mind—thinking, dwelling, and contemplating on the cross of Christ in the midst of your difficulty.”
“You and I have a coach, and His name is Jesus Christ. He was there with you when you entered the race of faith, and He will be with you every step of the way to the finish line.”
This Week
Remember This
You can keep running the race of faith by remembering faithful saints who endured, stripping off every weight and sin, and keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus who never leaves your side.
A Challenge for You
As we prepare to enter into the new year, you keep running. You don't give up. You don't quit. Remember the saints who endured; they got through it, so can you. You remove the weight and the sin continually, and you remain focused on Him who endured and is able to help you endure.These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.
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