Running the Race God Marked Out for You

How to Find Focus and Strategy for a Winning Faith. Life is not a sprint but a race that requires endurance, focus, and purpose. In this message from Hebrews 12:1–4, Pastor Chris uses the illustration of Olympic snowboarding to show how God calls each believer to run a unique race with perseverance, fixing their eyes on Jesus and trusting Him through every stage of life.

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2285086/episodes/18490060

Key Points:

1. Run the race God designed for you
    Hebrews 12 reminds us that every believer has a specific race marked out by God. Our stage of life, resources, and circumstances may differ, but faithfulness matters more than comparison.
2. Focus your heart and attention on Jesus
    Fixing our eyes on Jesus keeps us from distraction, discouragement, and envy. Christ is both the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, and our confidence grows when we stay centered on Him.
3. Remember the reward of Christ’s victory
    Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. His finished work assures our salvation and gives meaning to our perseverance today.
4. Consider the cost Christ endured so you do not lose heart
    When faith feels heavy or progress feels slow, reflecting on what Jesus endured strengthens us to keep going and resist sin with renewed resolve.

Personal Stories
 Pastor Chris reflects on different life races, including young families, middle age pressures, retirement, restarts after failure, and seasons of hardship. He shares how God continues to use believers at every stage when they remain available and faithful.

Quotes
 • If you woke up this morning and you are still breathing, God still has a purpose for your life.
 • Your race is different from everyone else’s, and that is by design.
 • Jesus created the race, ran it perfectly, and now walks with you as you run yours.

Takeaways
 • Reflect on the stage of life you are in and ask God how He wants to use you right now.
 • Identify distractions or sins that may be slowing your spiritual progress.
 • Commit to fixing your eyes on Jesus through Scripture, prayer, and daily obedience.
 • Take one intentional step this week to serve Christ with the time and resources you have.

Scripture
 Hebrews 12:1–4 – Running with perseverance and fixing our eyes on Jesus
 Hebrews 11 – Examples of faithful endurance
 James 1:2–4 – Endurance through testing
 Ephesians 2:10 – God’s purpose prepared in advance
 Philippians 1:6 – God completes the work He begins
 Psalm 16:8 – Keeping eyes fixed on the Lord
 Philippians 2:8 – Christ’s obedience unto death
 Hebrews 10:12 – Christ’s finished sacrifice
 1 Peter 2:21 – Following Christ’s example
 2 Corinthians 4:16 – Renewed inwardly day by day

Keywords
 Christian endurance, Hebrews 12, running the race, faith and perseverance, fixing eyes on Jesus, spiritual growth, purpose in every season, Well Faith Podcast

Challenge
 This week, ask God to clarify your race, remove what hinders you, and recommit to running faithfully with your eyes fixed on Jesus.

26.0111de

The WELL Faith Sermon Audio Podcast shares practical and encouraging Bible-based messages from Pastor Chris Teien to help you grow in your walk with Christ. A new message is released every Sunday. Episodes marked with an asterisk (*) are replay episodes from previous years. Find resources at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church in Virginia, MN. Follow and review on your favorite platform. Send comments to: connect@christeien.com