i. to introduce the year's Theme in the context of earthly race and
ii. to help us understand the Christian race in the context of earthly race.
Earthly race is simply a competition between two or more persons or Teams that starts and ends on earth. It can be athletic like running, games like football, or
competition like Boxing. In our text today, Apostle Paul analysed the earthly Olympic Games by the Roman athletes. He emphasised on the disciplined habits in all
aspects of life (1Cor. 9: 25,27). Like earthly paticipants, Christians on the heavenly race are also admonished to live disciplined lives in order to win the
imperishable crown of life.
Throughout this year, we shall study all it takes to run our race on earth towards the kingdom of God. It is our prayer that as
we study together this year, we shall all end the year with abundant spiritual riches in Jesus name.
1. Define earthly race and give examples from your own experience.
2. Explain the disciplined habits of athletes, footballers, sportsmen and sportswomen. Compare these with Christians' discipline in running the race to the kingdom of God? Lev 18:21-24; 1Cor. 6:19-20; 2Cor. 6:16-17.
3. From life's experience, how can you explain the ways people are competing for earthly possessions, wealth, positions, denomination sizes and congregatonal sizes in our generation? Compare Gen 30:1-11, Num 12:1-2.
4. How can Christians successfully navigate the 'race' track while on earth and finish victoriously: 1Cor. 9:25-27; 2Tim. 2:5; Heb. 12:1-2
As an earthly athletes and sportsmen and women discipline themselves in order to win their races, so Christians also should run their Christian race with carefulness and godliness so as to win the eternal crown in God's kingdom.
Crowns are for diligent and serious athletes. Are you one?
1Cor. 9:25 "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."