Date: 2/2/2003
Time: 6:36:34 PM
Win the only prize? this verse puzzles me. Better get it looked up! Nancy-Wi
Date: 2/8/2003
Time: 1:04:35 PM
He's just saying that just as not all the runners win, not all people pursuing eternal life obtain it. There is only one way to win that prize, and it is not found in an aimless pursuit. We need to "run the race" in the same way as the one who has obtained the victory for us. (Fill in your own blank here, but it's by grace, following the law of love.) It's a life of self-denial and self-discipline, although it isn't clear from this passage that we don't earn it. Remember to be consistent with the breadth and totality of scripture. Passages don't stand alone, although we do preach them that way sometimes.
I preached a sermon on this passage a few years ago, probably last time it was in the lectionary, that I called "Cross Training" using the athletes method called cross-training as a model. I'll have to take a look at that when I get to the office next week.
Larry in Indy
Date: 2/9/2003
Time: 8:52:55 PM
9:26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air;
OK, so Paul was watching me play racquet ball with my sons tonight! Too funny! ;?)
With grins,
pulpitt in ND
Date: 2/10/2003
Time: 6:08:30 AM
Running the real race in life. Do you all remember that Saturday CBS Show Early Edition? One episode showed the previous man that got tomorrow's newspaper today...In this safe was a note that said LIVE YOUR LIFE! If you had watched that show the man in the show went around making a difference in Chicago saving people and stopping fires... Fisher Stevens was the co star. I think that Live your life statement speaks here. Don't just go thru the motions of a race. LIVE IT! Take a negative example, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan... Tonya was thinking this Olympic thing will get me out of the trailer park...running that race, unfortunatly she was screwed up in the head... It's getting close to Boston Marathon time,too...think about serious runners their regiment, diet exerices...There are marathoners who begin that race but who did not fully prepare and drop out. Our Spiritual journer is like the Boston marathon...PREPARTION is key...and run and envision that goal...Pastor Mary in Ohio (O it's snowing here)
Date: 2/10/2003
Time: 8:08:42 PM
Just after the Summer Olympics (in 2000?), I preached a sermon as a lay speaker called "More Than Gold." I'd have to go back and look, but I think it was this Scripture. A key story was the swimmer (whose name I have forgotten) who competed and barely finished the race. It seemed the whole world was cheering him on. I could post it on my Web site if anyone is interested. It was a PowerPoint-driven affair and in the end I ran the Geoff Moore and the Distance song "More Than Gold" choreographed with images of different ones competing, etc., in the Olympics. Blessings, PastorBuzz in 'TN
Date: 2/11/2003
Time: 1:21:41 AM
We must be careful not to press Paul's metaphors too much. . .if we do we will get a distortion. The metaphors serve his argument. The Corinthians are exercising their 'rights' and 'freedoms' at the expense of the weak. Because Paul is not saying what they want to hear (ie - go ahead and eat food offered in idol temples), but is prohibiting them, they attack his apostleship (because Paul does not accept pay but makes tents - this is not 'worthy' of an apostle) and his integrity (he eats kosher and abides by the law when he's with Jews and 'breaks' the law when he with Gentiles). Paul argues that whilst the Gospel is unchanging - his behaviours may be adapted to different situations in order that some might be saved. Taking the model of Christ's incarnation, Paul becomes weak to the weak (NOT 'AS/LIKE' THE WEAK). The whole thrust of Paul's ministry is that as many as possible - including himself might share in the 'blessings' of the gospel. THE ATHLETIC METAPHORS ARE INTENDED TO REINFORCE HIS ARGUMENT. Paul's behaviour is consistent with his single aim -to win the prize of eternal life. He will exercise self-discipline - limiting his 'rights' and 'freedoms' "so that I might by any means save some."
For my all-age address, I am going to tell the story of Eric Liddell with my flip chart sketches.
It is remiss of the Lectionary to fail to follow on to chapter 10 - as chapters 8 & 9 have been laying the foundation for it. Perhaps I'll leave off the Lectionary for next week to deal with the critical discussion of ch. 10.
A Canadian in Scotland.
Date: 2/11/2003
Time: 7:47:39 AM
If you can find it just thought of a great video resource for this passage Garth Brooks video"Standing Outside the Fire" you may remember- this is where a handicapped kid (Down's Syndrome, I think)signs up for a track meet-his father is uncomfortable doesn't want his child to experience any more hurt and failure, so he doesn't help- but the kid, with his mother's help, trains for the race. I think there is even one part where he does the Rocky bit at the top of some steps.
HIs father won't help him (he has seen his baby hurt too many time in too many ways) the track coach doesn't encourage the young man (for the same reasons, he is a good man who doesn't want to see the boy fail)
On the day of the race, it goes as you might imagine, the boy is far behind, but still going-then he trips and falls. The coach runs to help him up, but suddenly out of the stands comes the boys father waving the coach away-the boy must stand and finish the race on his own for it to count-he does finish
Paul does not say "run to win" he says "run in such a way that you may win" big difference
One more thing-Paul never says he is running for himself alone, or vrn that he is running the race on his own
revgilmer in Texarkana
Date: 2/12/2003
Time: 8:11:19 AM
OOOOHHHH! This week's lection is driving me crazy. All of them! If you partner 1 Corinthians with Mark, you begin to see that both Jesus and Paul are concerned with the big picture of faith, not just the one or two things that faith can do for me. Did the leper who got healed give God another thought after his healing? God wants the leper's heart so that God can work through him, not just his healed hand, right? Paul wants the Corinthians to live their lives in such a way that they go the distance with God. Why? Paul's always getting excited about the promise of eternal life. "Something better is coming...hang in there." To be honest, that's not what "hooks" me when it comes to faith...what hooks me is "God with us" now. But that's another discussion for another day. Dropping back to Namaan and 2 Kings...what does Elisha want for Namaan? To know that there is a man of God in Israel--to know that is to know everything. Kind of what I was saying a few sentences ago...to know that God is with me now is to know everything I need to know...and I live my life accordingly because God is the truth, right? Is this the message Jesus wants so desperately to get out, so that even though he is moved to heal a leper, he's bound and determined not to become a healing spectacle? I think maybe I need to hear a sermon this week instead of preach one. revdlk in Ne
Date: 2/12/2003
Time: 8:33:14 AM
My sermon this week is entitled, "Treadmills, Shadow-boxing, and Their Spiritual Significance." Ihave a couple of health problems that require that I maintain an exercise discipline. The past two months, I have been battling bronchitis, and have therefore not been able to exercise. Yesterday, I got back on a cardio machine, and my usual 45 minute workout had to be stopped at 30 minutes. I had lost my stamina due to inactivity. Our spiritual health depends upon us exercising our spiritual disciplines. What would you include in a list of spiritual disciplines? -Dale in Chattanooga
Date: 2/15/2003
Time: 1:38:48 PM
HEEHEE My redneck roots are showing, modern day race, Daytona Nascar is tomorrow.... #1 pole Ricky Rudd... Mark Martin hit the wall... But, Jeff Gordon is gonna win... (there's this Nuring home gentleman he and I in one accord prayed for JEff to win LOL) Humor aside...this is good scripture and lesson for us...to focus
Date: 7/30/2003
Time: 6:26:41 PM
THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIBLE VERSE EVER!
Date: 8/13/2003
Time: 1:27:59 PM
These verses are not meant to apply to eternal life, but to Christian service.