Churches Are Packed With Infants: Run Your Race With Endurance

Sermon outline

The Christian life is a race and a fight, so grow up, lay aside every weight and offence, know your aim and run with endurance and self-control, eyes fixed on Jesus, until you finish.

1. Grow up: the churches are packed with infants

   From the foundational text of the series, Ephesians 4:13-16, he says God does not want His people to stay in babyhood but to come into the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God. A big crowd is no proof of maturity: many have been in church for years and only the handbags and shoes have changed. He does not blame the false teachers parading false doctrine so much as people with a herd mentality who chase every crowd and miracle instead of knowing the Word for themselves.

   Illustration: A church of 5,000 people with moustaches, buns and high heels can still be full of infants, because no one has taught them.

   “The churches are packed with infants.”

   • Ephesians 4:13-16
   • 2 Timothy 2:15
   • Hebrews 5:14

2. Lay aside every weight and the sin that entangles

   Since a great cloud of witnesses, the heroes of faith and even the angels, is watching from the grandstand, we must make the decision ourselves to put away every encumbrance. Life, people, circumstances and the enemy all pile a load on you to stagger your walk with God and steal your zeal. He explains the sin that so easily entangles as offences: the devil uses offended people, even inside the church, to bind a runner's legs so he cannot run.

   Illustration: A runner whose legs are being tied together in the middle of the race.

   “He wants to steal away your zeal by offending you.”

   • Hebrews 12:1

3. Now is the appointed time

   The verse says fix your eyes on Jesus, not on the church or the pastor. After ten years in church believers should be able to cast out the devil, anoint their homes and children with oil and bless things, so he urges everyone to be active: sharing their faith, laying hands on the sick and rebuking sickness. Do not be afraid of failing, because you can try again and learn, and success will give you confidence to go again.

   Illustration: In his first month as a believer the only car he owned, uninsured, was borrowed and wrapped around a pole. He told his wife that if this was what God wanted he did not know if he wanted to serve God, then realised it was the devil trying to stop him in his tracks.

   “If you fail you can try again, and you've learned something out of the failure.”

   • Hebrews 12:2

4. You are in a fight

   The race is a contest, an effort and a fight: you have to fight for your prayer time, to come to church, to study the Word and to pay your tithes. The devil makes your eyes droopy when you open your Bible and lies that Genesis is a myth and Revelation too mysterious to study. God gave Adam the whole garden but one tree; in the same way the tithe belongs to God, and when you give the tenth the nine-tenths are blessed. Prayer has its place in intimacy with God and power over darkness, but the Lord taught him that if you need money, you sow.

   Illustration: While he and his wife were both working and living paycheck to paycheck, he stood up when a pastor called the businessmen to pledge for a car park, without the money to pay it; God supplied it that week and soon afterwards his employer backdated his promotion by years. Later, trusting God for a church building, he sowed what he had in the bank, and that Friday a man outside the church gave him the full deposit as a gift.

   “You cannot afford not to tithe.”

   • Genesis 2:16-17
   • 2 Corinthians 9:10

5. The right mental attitude: that I may know Him

   Paul's cry was 'that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection', not 'I know Him'. Whatever your profession or sphere, let that be the cry of your heart. He tells what no one told him as a young believer: you were saved, but you are still being saved every day until Jesus comes, and understanding this takes away condemnation when you miss the mark.

   Illustration: As a young believer he felt condemned and did not want to go to church every time he made a mistake.

   “I was saved, but I am still being saved.”

   • Philippians 3:10-11
   • 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

6. An aim before you

   Paul did not run aimlessly; he pressed on to lay hold of that for which Christ had laid hold of him. Christ took hold of you for a purpose, and everyone's purpose is different, so establish what God called you to: to sing, to pastor, to preach, to be a kingdom financier, a businessperson, a priest or a king.

   “I haven't arrived but I'm heading to that goal.”

   • Philippians 3:12

7. Endurance and self-control

   Endurance means continuance, durability, fortitude and patience, and it is essential to Christian character. Ministry is not as glamorous as it looks from the stage; tears, prayer, fasting and faith brought them where they are. Endurance must be cultivated, even in our children: if you fail, try again; forgive yourself; walk past condemnation and criticism. The opposite of endurance is being a quitter, and without self-control there is no endurance, so identify your weakness, your Achilles' heel, and guard it.

   Illustration: If your weakness is spending money and you are married, let your spouse handle the money.

   “Don't keep on doing the same reckless thing and expect the results to change.”

   • Hebrews 12:1
   • 1 John 4:4
   • 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

8. Fix your eyes on Jesus

   We cannot run on our own self-reliance: Jesus is our example, the source of our confidence, and the author and perfecter of our faith who brings us to victory. Have the testimony of a victor like Paul, who fought the good fight and finished the course. Leaving the church because someone offended you shows a lack of endurance; make up your mind to finish the race and stay for the long haul.

   Illustration: 'Pastor, I'm leaving the church.' 'Why?' 'Sister so-and-so offended me.' 'Where's your endurance?'

   “You must have a testimony of a victor.”

   • Hebrews 12:2
   • 2 Timothy 4:7-8
   • Philippians 3:14