Sermon Video, Calvary Community Church, Williams Bay, WI

Running your race of life with discernment is a consistent challenge. Contrasting opinions, divergent expectations, over-commitments and too many very complex relationships make “run your race with perseverance” (Hebrews 12:1) an hourly challenge! Today, James gives us a fresh perspective...God has some suggestions on running our daily life race with discernment!

Runners invest huge amounts of time developing their running muscles, their heart strength, and their lung capacity. In every person, no muscle gets more exercise than our tongues! Nothing can inflict more pain or awaken more joy in the heart of another person. What is the legacy of your tongue?

Runners invest huge amounts of time developing their running muscles, their heart strength, and their lung capacity. In every person, no muscle gets more exercise than our tongues! Nothing can inflict more pain or awaken more joy in the heart of another person. What is the legacy of your tongue?

Does the better runner compete in the sprint races, hurdles, relays, or long distance running? Life is a combination of it all - hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades - and together they form your life legacy. Jesus can empower you to “run your race with BALANCED perseverance.”

Does the better runner compete in the sprint races, hurdles, relays, or long distance running? Life is a combination of it all - hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades - and together they form your life legacy. Jesus can empower you to “run your race with BALANCED perseverance.”

Is running our race of life unhindered by the stuff of our world that so easily entangles us an unrealistic dream? Or is it possible that supernatural power, unleashed in us by the One who defeated death, could make it possible for us to run free?

Is running our race of life unhindered by the stuff of our world that so easily entangles us an unrealistic dream? Or is it possible that supernatural power, unleashed in us by the One who defeated death, could make it possible for us to run free?

The writer of Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts since they are the wellspring of life. If so, then how can we guard our hearts as we run this race? By intentionally considering Jesus.

The writer of Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts since they are the wellspring of life. If so, then how can we guard our hearts as we run this race? By intentionally considering Jesus.

Winning runners approach their race trained and prepared. They’ve removed every hindrance, but as they run with perseverance, with their eyes fixed forward on their goal, obstacles arise requiring adjustments to avert disaster. And what about the internal struggles that hinder us in our race of life? Those things that distract or confuse our minds, or that discourage or defeat us emotionally so we lose the courage, or even the desire, to keep going?