This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on August 17, 2025.
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 11:32-12:4 NLT [32] How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. [33] By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. [35] Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. [36] Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. [37] Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. [38] They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. [39] All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. [40] For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [4] After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Text
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
As we heard in our scripture reading, the author of Hebrews calls us to something far reaching. It calls us to a life of endurance, a life of perseverance in faith.
The Christian life is often described as a journey or a race. It is not a sprint, but a marathon. And just like any long-distance race, it's easy to get tired. I have a friend who has run in the Los Angeles marathon. He told me, and I have heard from other marathon runners, that you reach, what they call, “the wall”. “The wall” is a term used to describe a sudden and severe feeling of fatigue and exhaustion that can hit a runner, often around the 18 to 22-mile mark. It's a physiological phenomenon that is a result of the body's primary energy source, glycogen, becoming depleted. It's easy to want to quit. The road can be bumpy, the hills can feel insurmountable, and sometimes, they feel like they're running all alone.
But the beautiful truth from our text today is that we are not alone. The writer of Hebrews says we are "surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses." This is a powerful image. In Hebrews, chapter 11, part of which James read this morning, we get a list of men and women of faith—Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and many others. They ran their race. They faced incredible challenges, opposition, and even persecution, yet they persevered. They are our "crowd of witnesses," they are cheering us on from the stands of eternity. They remind us that it is possible to live a life of faith, no matter the circumstances.
But what does it take to run this race with endurance? The author of Hebrews gives us two clear instructions:
First, we are to "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up." and second to keep our eyes on Jesus.
First, we are to "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up." Think of a runner preparing for a race. They wear the lightest clothing and shoes possible. They shed every ounce of unnecessary weight to be as fast and efficient as they can be.
In our spiritual lives, "weights" can be anything that slows us down, even if they aren't sinful in themselves. It could be an unhealthy attachment to material possessions, a preoccupation with our reputation, or even a good thing that has become an idol, distracting us from God.
Here are a few examples of good things that can become idols:
Our Career or success can become an idol: Working hard and being successful is a virtue. However, when a job becomes the primary source of identity, security, or self-worth, it can lead to neglecting family, rest, and our relationship with God. The drive for success can consume a person, making them prioritize their career or succuss above everything
Family and relationships can become an idol: Family is a gift from God, but even loved ones can become idols. When a spouse, child, or even a friend becomes the ultimate source of happiness, identity, or purpose, we can lose sight of God's central role in our lives. This can lead to unhealthy codependency or putting human relationships before our spiritual commitments.
Hobbies and passions can become idols: Hobbies are a healthy way to relax and express ourselves. But if a hobby—whether it's a sport, a video game, or a creative pursuit—consumes an excessive amount of time and mental energy, it can push out prayer, scripture reading, and fellowship. The joy and fulfillment we seek in these activities can become a substitute for the joy found in God.
Financial stability can become an idol : Having enough money to provide for a family and live a comfortable life is a good goal. However, if the pursuit of wealth and security becomes a person's main focus, it can lead to anxiety, greed, and a lack of generosity. Trust in finances can replace trust in God's provision.
1 Timothy 6:10 NLT For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Even Ministry and service can become an idol: When ministry work becomes a source of pride, validation, or a means to earn God's favor, it can shift the focus from a genuine relationship with Him to a performance-based religion. This can lead to burnout and a feeling of emptiness if the work doesn't yield the desired results.
So we need to regularly examine our lives and ask: "What is weighing me down? What is keeping me from running freely for Christ?"
In his first letter to the church in Corinth Paul wrote this
1 Corinthians 10:23 NLT You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
We need to make decisions based on love and wisdom rather than simply on what is technically allowed.
Those are some weights that can slow us down then there is the issue of sin that can so easily trip us up. This is more than just a weight; it's a stumbling block. It's the sin that easily entangles us, the habitual transgressions we struggle to overcome. We have to be intentional about identifying and casting off these sins.
Here’s a practical guide for us from scripture.
Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This renewal of our minds is how we identify and cast off the weights and sins that hinder us.
First, we are to "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up." Then second, and most importantly, we are to keep “our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." The KJV and NKJV say that Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith”, the NIV says He’s the “pioneer and perfecter of faith”. No matter how you say it Jesus is the beginning and the end of our faith.
This is the foundation of our perseverance, the ability to stand no matter the obstacles or mountain. Yes the great crowd of witnesses in the stands are a great encouragement, but our eyes must be fixed on the one who ran the ultimate race. Jesus is the starting point and the finishing point of our faith. He is the one who initiated our salvation and the one who will bring it to completion.
Philippians 1:6 NLT says And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Why look to Jesus? Because He is our ultimate example of perseverance. Hebrews 12:2, the second verse of our text reminds us that Jesus “Because of the joy awaiting him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame."
His joy was not in the suffering itself, but in the glorious outcome, which is the salvation of humanity and the restoration of our relationship with God. He knew that after the suffering would come victory. He knew that after the cross would come the resurrection.
Jesus ran His race, and He finished it perfectly. And “Now (as our text says) He is seated in the place of honor. His position of authority and glory is the reward for His perseverance.
The Reward of Perseverance
But the reward is not just for Jesus; it is also for us. When we endure in faith, there is a crown waiting for us.
James 1:12 NIV says Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
The reward is not a new car or a bigger house. It is the "crown of life," which signifies eternal life and a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. The book of Revelation also mentions this promise
Revelation 2:10 NIV Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Perseverance is not just about toughing it out; it's about trusting God's promises in the midst of our trials. It's about knowing that our suffering is temporary, but our reward is eternal.
Romans 5:3-5 NIV says [3] Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT [38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So today, let's commit ourselves again to this race. Let's lay aside the weights and the sins that hold us back. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, our faithful guide. Let's run with endurance, knowing that He is with us every step of the way, and that the finish line—eternity with Him and the crown of life—is worth every single stride.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the powerful reminder from your Word today that the Christian life is a race of endurance, not a sprint. We are grateful for the great crowd of witnesses who have gone before us, and we thank you for their example of faith and perseverance.
Lord, we confess that we often become weighed down by the cares of this world and the sins that so easily entangle us. We ask for your strength to strip off every weight and to cast aside every sin that hinders our race. Renew our minds, Lord, so that we may discern your good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Above all, we thank you for Jesus, our champion and the author and perfecter of our faith. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, knowing that He has already run the ultimate race and secured our victory. We pray for the faith to trust in His finished work and to find our joy in the hope of the glory to come.
Strengthen us, Lord, to endure our trials, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. May your love be poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, so that we may run this race with confidence and faithfulness.
Thank you for the promise of the crown of life. We pray for the grace to be faithful, even to the point of death, and to one day hear you say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we pray.
Amen.
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