Run for the Prize

This message challenges us to move beyond spiritual mediocrity and embrace maximum potential in our faith journey. Drawing from Paul's incredible testimony in 2 Corinthians 11—where he recounts beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and constant danger—we're reminded that quitting isn't in the vocabulary of world changers. Like Pablo Casals, the legendary cellist who at 85 still practiced five hours daily because he believed he was 'getting better,' we're called to never confuse what we've done with what we have yet to do. The core message from 1 Corinthians 9:24 urges us to 'run in such a way that you may obtain the prize.' This isn't about retirement or settling into comfortable Christianity; it's about recognizing that true success is a journey, not a destination. We're presented with a powerful contrast: millions watch 96 athletes compete for greatness, projecting their desire for victory onto others—but God calls each of us to be on the team ourselves, not mere spectators. The question becomes deeply personal: Are we maximizing our God-given potential, or are we living in mediocrity? The sermon illustrates this through the story of two shoe salesmen in Africa—one saw hopelessness because no one wore shoes, while the other saw unlimited opportunity for the same reason. Our capacity isn't limited by past experience or others' opinions; it's defined by what God has revealed to us through His Spirit. We're reminded that difficulties aren't meant to stop us but to strengthen us, and that all things work together for good when we're called according to His purpose.