Join me for my Sunday Message, "Running the Race with Perseverance" the First in a four-part series, "the Normative Christian Life.

Each Sunday for the next four installments I will explore the "normative" life of the Disciple of Jesus Christ. (normative - relating to a norm, a standard of correctness.)

Week One: Running the race with Perseverance

Week Two: Walking in Patience (with Jesus)

Week Three: Sitting in His Presence

Week Four: Standing on the Promises

We must always bear in mind that the normative condition in the Christian life is not a walk in the park nor a snooze in the sunshine. The writer of Hebrews makes a clear comparison (Chapter 12) between the Christian Life and a cross-country footrace. At times the race seems downhill with the wind at our backs. But, at other times it is all uphill and a steady wind in the face.

In this message I will give seven keys to Running the Race successfully until the goal of Christlikeness is achieved. Until then, discipline to run the race with "patient endurance" is the key. As Paul said in another place, "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Co 9:26–27.