Scriptures Cited: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Luke 10:42; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:7; Matthew 11; Psalm 119:15; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Mathew 18: Matthew 6; Luke 2:7; John 7:5; John 4:44; John 1:11; Proverbs 22:6; Job 11:6; Job 16:2

Introduction

1. Everyone struggles with distractions in life.
2. People also struggle with distractions in faith
3. Distractions are hard to resist but Jesus is Greater Than Distractions

Encouragement (vs 1)

1. We aren’t alone – we have a “cloud of witnesses” rooting us on
2. We aren’t held back – we “lay aside every weight”
3. We don’t give up – we keep running the “race” with “endurance”

Movement (vs 2)

1. We look away from everything that distracts in life
2. We fix our eyes on Jesus

Precedent (vs 3)

1. “Consider” means to think about intently
   1. Think about what Jesus endured from the world
2. Our culture has very little endurance

Discernment (vs4-7)

1. Not every hardship is because God is mad at you
2. God is training you
3. The rest of the world doesn’t see it that way.
4. Nothing happens to you, it happens for you – to train you to keep running

Closing

1. The race we run will get harder
2. God will prepare us to resist distractions
3. Jesus is Greater Than Distractions.