What's the course of purity? What's the course of holiness? What's the course of humility? What's the course of justice, what's the course of righteousness,

what's the course of love, what's the course of self-control, what's the course of courage and witness?

Oh God, I want to maximize my running today.

If you have that mentality about your life,

then you'll ask not, how many sins can I avoid,

but how many weights can I lay down so that I am fleet

Footed in the race of righteousness

So how must we run the race of the Christian life?

In this episode of Light and Truth,

John Piper opens Hebrews 1139 through chapter 12 verse 2 to reveal that there is more to running than just avoiding sin.

This sermon was originally preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church on August 17th, 1997.

I invite you to take your Bibles and turn to Hebrews chapter 11.

And we're going to read verses 39 through 12-2.

And all these, having gained approval

through their faith, did not receive what was promised because God had provided

something better for us so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore since we have so great a cloud of

witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for

the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame,

and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Father, as I attempt in the next few minutes to unfold these verses, I ask for your help.

I pray for humility before the word. I pray for humility before the word I pray for protection from error in thought or

...