Marathon Mania 13 for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:13-15 NIV

Marathon Mania

Marathon Mania

• Annually, more than 500 marathons are organized worldwide.

• It’s estimated that last year

there were approximately 500,000 (1/2 million) marathon finishers in the United States.

• Nowadays, various marathons are held all around the world on a nearly weekly basis.

Marathon Mania

• As marathon running has become

more popular, some athletes set goals involving running a series of marathons.

• A 22-year old nurse from Carlisle, Iowa, Beverly Paquin, was the youngest woman to run a marathon in all 50 states.

• Over 350 individuals have completed a marathon in each state of the United States plus Washington, D.C. and some have done it as many as eight times.

Marathon History

• The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek runner and messenger.

• The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to carry the message back that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC.

• It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “Nike, Nike” (“Victory, Victory”) 'We won' before collapsing and dying.

Marathon History

• There remains considerable debate about the historical accuracy of this legend.

• There is no doubt that the famous legend gave rise to the modern day marathon.

• Pheidippides would have followed a route that matches the modern Marathon-Athens highway, the current standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles).

• The word "marathon" has permeated everyday language to such an extent that any road race or long drawn-out activity is now described as a "marathon".

• All this because a runner in Ancient Greece ran from Marathon to Athens with a message of “Victory” and then collapsed and died.

Marathon Motivation

• When we look at these ancient runners as well as the modern marathon runners we can see some traits that parallel biblical principles on how to stay motivated.

• How we are to take our message of VICTORY to the world around us.

• We can learn from God’s Word as well as these runners on how to stay motivated and accomplish your goal through our:

• Purpose, Planning, Preparation, Practice, Perseverance and Persistence

#1 Purpose & Planning • Most don’t run a marathon to win.

• More important for many runners is their personal finish time or their placement within their specific gender and age group.

• Some runners just want to finish.

• Know what you plan to accomplish, your objective, your mission, your assignment.

• Have a plan and focus on your goal.

• Know God & Make Him Known!

• 1 John 4:7-8 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. NIV

• Matt 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. NIV

#2 Preparation & Practice • When we look at these runners as well

as God’s Word we find that VICTORY does not come by chance but through proper preparation.

• Study, Learn, Train! Training programs last from a few months to many years, gradually increasing in the distance.

• You don’t have to be great to start but you do have to start to be great!

• 1 Corinthians 10:25-27 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 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. NIV

• 2 Tim 2:15 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

#3 Perseverance & Persistence • For the most people running a grueling race, it doesn't

matter where in the pack they finish. What matters is simply finishing. Refusing to no give up!

• Perseverance and persistence, two traits that keep us going. Look at these ancient runners as well as the modern marathon runners, see that they never give up!

• Heb 12:1-3 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. NIV

• Acts 20:24 24 … I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. NIV

• 2 Tim 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. NIV

Jason & Wendy Wells

• Jason and Wendy Wells are totally in to this running thing.

• Two weeks ago (October 16th) Jason and Wendy ran the Des Moines Half-Marathon (they only run 13.1 miles).

• They’ve tried to explain it to me. It’s like, this totally awesome, great fun thing.

Des Moines Marathon

Jason Wells

1 hour, 39 minutes, 42 seconds

Wendy Wells

2 hours, 26 minutes, 10 seconds

Boston Marathon • The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest

annual marathon, inspired by the success of the 1896 Olympic marathon and held since 1897 and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events.

• With the growth in popularity of marathoning, many marathons across the United States and the world are filling to capacity.

• When the Boston Marathon opened up registration for its 2011 running, the field capacity was filled within 8 hours.

• Starting with 18 participants in 1897, the event now attracts an average of about 20,000 registered participants each year, with 26,895 people entering in 2011.

• The all-time record for the world's largest marathon ever run was the Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 with 38,708 entrants.

Boston

Boston Marathon

• The Boston Marathon attracts approximately 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.

• For the entire distance of the race, thousands of spectators line the sides of the course to cheer the runners on, encourage them, and provide free water and snacks to any of the runners.

• The crowds are even more encouraging for the amateur runners and first time runners and senior runners.

Boston Marathon

• 2011 Boston Marathon set the “Fastest Marathon” ever run in the World.

• On Monday, April 18, 2011 Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya won the Boston Marathon in an official tine of 2 hours 3 min. 2. Sec The "fastest Marathon ever run"!

Marathon Messengers

• We can take a lesson from these runners.

• Their passion, commitment, determination.

• From a Christian perspective, no matter where we live, Boston or Des Moines there must be a passion for souls, a commitment to reaching out, a caring for people and determination to reach some for Christ.

• You and I of all people, we who have had the sins of our lives lifted away from us, we who know that Jesus Christ has already paid for our redemption, we who know we have been born again, we certainly have something to reach out to our fellow man.

• We ought to be able to reach out to them with the message of VICTORY and HOPE!

Marathon Messengers

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:13-15 NIV

13 for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Marathon Messengers

• That’s who you are! You’re a good news shearer! You’re bringing the story of victory and peace to mankind. You’re telling mankind that sin has been conquered, that death has been conquered, that God has made us through Jesus Christ to be more than conquerors. You’re a “Good News” bearer.

• This is a beautiful and fascinating picture that goes back to the ancient times of the old Greek city-state.

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:15 KJV

Marching off to Battle

• The people knew that warfare was a rather ongoing thing in their time.

• Something that at least would reoccur periodically.

• Very often the young men, the able bodied men, would march off to fight a battle. *

• In order to understand the real impact of this beautiful reading you need to go back to the city-states and consider the warfare practices of that day.

The Battle

• And you wonder, when will the runner come, what will his message be?

• You can believe some of the elderly would toddle out to the tower on the wall.

• Some may go to a hillside in the distance toward that battle to wait for the runner.

• Imagine yourself as a part of one of those city-states as the 1st day passes ...

• And you know that out there someplace your loved ones are fighting for you.

• And you know that possibly some of them are dying for you.

The Messenger

• Often coming from long distance, maybe one runner falls, is killed.

• Maybe another runs until he is exhausted.

• But out of the ones that have been assigned, maybe one of them will make it.

• And you see him coming, and he is staggering and he is stumbling.

• And, the word is shouted back to the city and the people rush to the gates of the city and here he comes.

What will the Message be? • Staggering and stumbling, imagine him falling

in the dust at the feet of those first citizens out to meet him.

• Imagine him rolling over unconscious from the exhaustion.

• Sweet having drenched his body, every mussel having been strained.

• His sandals gone from the run.

• His legs may be cut from running through briers and brambles.

• His toes broken, mangled from the rocks he’s crossed.

• His feet scared and scratched and blooded and bruised and swollen.

• And you bring water and you wash his face. *

Good News Messengers

• That’s talking about our privilege of taking good news to our fellow man.

• Well, what is that good news? The message of the New Testament, it’s one of salvation, it’s a message of victory! Victory over death. The enemy has been defeated. Jesus Christ has over come death, hell and the grave.

• It’s a message of good tidings, good things. That’s what you’ve got to share with people. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News. *

The Message of Salvation!

for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans 10:13 NIV