Are you running the Christian race with perseverance?

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Bible Lessons
For Youth - The
Character of a
Champion
Are you running the
Christian race with
perseverance?

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Of the many Olympic events,
to win the Marathon is one of
the most prestigious. Yet in the
1968 Olympic Marathon, it is
not the winner, the one who
finished first, who is most
remembered, but the runner
who finished last.

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Darkness was falling. Only a few
thousand spectators remained in
the stadium. The Marathon had
been won over an hour earlier.
Now, as the last of the spectators
were leaving, their attention was
suddenly drawn to the sound of
police sirens and whistles at the
marathon gates.

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Out of the cold darkness, John
Stephen Akhwari, wearing the
colors of Tanzania, entered at the
far end of the stadium, painfully
hobbling, his leg bloody and
bandaged.
Earlier, several miles into the
race, Akhwari had found himself
trapped in the middle of some
runners. Unable to see well, he
fell and severely injured his knee
and ankle. He watched in anguish
as the other racers continued.
But he didn’t give up there.

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Grimacing with every step, he
now painfully hobbles around
the 400 meter track, eventually
crosses the finish line and
collapses–the last man to finish
the marathon.
The spectators rise and applaud
him – saluting the man’s
determination. Without looking
back, Akhwari quietly walked off
the field. Later, when asked why
he did not quit, he replied, “My
country did not send me
7000 miles away to start the
race. They sent me 7000 miles to
finish it.”

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Akhwari was never awarded a
medal. They don’t hand out
awards for perseverance at the
Olympics. Yet few remember
who won the gold in the 1968
Marathon. Instead they
remember John Stephen
Awkwari — the runner whose
determination and
perseverance represented the
true character of a Champion.

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Anyone can start
something
but true
Champions finish
what they start!

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“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.”
-Hebrews 12:1

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Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of
sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle),
purity (white background), spiritual growth
(green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and
(Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html

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Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
life is used in several places in the Bible.
This series is a great follow up for new
Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of
our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a
sports theme and is great for athletes as
well as a tie in to the youth Olympic
Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html