Hebrews 12:1-3 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.

Hebrews 12:1-3Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great

cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before

him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and

lose heart.lose heart.

Acts 20:22-24““And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going

to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the to me there. I only know that in every city the

Holy Spirit warns me that prison and Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider hardships are facing me. However, I consider

my life worth nothing to me, if only I may my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to

the gospel of God’s grace.the gospel of God’s grace.

I Corinthians 9:24-27Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,

but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the

games goes into strict training. They do it to get a games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man

beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Philippians 3:12-14Not that I have already obtained all this, or Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press have already been made perfect, but I press

on to take hold of that for which Christ on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not

consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is But one thing I do: Forgetting what is

behind and straining toward what is ahead, I behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for press on toward the goal to win the prize for

which God has called me heavenward in which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus.

I Timothy 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith. Fight the good fight of the faith.

Take hold of the eternal life to Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when which you were called when

you made your good confession you made your good confession in the presence of many in the presence of many

witnesseswitnesses

2 Timothy 2:3-7Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ

Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his civilian affairs—he wants to please his

commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the competes as an athlete, he does not receive the

victor’s crown unless he competes according to the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into

all this.all this.

Hebrews 12:1-3Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great

cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before

him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and

lose heart.lose heart.

Hebrew 10:19-23Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to

enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great

priest over the house of God, let us draw near to priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 11:32-39And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell

about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith Samuel and the prophets, who through faith

conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and

refused to be released, so that they might gain a refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.better resurrection.

Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were

stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in

sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of

them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These

were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had

planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

1553 AD1553 AD

““Bloody Mary”Bloody Mary”

Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Nicholas Ridley, Hugh LatimerLatimer

Oct. 15,1555Oct. 15,1555

Hinder – “That which serves to prevent Hinder – “That which serves to prevent someone from doing something, an someone from doing something, an

impediment.”impediment.”

Entangle - “Pertaining to the exertion of tight Entangle - “Pertaining to the exertion of tight control, being in control of, controlling control, being in control of, controlling

tightly.”tightly.”

Perseverance – “steadfastness, constancy, or Perseverance – “steadfastness, constancy, or endurance.”endurance.”

Romans 15:4-5For everything that was written in the For everything that was written in the

past was written to teach us, so that past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the through endurance and the

encouragement of the Scriptures we encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement gives endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesusyourselves as you follow Christ Jesus

I Thessalonians 1:3

We continually remember before We continually remember before our God and Father your work our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your prompted by love, and your

endurance inspired by hope in our endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh! I do not wonder that the martyrs died for such Oh! I do not wonder that the martyrs died for such a Christ as this! When the love of Christ is shed a Christ as this! When the love of Christ is shed

abroad in our hearts, then we feel that if the stake abroad in our hearts, then we feel that if the stake were present we would stand firmly in the fire to were present we would stand firmly in the fire to suffer for him who died for us. I know our poor suffer for him who died for us. I know our poor unbelieving hearts would soon begin to quail at unbelieving hearts would soon begin to quail at

the crackling wood and the furious heat. But the crackling wood and the furious heat. But surely this love would prevail over all our surely this love would prevail over all our

unbelief: Are there any of you who feel that if unbelief: Are there any of you who feel that if you follow Christ you must lose by it, lose your you follow Christ you must lose by it, lose your

station, or lose your reputation? station, or lose your reputation?

Will you be laughed at, if you leave the world and Will you be laughed at, if you leave the world and follow Jesus? Oh! and will you turn aside follow Jesus? Oh! and will you turn aside

because of these little things when he would not because of these little things when he would not turn aside, though all the world mocked him, till turn aside, though all the world mocked him, till he could say "It is finished." No, by the grace of he could say "It is finished." No, by the grace of

God, let every Christian lift his hands to the God, let every Christian lift his hands to the Most High God, to the maker of heaven and Most High God, to the maker of heaven and

earth, and let him say within himself, "Now for earth, and let him say within himself, "Now for the love I bear his name, what was my gain I the love I bear his name, what was my gain I

count my loss, I pour contempt on all my shame, count my loss, I pour contempt on all my shame, and nail my glory to his cross. and nail my glory to his cross.

(Charles Spurgeon)(Charles Spurgeon)