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With the start of a new school year, we see signs of fresh beginnings all around us—students walking into classrooms with sharpened pencils and new notebooks, teachers setting up lessons and welcoming students, buses back on the roads, and calendars quickly filling with new schedules and commitments. Even if you’re not in school yourself, this season has a way of stirring a sense of renewal in all of us.

 

Scripture reminds us that the Christian life is not a casual stroll—it’s a race.

 

The writer of Hebrews tells us: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." – Hebrews 12:1–2 (NRSV)

 

There is so much in these two verses for us to carry into this new season:

1. We Are Not Running Alone – We are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.” These are the saints who have gone before us, those who endured trials, faced opposition, and yet finished well because they kept their trust in the Lord. Just as students may look to older siblings, mentors, or teachers for guidance, we look to those who have run this race of faith ahead of us. Their testimony encourages us to keep going.

 

2. We Must Cast Off What Holds Us Back – Just as runners strip away anything that would weigh them down, Hebrews calls us to lay aside “every weight and the sin that clings so closely.” This is a season to evaluate our hearts: Are there habits, distractions, or attitudes that are slowing our spiritual progress? God’s prevenient grace has set us on the racecourse, but He also calls us to shed the burdens that hinder us from running freely.

 

3. We Are Called to Persevere – The race set before us requires endurance. There will be moments when the course feels uphill, when the path is unfamiliar, and when the temptation is to give up. But God’s sanctifying grace strengthens us, renews us, and teaches us to keep pressing on. Perseverance is not just grit—it’s grace-fueled faithfulness.

 

4. We Must Keep Our Eyes on Jesus – This is the heart of it all: our focus must remain on Christ, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” In running, the direction you look determines your stride. If our eyes wander to the crowd, the obstacles, or even our own pace, we lose focus. But when we look to Jesus—the One who started our faith, sustains it, and will complete it—we find strength, direction, and joy. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him; surely He will help us endure whatever is before us.

 

This Sunday at Christ Methodist Church of Auburn, we will mark the start of the school year in a very special way:

  • Blessing the Backpacks – We will pray over our students and their school bags as a visible reminder that God goes with them into every classroom, lunchroom, hallway, playground, and athletic field.

 

  • Recognizing Teachers, Administrators, and School Support Staff – We will speak words of gratitude and pray for God’s guidance, strength, and protection over those who serve in our schools.

 

  • Launching Our New Sermon Series – Race Ready – Over the next eight weeks, we will explore how God equips us to run the race of life with perseverance, guided by His Word, supported by His people, empowered by prayer, and sustained by His grace.

 

Fall is a wonderful time for all ages to get back into the rhythm of worship, Bible study, and Christian fellowship. It is a season for spiritual growth, for deepening our connection to Christ, and for serving others as the hands and feet of Jesus. I encourage you not only to join us tomorrow, but also to bring someone with you—whether a neighbor, a classmate, a friend, or a family member. Your invitation may be the encouragement they need to step into the race of faith themselves.

 

So, as we begin this school year and this new season together, let us run with perseverance the race set before us—casting off what hinders us, leaning on God’s grace for strength, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, who will carry us to the finish line.