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Pastor Rob Carlson: 
"Run to Win - Cross-Training for Spiritual Fitness" 
series: Sage Advice for a Godly Life
Sunday, May 30, 2004 

1 Corinthians 9:19-27--Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 
²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 
²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 
²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 
²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 
²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 
²⁵Everyone 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. 
²⁶Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 
²⁷No, 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. 

1 Timothy 4:7,8--Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 
⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 

Galatians 2:20--I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

1. Live life to serve others. 

1 Corinthians 9:19--Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 

2. Win the lost at any cost. 

1 Corinthians 9:20-23--To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 
²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 
²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 
²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 

3. Keep your eyes on the prize.  

1 Corinthians 9:24-25--Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 
²⁵Everyone 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. 

4. Don't be disqualified. 

1 Corinthians 9:26-27--Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 
²⁷No, 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. 

Small Group Discussion Questions: 

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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