Mission Briefing
You Have the Greatest Cheer Section
Imagine running a race in a stadium packed with thousands of fans cheering you on – every single one of them someone who ran their own race and made it to the finish line. That’s exactly the picture Hebrews gives us. You are not running your faith race alone. You have the greatest cheer section ever assembled, and the greatest example ever lived to fix your eyes on! This mission explores Hebrews 12:1-2.
What Does Hebrews 12:1-2 Mean?
The “cloud of witnesses” refers to all the faith heroes from Hebrews 11 – Abraham, Moses, David, and many more – who finished their race and are now cheering us on. We are told to do two things: first, drop everything that slows us down – sin, worry, distractions. Second, run with endurance while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the “founder” of our faith – He started it. And the “perfecter” – He will bring it to completion. Jesus ran the hardest race of all and finished it perfectly. That’s our example.
Hero Challenge
Identify one “weight” that you know is slowing down your faith race – maybe a habit, a distraction, or something you keep returning to that pulls you away from God. This week, make one deliberate choice to set it aside. Then spend extra time focusing on Jesus in prayer or reading about His life in the Gospels, so your eyes are fixed in the right direction.
Did You Know?
The original Greek word translated “cloud” of witnesses wasn’t talking about something vague and misty – it described a massive, densely packed crowd filling an entire stadium. The writer wanted us to picture a roaring, full-capacity arena of faith heroes. And the word for race is “agon” – from which we get the word “agony” – because running this race takes everything you’ve got.
Ages 4-6: Little Hero Question
Does it help you to do something hard when someone is cheering for you? God has a whole crowd of Bible heroes cheering for you as you follow Jesus!
Ages 7-9: Growing Hero Question
The verse tells us to “lay aside every weight.” What are some things – not just sins, but distractions or worries – that can slow us down in following Jesus?
Ages 10-13: Champion Question
Jesus “endured the cross for the joy set before Him” – meaning He kept going through the worst suffering by focusing on the outcome. How can you use that same strategy when your faith race gets incredibly hard and you want to quit?
Ready for more? Meet more Bible heroes for kids at Faith Force.
♥ Mission Prayer
Jesus, You are the founder and perfecter of my faith. Help me to fix my eyes on You and not on the things that distract or slow me down. Thank You for running the hardest race first and showing me it can be finished. I will keep running. Amen.
