1. The Imperishable Crown
1 Corinthians 9:18-27

2. Context, Discipline, Direction
The Imperishable Crown
Context, Discipline, Direction
1 Corinthians 9:18-27
Intro
John Stephen Akhwari
“My country did not send me 5000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5000 miles to finish the race.”
The last marathoner.

3. 1 Corinthians 9:18-27
Hebrews 12:1,2 & 2 Timothy 4:7
A brief review…
Rewards are in the future and God distributes them. Jesus matt 6:1,2,5,16-18.
The examples of rewards in Paul’s epistles are often sports metaphors. 1 Cor 9:24-27

4. The Crown of Thorns — Mk 15:17
The Imperishable Crown — 1 Cor 9:24-27
The Crown of Joy—Phil 4:1; 1 Thess 2:19,20
The Crown of Righteousness—2 Tim 4:7,8
The Crown of Life—James 1:12
The Crown of Glory—1 Peter 5:1-4
Smyrna—Rev 2:10 & Philadelphia—Rev 3:11

5. Diadem—Rev 19:11,12 . Symbol of royalty for Jesus alone.
Stephanos– represents worthy service.
The Imperishable Stephanos 1 Cor 9:24-27
1 Cor 8:1
1 Cor 4:1,2; 4:11-13; 4:16; 4:18
1 Cor 15:17,19

6. Paul describing his journey 1 Cor 9:19-23
The Imperishable Stephanos 1 Cor 9:24-27
Paul’s point: The essentials that make a winning athlete makes a stephanos believer.

7. What it takes… Application
Discipline
1 Cor 9:25— agonizomai — agonize
Most of us are unable to grasp the hours of agony that go into athletic training.
This one thing I do not the 15~20 things that I dabble in.
Discipline in itself does not produce maturity, we grow in Christ as we trust and depend on Jesus.

8. …as not with out aim But with direction…
What it takes… Application
Direction 1 Cor 9:26
…as not with out aim But with direction…
Phil 3:12-14
Moses —Hebrews 11:24-26

9. What it takes… Application
Determination Hebrews 12:1,2
1. Keep the weight down.
2. Keep our feet free.
3. Keep our eyes on Jesus.