Torch Bearers

Torch Bearers

In the ancient Greek world, there was a unique kind of race known as the Lampadedromia, a torch relay run in honor of the gods. Runners competed not just to reach the finish line, but to keep the flame burning. Each runner carried the torch only for a portion of the course before passing it on, and if the fire went out, the race was lost—no matter how fast they ran. Victory wasn’t about speed alone. It required endurance, care, faithfulness, cooperation, and focus. The goal was not just to run well, but to protect the flame until it could be handed to the next runner. In this message, we explore Paul’s words in the context of the races and competitions his original audience would have immediately recognized. We will speak to the call of God and the responsibility of the believer to maintain the fire, keep our focus, and develop our endurance.

• What flame has God placed in your hands right now?

• Are you running fast—or running faithful?

• Are you preparing the next runner, or running as if this race ends with you?

• Are there compromises you’ve normalized that are slowly draining the fire?

• What distractions are pulling your focus away from protecting what God entrusted to you?