2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

Thoughts:  Becoming a Christian is relatively easy: acknowledge to God that  Jesus is your Lord and savior and receive by faith the free gift of eternal life that Christ provided by drying on the cross. You cannot work for salvation nor do anything to qualify for it. God gives it freely to all that recognize their need and trust in Christ alone.
But then comes the hard part—hanging in there as a Christian in a world that is hostile towards God and His people. The world constantly dangles in front of you all that it has to offer in opposition to the things of God. We challenge our own selves from within. The enemy hits you with temptation after temptation. The real test of your faith is, will you endure? Genuine faith in Christ perseveres to the finish line. The Christian life is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. 

Discussion: When do you most feel like dropping out of the race? What encourages you to keep going at those times?  What do you need to in the rest of your life to qualify you to say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."?  Are you currently doing that? 

Activity:  Fight the good fight, Finish the race. Keep the faith. Not just so you can say it at the end of your life, but so you can say it at the end of each day, week, month, year!