SPEAKER: Pastor Russel Moldovan

The sermon *“Foundations for Christian Success”* presents the Christian life as both a relationship and a race. First, it recalls Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor, framing faith through an interpersonal lens. Then, using Paul’s athletic imagery, it highlights the Christian walk as a disciplined race toward an eternal prize. Just like athletes, believers need training, focus, and perseverance. The church, described as “Team Jesus,” works from the same playbook—the Bible—and each member contributes with their unique gifts. This sets the stage for five “foundational plays” essential for Christian growth and success: obeying God’s Word, prayer, serving like Jesus, fellowship, and accountability.The sermon develops each of these five plays. Believers are called to anchor their lives in Scripture, which answers fundamental questions about origin, purpose, morality, and destiny. Prayer, structured throughout the day, realigns hearts to God’s will. Serving others, even sacrificially, follows Christ’s own example and blesses both the giver and receiver. Fellowship strengthens the church, encourages outreach, and demonstrates God’s love to the community. Finally, accountability—though challenging—is essential for growth, helping Christians stay faithful, overcome sin, and even reshape negative self-talk through faith. Together, these five practices form a winning strategy for running the race well and securing the eternal prize in Christ.