"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Marathon Fellowship is a multi-generational group focused on Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and serving others—both at Stonebriar Community Church. and through missions around the world.
We meet weekly on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in B219. Our current teacher is Dr. Stephen Kim, Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. Previous teachers include Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Wayne Stiles, and Rhome van Dyck. You can explore archives of their lessons on this website.
For questions about our class or weekly activities, email us at Marathon@MarathonFellowship.org.
Aug 12, 2018
Mark Lesson 29: Living Well to the Very End
Scripture: Mark 15:1-39
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 15:1-39, exploring Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and the significance of His sacrifice. He highlights how living faithfully, even in suffering, points to God’s redemptive plan and calls believers to trust Him completely until the very end.
Aug 05, 2018
Battling Bitterness
Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32
David Souther teaches from Ephesians 4:31-32, showing how believers can overcome bitterness by embracing forgiveness, kindness, and love. He emphasizes that releasing resentment and reflecting Christ’s grace leads to healthier relationships and personal spiritual growth.
Jul 29, 2018
Mark Lesson 28: What to Do When Your Rooster Crows
Scripture: Mark 14:53-72
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 14:53-72, focusing on Peter’s denial and the lessons it provides about fear, failure, and faithfulness. He emphasizes the importance of repentance, reliance on God’s grace, and learning from our mistakes to grow in obedience and courage.
Scripture: Mark 14:12-52
Wayne Stiles continues his teaching from Mark 14:12-52 in Part 2 of “When Your Want-to Is Willing, but Your Can-do is Weak.” He further examines the disciples’ struggles with faith and obedience during Jesus’ final hours, offering practical insights on relying on God’s power and grace when personal strength is insufficient.
Scripture: Mark 14:12-52
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 14:12-52, exploring the tension between desire and ability as seen in the disciples during Jesus’ final hours. He emphasizes the need for reliance on God’s strength, highlighting lessons from the Last Supper, Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane, and the disciples’ struggles, encouraging believers to trust God when their own resources fall short.
Scripture: Mark 14:1-11
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 14:1-11, highlighting the woman who anointed Jesus with costly perfume as an example of wholehearted devotion. He encourages believers to offer their best to Christ, demonstrating love and faithfulness even when it may be criticized or misunderstood by others.
Jun 24, 2018
Mark Lesson 24: How to Stay Alert Until the End
Scripture: Mark 13
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 13, where Jesus urges His followers to stay spiritually alert as they anticipate His return. Wayne highlights Christ’s call to discern the times, resist deception, and remain faithfully engaged in God’s work. This lesson encourages believers to live with readiness, trust, and obedience as they await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Jun 17, 2018
Are All Religions the Same?
Guest speaker Imanuel Christian addresses the question, “Are all religions the same?” by comparing core beliefs across major worldview categories. He demonstrates how Christianity stands apart in its view of God, humanity, sin, salvation, Scripture, and the future. Imanuel encourages believers to know, defend, guard, share, and live by biblical truth with confidence and clarity.
Lesson Outine
Theology: Concept of God
Anthropology: Concept of Man
Hamratiology: Concept of sin and evil
Soteriology:
- Way of Salvation
- Concept of salvation; life after death
Eschatology: How everything will end
Bibliology: The truth we believe:
- 2 Timothy 3:16
- Proverbs 30:5
- Psalm 12:6
- Psalm 19:7-11
Application:
- Know the truth; be able to defend it (1 Peter 3:15)
- Guard the truth (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:14)
- Share the truth
- Live by the truth (1 John 3:2-3; 2 Peter 3:10-14)
Jun 10, 2018
Is the Bible a Loose Canon?
Wayne Stiles explores the question, “Is the Bible a loose canon?” He explains why the 66 books of Scripture we have today are complete, inspired by God, and preserved for our confidence and application. These 66 books are often referred to as the “Canon of Scripture.”
Lesson Outline
1. The Early Church Understood the Canon Was Closed
The early church recognized the canon based on apostolic authority, doctrinal soundness, and universal acceptance. The 27 New Testament books were recognized, not voted, as Scripture.
- Luke 11:49-51
- Jesus Himself, in Luke 11:49-51, outlines the Old Testament canon by referencing Abel (Genesis) as the first prophet and Zechariah (2 Chronicles) as the last historical figure. This confirms the 39 books of the Old Testament recognized today.
- 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Peter 3:15
- The early church recognized New Testament writings as Scripture immediately. Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:18, quotes Luke as Scripture, and Peter, in 2 Peter 3:15, refers to Paul’s letters as part of the Scriptures, showing that canonical recognition occurred during the lifetimes of the apostles.
- 2 Peter 1:16
2. The New Testament Says the Canon Will Be Closed
The apostles affirmed that Scripture provides everything we need for life and godliness, and the faith was delivered once for all to the saints.
- 2 Peter 1:2-4
- Jude 3
3. The New Testament Tells the End of the Story
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth, ensuring the Scripture contained all revelation necessary for the church.
- John 16:12-13
- Revelation 22
4. New Books Are Only Proposed by Heretics
Attempts to add books to the canon come from heretics and contradict Scripture; the universal church did not accept such additions.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
- Galatians 1:8
5. God Guards His Word
God ensures His Word is preserved and warns against adding or taking away from Scripture. Jesus’ words endure forever.
- Revelation 22:18-19
- Proverbs 30:6
- Luke 21:33
Conclusion
The Bible we hold today—66 books written by 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years, on three different continents and in three different languages—speaks with one unified theme. What are the odds that such diversity would produce such harmony? And yet it does.
That unified theme is this: the glory of God through the redemption of mankind by means of the salvation offered through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel. Every book of Scripture points to this one message.
Application:
Read God’s Word each day and apply it to some area of your life each day. Make it a priority to read and apply what God has made a priority to write and preserve. People have died throughout the centuries defending and guarding the books that we have in the Canon of Scripture—the Bible we have today.
Scripture: Mark 12:13–43
Wayne Stiles teaches from Mark 12:13–43, where Jesus responds to challenges from religious leaders and identifies the greatest commandment. Wayne emphasizes that loving God wholeheartedly and loving others faithfully is the central priority of the Christian life. This passage reminds believers that devotion to God is not about ritual or status, but about sincere love expressed through obedience.