Daily Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? So then, run to win! 25 Now every athlete in training submits himself to strict discipline, and he does it just to win a laurel wreath that will soon wither away. But we do it to win a crown that will last forever. 26 Accordingly, I don’t run aimlessly but straight for the finish line; I don’t shadow-box but try to make every punch count. 27 I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that, after proclaiming the Good News to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Reflection Questions:
Slugger Reggie Jackson said a baseball swing “is a very finely tuned instrument. It is repetition, and more repetition, then a little more after that.” The apostle Paul (with no baseball to write about!) used images from the races and boxing of his day to describe his disciplined approach to living as a Christian.
- Scholar Craig Keener wrote, “At Greek games, boxers wore leather gloves covering most of the forearm except the fingers, and theirs was a violent sport. Shadowboxing or ‘beating the air’ was insufficient training for a boxing competition; a boxer had to discipline his body better than that to win.” In what parts of life has it felt (or feels now) like a real “fight” to live as God wants you to, to break damaging thought or behavior patterns? What makes it worth the “fight”?
- In the spiritual realm, what differences can you think of between serious spiritual training and what Paul called “shadowboxing”? On the other hand, Paul warned against negative, self-despising asceticism in Colossians 2:18-23. What makes life-giving spiritual training different from that kind of “Don’t handle!” “Don’t taste!” “Don’t touch!” religion?
Lord Jesus, many parts of your life, and certainly your cross, weren’t easy or fun. It took serious resolve for you to be my Savior. Help me be resolute and purposeful in living as your follower. Amen.Insights from Kari Burgess
Kari Burgess is a Program Director for the Catalyst team, handling promotion and marketing for all of the conferences held at Resurrection, as well as registration and coordinating hospitality volunteers.
I am a bit of a runner. Over the last 20 years or so, I’ve kept running a pretty consistent part of my weekly routine. I’m not a fast runner and will never “win the prize,” but I enjoy the training and feel better when I consistently run 3-4 days a week. But I need motivation to stay on track. If I’m just running and don’t have something in particular I’m working towards, I find myself making excuses to not get out to run. I seem to find myself lacking self discipline to stay with it, without a specific goal.
A few months ago my schedule was busy and I was using all kinds of excuses to skip my regular run. I needed to sign up for a race in order to run regularly. So I signed up with some friends for a half marathon and we trained together over the winter. We set a training schedule where we would run a certain number of miles on our own during the week and do a long run together on the weekend, increasing the mileage each week. I knew if I didn’t get my miles in during the week, it would be hard to keep up with the long runs on the weekend. And being accountable to someone else, with a set plan in place, is incredibly helpful. I can think of all kinds of excuses for not getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning when it is 10 degrees outside. But if I know someone else will be at the trail waiting for me, then I’ll be there–bundled up and ready to run.
I ended up having a great race: met my time goal, kept mostly uninjured and enjoyed some great fellowship with old and new friends.
Our faith walk requires the same kind of self-discipline. And just like in exercising, we all can go through times where we are successful at this self-discipline and other times where it is more of a challenge. Setting a goal is a great way to stay motivated.
Pastor Scott talked about John Wesley’s spiritual disciplines in his Sunday sermon as a way to keep spiritually fit. Studying the scriptures, prayer, regular worship attendance, sharing our faith with others, sharing in the sacraments and accountability to others are all part of these disciplines. Signing up for a class with a friend is a great way to make you accountable to sticking to your plan. Set a goal to be one of the 90-percenters: being in worship 90% of the time. Or set a goal to read one of the Gospels over the next month.
Continue to set spiritual goals for yourself, things which are life-giving for you personally. And then if you go through a slump, don’t give up! Pick yourself up, set a new goal and look toward the prize–“a crown that will last forever!”
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
I am a bit of a runner. Over the last 20 years or so, I’ve kept running a pretty consistent part of my weekly routine. I’m not a fast runner and will never “win the prize,” but I enjoy the training and feel better when I consistently run 3-4 days a week. But I need motivation to stay on track. If I’m just running and don’t have something in particular I’m working towards, I find myself making excuses to not get out to run. I seem to find myself lacking self discipline to stay with it, without a specific goal.
A few months ago my schedule was busy and I was using all kinds of excuses to skip my regular run. I needed to sign up for a race in order to run regularly. So I signed up with some friends for a half marathon and we trained together over the winter. We set a training schedule where we would run a certain number of miles on our own during the week and do a long run together on the weekend, increasing the mileage each week. I knew if I didn’t get my miles in during the week, it would be hard to keep up with the long runs on the weekend. And being accountable to someone else, with a set plan in place, is incredibly helpful. I can think of all kinds of excuses for not getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning when it is 10 degrees outside. But if I know someone else will be at the trail waiting for me, then I’ll be there–bundled up and ready to run.
I ended up having a great race: met my time goal, kept mostly uninjured and enjoyed some great fellowship with old and new friends.
Our faith walk requires the same kind of self-discipline. And just like in exercising, we all can go through times where we are successful at this self-discipline and other times where it is more of a challenge. Setting a goal is a great way to stay motivated.
Pastor Scott talked about John Wesley’s spiritual disciplines in his Sunday sermon as a way to keep spiritually fit. Studying the scriptures, prayer, regular worship attendance, sharing our faith with others, sharing in the sacraments and accountability to others are all part of these disciplines. Signing up for a class with a friend is a great way to make you accountable to sticking to your plan. Set a goal to be one of the 90-percenters: being in worship 90% of the time. Or set a goal to read one of the Gospels over the next month.
Continue to set spiritual goals for yourself, things which are life-giving for you personally. And then if you go through a slump, don’t give up! Pick yourself up, set a new goal and look toward the prize–“a crown that will last forever!”
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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