How is Your Spiritual Form?

In May, 2002, After being questioned about not attending team practices or functions for a week--Allen Iverson, a professional basketball player is famously quoted in a press conference after a disappointing team loss:

“We talking bout practice?”

This is an infamous rant— where Iverson defends his position by implying that practice was not the point— it was the game that really mattered. I find it fascinating— he even goes on to question the reporter “How am I going to make my team mates better by goin’ to practice?”

Sports truly are a metaphor and illustration for life— The apostle Paul knew that as well—He uses it as a teaching metaphor in several of his letters.

Even earlier than Jesus and Paul— in about 350 BC, Greek philosopher Aristotle also implies that practice is very important: “We become what we repeatedly do… Thus excellence is not an act, but rather a habit”.

Most coaches who work with athletes often watch for proper “form”. That was most of what I did as a coach in track and field.

An athlete would perform an attempt or an action, I would then need to visualize quickly what happened, and then verbalize or demonstrate how they might improve upon their “form”. Some coaches would even record the attempt or race on video— showing the athlete what they looked like. I often could still demonstrate some of the techniques involved with my students, which I felt was a great advantage for some. “Here- watch this”— seeing the action was often very helpful. Many times we would identify a particular weakness they may have in their body— or a mistake in their timing—I could encourage them to do specific drills or exercises to address that weakness. Many times in weight lifting a coach or trainer will watch one’s “form” to make sure the athlete is maximizing their potential, and also preventing injury. Usually- there is generally a “right” or proper way to complete an action in sports— “how” to do the best you can is something to be practiced.

They often went through this process of learning the action of the event, or even an exercise. Then applying it to the real life situation— and repeatedly working both the specific muscles and movements in the weight-room— then out in real life--.

We would alternate Practice— watching and improving specific aspects of form and function— with real games and competitions.

Title: "How is your Spiritual Form: Training for Godliness" Text: 1 Timothy 4:7-8, 12, 15-16

Introduction:

Big Idea: Just as physical training requires dedication and specific exercises, Christ-like character is developed through intentional spiritual disciplines practiced consistently.

The importance of intentional spiritual development

How is your Spiritual Form?

Are you just trying or are we training?

Today we want to dive into the process that God encourages within our walk of faith— practicing and training to become more like Jesus. Godliness is not an accident— we will really become what we repeatedly do.

It’s not chance— it’s choice.

Overview: FORM as a framework for spiritual growth

Foundation (1 Tim 4:7-8)

1 Timothy 4:7 NIV

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

Paul encourages Timothy to avoid shallow alternatives to true godliness.

These worldly philosophies lack substance. In the greek language, these terms imply a hollowness, or lack of depth. They are quick fix, or short-cut ways to live life.

Consistency in spiritual disciplines creates the foundation for godly living.

Richard Foster, a pastor and author in the Quaker/Friends tradition, wrote a landmark book in the 1970’s called The Celebration of Discipline. It has been reworked at least once in the time since it was first written, but Foster is a master at describing and explaining the process of Building the basics of spiritual discipline into our lives. That process is also called “Spiritual Formation”. It’s the process of developing and discipling our spirits with God’s guidance and love.

Foster’s work has been accepted as the basic framework in understanding the spiritual disciplines we can practice to help facilitate our growth and development in godliness:

Inward Disciplines:

Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study

Outward Disciplines:

Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service

Corporate Disciplines:

Confession, Worship, Guidance, Celebration

We can establish, by setting aside time to practice, rhythms of discipline and habits that help us find a posture of humility and teach-ability.

Creating space for God in our daily routines

Application: Setting up specific times and practices for spiritual development

Now, I want you to think about this carefully— because the danger in this is that we will be tempted to “systematically” try to earn God’s favor or His blessing— that’s not what the spiritual disciplines are all about. These, when considered carefully, and implemented with humility— can have wonderfully positive and transformational effect in your life. But once again, they are not shallow quick fixes to somehow gain godliness.

We have to put in the time, consistently seeking God’s guidance and wisdom.

These practices can be very helpful— to set the foundations of your spiritual growth.

Like an athlete's core strength training, these fundamentals support everything else we do in life.

Outward Expression (1 Tim 4:12a)

1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Paul lists five areas of spiritual maturity to pursue:

Speech, Conduct, Love, Faith, Purity

Authenticity in our words and actions demonstrates the transforming power of Christ.

The first two areas are outward in nature:

Speaking and Doing.

Proverbs 29:20 NIV

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Training our speech to reflect Christ may incorporate times of silence, meditation, submission, service and practicing NOT reacting to a person— Self-regulation is a practice.

There is an obvious connection between internal discipline and external actions.

Are there specific areas where our words and actions need alignment with our faith?

How does my form look? Do we have someone in our life that is close enough, and trusted enough to inform us?

One of the most difficult things to break in an athlete are the bad habits they have—

I loved actually taking an athlete out of their “regular” event and encourage them to try something else.

Have you ever done this event— or played in this position? No? That’s ok- We can teach you, and you don’t have any negative habits that will hold you back!

These outward signs are often easy to spot— but the next three are somewhat more difficult to train, but they directly affect our relationships:

Relationships (1 Tim 4:12b)

1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

The three other areas mentioned here are:

Love, Faith, and Purity.

I am deeply convicted by this statement— that’s why we are going to encourage you to memorize it over the next three weeks. I Tim 4:12. Set an example in

Love— your interaction with others, God, and Yourself.

Faith— Your interaction with God and yourself

Purity— Your interactions with others, God, and yourself.

Let’s just consider purity— what does that mean exactly?

I have a good friend from high school that makes his own maple and walnut syrup. He has a woods where he taps the trees and collects the raw liquid sap in an elaborate system of tubes and barrels.

(Photos)

You can’t just pour what comes out of the tree onto your pancakes in the morning. No- that would be gross and disgusting actually. He has to boil this liquid over heat for hours— and the final ratio is as high as 40 gallons to one gallon of syrup. That’s a LOT of liquid from the trees to get just 1 gallon— but oh boy— that is GOOD STUFF! Why is it so good? Because it’s pure.

Do you have a mechanism in your life to receive feedback on these factors in your life?

The best times coaching the field events for me were when I could send two or three fairly accomplished athletes off to work on something together. I would encourage them to coach each other carefully— to check for the most important aspects of the action or event— and then share that feedback with each other. That’s the way our faith life is together here also—

You have a working laboratory in your relationships for developing Christ-like Love. In families, in small groups, in friendships.

If you want to really get down to the serious, base level of your form: Ask someone. “how am I doing in loving you like Jesus does?”

Sometimes we are hesitant to be humble — and accept another person’s critique. We may go through our whole lives, and never REALLY get to this level of self-examination. Really? Really?

We can pray, worship, study, and spend time alone with God— these are wonderful disciplines and you should practice these as much as you can. But when you introduce another set of eyes, another perspective, — that changes things.

Community is God's chosen arena for growing in love, faith, and purity.

There are such wonderful scriptures that remind us that we are not to forget that we need each other:

Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 - "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

That’s what “walking together” is all about. We are best challenged to grow and change when we are in close connection with other a few trusted people.

Paul urges Timothy to be a leader by setting an example.

Active participation in Christian community and mentoring relationships are key. You can find that group or those individuals here.

Men’s Tuesday morning meeting- for retired men.

Women’s Thursday bible study- for primarily retired women

Sunday School Classes, various small groups, social activities— many of you have these types of connections with your extended families in the area— but for those of you who may struggle— I’m just asking you- Do you want to grow in faith?

Are you able to be coached by a group? Let me play to your pride here: Some here may feel like they have a pretty good handle on the walk of Faith. The Walk of Love and the walk of Purity.

Listen to what Paul challenges Timothy to do? Set the example! Are you setting an example where you can?

Paul then closes this section with some additional directives— instructions to become more “mindful” of yourself.

Mindfulness (1 Tim 4:15-16)

1 Timothy 4:15–16 NIV

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

We must be intentional in examining our life to ensure lasting spiritual growth.

This type of intentionality, for me, is a system.

Many former athletes like me struggle after we finish our college careers--to exercise and stay diligent with physical training. I wonder why? Because for the years we were on the team, we had a built in TEAM. We were accountable to be at practice everyday— that’s what makes Allen Iverson’s rant so ridiculous.

Once I did not have my community — my systematic approach to fitness, competing and practicing— I didn’t do those things.

Are you aware of those dynamics in your own life? Where could you implement a plan— There is a cliche’ that says, “if you are aiming at nothing- that’s exactly what you will hit.” What are you aiming at? Then lets dial in a systematic approach to hit the goal of Christ-likeness in your life.

Speech, Conduct, Love, Faith, Purity. There may be one of these areas that is convicting you. Holy Spirit will reveal this to you, if you ask. What can you do to strategically move your life toward Jesus in that area?

I would encourage you to pay attention to that “Check-engine” light on your car. It may seem like everything is running fine- but when that light comes on — don’t ignore it, or you will probably regret it. Something even worse could happen to your car down the road. But if you check up on it now— or have someone look at it… You can save yourself a breakdown later.

Mindfulness is regular self-examination and reflection.

One of the hardest parts of working with athletes through the training process is when they think that they are better than they really are. The truth is a difficult wall to face sometimes. The REAL Game exposes us. Real life will be the test. I understand what Allen Iverson was getting at— in asking his question about practice? He misunderstood what was being asked— The reporter asked him if is absence at the teams practices that week could have been a factor in them losing the game today?

I think he was unable to self-examine at that moment.

In certain sports that it’s more difficult to expose this than others. In certain situations, some people will NEVER take responsibility for a situation. It is ALWAYS someone else’s fault. When things are more subjective— that’s a really difficult situation for athlete’s, parents, referee’s, coaches, etc.

In Life— I have always applied the Galatians 6 principle:

Galatians 6:3 NIV

3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

Galatians 6:7 NIV

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

There is a grand “film-session” that reveals everything that you say, do, — how you love, express your faith, and live out purity. The film does not lie.

When I played HS football, and I always wanted to be the one who was doing my job on the film… Not the one who would get called out for NOT doing my assignment.

When a person does indeed come to the truth— that is a very tender place. That’s where even if we fail, we needed encouragement to stay IN the process. To staying committed to the training process

I want you to join with others in developing habits of spiritual self-awareness and accountability— You need a small group of trusted friends to be that close with. Who are those people? Who are those that can watch your Form?

This often requires us to regularly take a deep breath and pray along with King David:

Psalm 139:23–24 NIV

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The greatness of the goal makes the effort worthwhile.

Conclusion:

Godliness has value for the present life and the life to come.

Just as athletes train for competition, Christians must intentionally train for godliness. This involves a foundation of spiritual disciplines, including inward practices like prayer and study, outward expressions like our speech and conduct, and corporate practices like worship. We must cultivate love, faith, and purity through community with other believers and mentoring relationships. Finally, we must engage in mindful self-examination to ensure our lives align with sound doctrine. This spiritual training is a worthwhile endeavor with rewards both now and eternally.

1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Spiritual growth is not automatic. It requires cooperation with God and the application of spiritual diligence and discipline.

Warren W. Wiersbe