I was a distance runner for one year in high school and I know a little about the discipline (especially mental) involved. But that was literally half my life ago. So I'd love some thoughts from those of you who currently run or participate in any other kind of sport, or have in recent history. How does your physical discipline inform your faith? (or does it?) Are there parallels? Things you have learned from sports that have shed light on your spiritual journey?
This week I am preaching from this text:
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
What is your response to the text? What does it mean to you to "run in such a way that you may win (an imperishable prize)"? What does "self-control" look like in the spiritual life? What would it mean to punish and enslave the body?
Would love to read/hear your reflections. Write a blog, write a comment, or, if you don't want to share publicly, drop me an email. I think that beyond giving me fodder for my own sermon reflections, this would just be an interesting discussion for us to have.
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