A God Bod

Key Bible Verses

• 1 Timothy 4:1-16

Sermon Quotes

From Pastor Josh Laxton

“You’ll never change what you are really o.k. with.”

“The status quo has to go.” 

“To have a GOD BOD requires TRAINING rather than TRYING.”

“Realize that what you believe will determine how you behave.  How you behave is a reflection on what you believe.”

“If you train right you’ll experience results.”

“The purpose of a GOD BOD is ultimately for God’s glory, others’ good, and your well-being.”

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DIGGING DEEPER

Being properly trained is required for many professions that we rely on. Doctors, dentists, teachers, law enforcement personnel, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, etc. are all trained.  We know that training is important in anything that we do if we want to do it well.  

The Bible has a lot to teach about spiritual training and discipline and why they are important in a Christian’s life.  

Here are some Bible verses that teach about training and discipline: 

• Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)
• All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:11)
• All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.  (1 Corinthians 9:24-29)
• Train up a child in the way that they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
• But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

Scriptures teach there are critical benefits that result from training and engaging in discipline. Spiritual training and discipline are good, healthy, important and help us to grow in our faith and shape us to be more like Jesus. As we are trained in biblical principles and truth, we see God’s expectations for us as we learn to live godly lives.   

Training and discipline are not easy. They take dedication and hard work to develop. But as scripture teaches, if we are to run the race and grow as we live our daily lives, we have to make the effort and put in the time to consistently spiritually train. Our spiritual training results in growth and maturity in our faith.  

Spiritual training and discipline requires us to take action. Examples of ways to train spiritually are to read the Bible, pray, fast, meditate, serve others, and worship and praise God for who He is and what He has done.  

The great news is that we do not have to train and learn on our own. When we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ,  God gives us the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide and helper. As we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and listen to his leading, we grow and we become more and more like Jesus and we become a mirror of God’s love to the world. Our lives demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  We are able to love others and care for them. 

At Northland Church there are awesome opportunities for training and growing as believers and we are given opportunities to use the gifts that God has given us for His glory. This is our call to action. Preserve and develop a plan for your spiritual training! Don’t give up! Keep at it! May God bless us as we go forward together training and growing spiritually in this exciting new year!  

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WHAT NOT TO MISS

Four elements of training for our GOD BOD.

1) Training requires purpose (Why) - “Train yourself to be godly.”  1 Timothy 4:7

• The purpose of training is to learn to be godly.
• Godliness is being more like God.
• Macro reason for us to engage in GOD BOD training - we were created in God’s image and likeness and to mirror God to the world.
• Micro reasons for us to engage in GOD BOD training is for the present life and the life to come.
• Present life—is to have improvement in every sphere of life. 
• LIfe to come—is to store up treasures in heaven and gear up our life for what is to come. 
• Training can fail if—we don’t want to do it; we forget the overarching why; the pain is greater than the gain; impatience with progress sets in; there is no accountability.
• Purpose of a GOD BOD is for God’s glory, others’ good, and your well-being.

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2)  Training keeps in mind a PERSON  (Who)  ”... because we have put our hope in the living God who is the Savor of all people, especially those who believe.”  1 Timothy 4: 10

• Training keeps in mind a person you want to be like.  Jesus is the person Paul has in mind when training in the faith.  
• Paul wanted others to “Follow me as I follow Christ.” 
• Through Jesus’ death and resurrection God reconciles human beings to himself.  And having been reconciled through Jesus, God has given us the Holy Spirit to help shape and mold us more into the image of Jesus so that we might mirror the radiant glory of God to the world. 
• Problem in churches and Christians today - we want to receive the love of Jesus but do not want to receive the life of Jesus.
• Any training, any teaching that does not lead you towards Jesus, to be more like Jesus, isn’t biblical teaching.
• When Jesus becomes our standard, the PERSON we have in mind for our training, questions we ask are:   What would Jesus do?  How would Jesus respond?  What would Jesus say? How would Jesus love?  What would Jesus give?

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3)  Training needs a PLAN (What) - “Command and teach these things…set an example…devote yourself to Scripture…Be diligent…give yourself wholly….Watch your life and doctrine…Persevere in them….” 1 Timothy 4: 11-16

• Find a mentor coach — someone you trust and who is a little further ahead than you in the faith.
• Share what you learn with others.
• Set an example as you live with others—review how you are doing, listen to the Holy Spirit and get feedback from others.
• Devote yourself to the Word of God.  
• Use your gift(s) to serve others.  
• Keep an eye on your orthopraxy (right living) and orthodoxy (right doctrine).  
• Persevere and remain diligent in your training—Don’t give up!  Keep at it!

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4)  Training measures PROGRESS (How)  “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress….because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  1 Timothy 4: 15-16

• If you train right, you’ll experience results.
• People will see your progress.
• You will save both yourself and your hearers.
• Questions to measure progress:  Can people tell you are becoming more like Jesus?   Are people more like Jesus as a result of being around you?

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Where do you need to see a GOD BOD in your life?

• Mind/thoughts.
• Mouth/words.
• Service/deeds.
• Purity/holiness.
• Community/fellowship-togetherness.
• Giving/generosity.

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To have a GOD BOD requires training rather than trying.

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Life Application

During this week, decide to develop a plan and write down one or two ways you can improve your GOD BOD.  Here are some ideas to jumpstart your thinking. Go to the Northland Bookstore for inspiration and get a new Bible translation or devotional that you can read throughout the year.  Visit our website and find a group or class that you can join. Approach someone who is a little ahead of you in their Christian faith and who you respect and trust and ask them to be your mentor. Look at the Additional Resources section below for more ideas on training and developing as a follower and disciple of King Jesus. 

Small Group Discussion Questions

• What is something that you have given birth to or created? How does what you have created reflect who you are?
• Since Jesus was born into the world to move us towards God, what are some ways  that you can move toward God this week?
• Why is it important,  as you reflect Jesus to the world, that you be a part of the body of believers at Northland?
• What are some ways that you reflect that demonstrate that Jesus is your Lord (i.e. boss, master, ruler, king)?
• How can you be a light to the world, showing them that you have been born again as you are on mission reflecting Jesus who is the Light of the World?

Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Monday - Training with a Purpose- 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:24; Matthew 4:16
• Tuesday -Training with God in Mind-Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 5:1-2
• Wednesday - Training with a Plan-2 Peter 1:5-8; Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:1-2
• Thursday -Training that Measures Progress-Philippians 1:6; Psalm 92:12; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• Friday - Training that Transforms Life-Philippians 2:5-8; Philippians 4:13;Philippians 3:12-14

Prayer

Lord, we are looking forward to an exciting new year! Our hearts are filled with a sincere desire for positive change in our spiritual life. This year we want to grow and become more fully devoted followers of King Jesus. Help us to be dedicated to spiritual training so that we can reflect God’s glory, be there for others, and also become more and more like Jesus everyday.  

Additional Resources

—  Bible Reading Plans 

—  Core Essentials for Living the Christian Life 

—  Four Reasons You Need a Spiritual Mentor and Three Ways to Find One

—  Flourish - Northland Women's Mentoring 

—  Discipleship Training and Next Steps ‍