Train Yourself to be GodlyAn 8-week Spiritual Fitness Class

Strength Endurance Flexibility

I Timothy 4:7,8

Train yourself . For training is of value, but has value for all things, holding promise for both the life and the

life to come.

to be godly

physicalgodliness

some

present

Personal Trainer

Friend—• 25 years fitness experience.• Exercise essentials--form.• Challenging workouts.• Confidence. • Comfortability.

Me— (August 2009)• No fitness experience. • No fitness experience. • No fitness experience. • Little Confidence—but

lots of trust. • Little Comfortability—but

lots of trust.

COPY

COPY 6-9 months later

How do you do that? Are

you a trainer?

I’ve got to learn this

stuff!

I didn’t know enough and didn’t have enough experience to help others.

…At least one part of this problem is easily remedied.

Paul was a Trainer

Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. I Cor. 11:1

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Phil. 3:17

We did this…in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. II Thess. 3:9

Believers in Corinth.Believers in Philippi.Believers in Thessalonica. COPY

II Timothy 2:2The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men, who will be also be qualified to teach others.

Timothy

TRAIN

Do I know enough and have enough experience to help others

love Jesus?…At least one part of this problem is

easily remedied.

Meditation

Meditation is what my mind chews on.

and Study

Biblical Meditation is when my mind is chewing on the

Word of God.

Western Meditation

Eastern Meditation

Biblical Meditation Is Essential

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Is. 55:8,9

I must input new data into my mind because by default I think contrary to how God thinks.

The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. Gal. 5:17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father, but from the world. I Jn. 2:15-16

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but

be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:1

Biblical meditation strengthens the “new nature” by filling the

mind with new content, understanding, and action.

Biblical Meditation Is “Filling” I intentionally think about God’s word and what it means so that I love what God loves and hate what He hates.

Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut. 8:3

Biblical Meditation Is Constant

“Light weight, many repetitions.”

O how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long! Psalm 119:97

What Biblical Meditation is NOT.

Eastern Meditation

What is god?impersonal, deny desires,

become one with universe. Empty mind.

Trying to get

solitude?

What Biblical Meditation is NOT.

Western Meditation

What is god?Sensual

Material Clutter m

ind.

How we will Meditate.Write relevancy and application.Read or listen to large sections of Scripture. Romans-Revelation 6 hours.(washing effect) • Have Scripture on in the car or while cleaning,

doing laundry or walking. • “But I will miss something if I can’t take notes.”• “My mind wanders.”Read or listen to a section repeatedly. Book of Ephesians 19 minutes. (soaking effect)Emphasize different words. Psalm 23.Write sections of Scripture or paraphrase Scripture.

How we will Meditate.Imagine (sanctified imagination)• Past— “I wonder what it would have been like…”• Future— “I wonder what it would look like for this

person or situation to be transformed by God?”

Memorize! (like a vitamin) • Work on memorizing and review for 5 minutes.• Not more than 5 minutes.

Meditation Meditation is what my

mind chews on.

When you exercise, it is important that you

SNACK WELL.

Assessment: Do you meditate on God’s Word?

Do you try to empty your mind in order to connect with God? (not biblical mediation)

Is your mind too cluttered with sensual or material thoughts so that you do not connect with God? (we are bombarded DAILY!)

Do you love what God loves and hate what He hates?

Do you have the knowledge and experience to train Your child? Your grandchild? A friend?