Cross Training - Living Waters

“Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
(1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Most often, athletes put all of their efforts into training and excelling in one chosen sport. However, some athletes opt to train using a variety of different activities to enhance performance in their main sport. This practice, commonly referred to as cross-training, is defined as an ”exercise protocol that utilizes several modes of training that are outside the athlete’s main sport to develop a specific component of fitness.” While originally popularized by runners, cross-training is now a common practice amongst cyclists, swimmers, triathletes, and many other athletes.

In cross-training, athletes follow a variety of exercises, practice mental discipline, and proper technique to make them physically strong. Similarly, there are different exercises that we can do if we want to be spiritually strong. In fact, in several places in his writings, the Apostle Paul uses athletic analogies and metaphors to highlight the importance of spiritual exercise and training, and to convey key aspects of the Christian life, such as: discipline (1 Timothy 4:7), obedience (2 Timothy 2:5), self-control (1 Corinthians 9:25), and endurance (Philippians 3:12). Just like a marathon runner needs to train daily, stretching before each run, we too are stretched through our continual workouts as we train daily for the kingdom of God.

The season of Lent calls us to be athletes engaged in intense spiritual training, and this 6-week series will look at some of the ancient disciplines and biblical practices that can help us locate and combat the spiritual “flab” on our souls, as we fix our eyes on Jesus and draw closer to God over these next 40 days.

SERMONS

Sermon: Training in Focus

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Christopher Doering

Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023 ~ The First Sunday in Lent

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:17-27

Handout: Part 1.HO