Preached at First Presbyterian Church, Baldwin on February 12th 2012
A printable PDF can be found here
Back in the days when Paul wrote to the Corinthians the Greeks were sports crazy. Near to the city of Corinth were held the Isthmian games, in their day only surpassed by the Olympics. From Paul’s sporting references in 1 Corinthians (and elsewhere) we can assume that he himself was a sports fan, and probably a competitor at some time in his life.
Paul is usually pictured by artists wearing classic Greek attire. Flowing robe, scholarly posture, sandals, maybe carrying a scroll and wearing a worried look across his brow. The image he projects in these few verses makes a stark contrast. Here’s Paul, tracksuit and Reeboks, coming out of the gym after his morning workout, ‘Bible’ in one hand, ‘Sports Illustrated’ in the other. Here’s Paul writing in terms that he knows his sports crazy listeners could understand.
“Listen up, this is Coach Paul laying down the law here. You want to be out there on the running track? Then get out there and as soon as that pistol fires the starting shot, you have got to run like the wind, run as though the only thing that mattered in life was getting to the tape first. Anything less just doesn’t cut it.
And those of you who want to be great athletes? Got one word for you. “Train”. Train, train, train, train and keep on training. Be ready, always ready, so that if you are called on to compete today, you’ll do well, and if you are called on to compete tomorrow you will do even better because you are ready to rumble.
And those of you who are trying to coach others? Be careful. Don’t become so tied up with teaching others that you neglect to train yourself. The best way to lead is by the example of your own expertise. Go Team!”
Coach Paul the Apostle. Sports Person of the Year, Ad 45.
Or maybe not!
Paul’s real concern, as you know, is not with coaching sports but instructing in discipleship. To be a disciple he is telling us, takes application, commitment and constant vigilance.
1. Discipleship takes discipline.
The words disciple and discipline are very similar. In a race, although everybody competes, only one person wins the first prize. When it comes to running the race of discipleship, he encourages us to behave like we are going to be the winner.
There’s something about a winner. They stand out. They hold their heads up high. They exude confidence. Paul encourages to be like that in our Christian walk. Be bold. Be Confident. Walk Tall. Why? Because in Jesus Christ every one of us is a winner. Every one of us is a number one. Not because we run the fastest, but because Jesus died for us, pleads our cause at the Fathers side and has a prepared place for us in the Kingdom.
We are number one. But there are two sides to a winner’s perspective. The other side is that they have done their homework. They’ve put in the time.
Golfing superstar Gary Player always had an answer when people would say: “I’d give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you!” He would reply, “Would you? Do you know what you have to do to hit a golf ball like I do? You’ve got to get up at 5:00 every morning, go out to the golf course, and hit a thousand golf balls. Your hands start bleeding, and you walk to the clubhouse and wash the blood off your hands, slap a bandage on them, and go out and hit another thousand golf balls! That is what it takes to hit a golf ball like I do!”
Whilst our salvation is assured in Jesus Christ that does not remove from us the obligation of striving to be the best disciples that we can be. Winning teams are composed of numerous winning athletes. If you don’t put in the practice, you disqualify yourself from staying on the team.
What sort of disciplines does discipleship call us to? Faithfulness in worship and service. Being in church and involved in our church as God enables us so to do. Giving time and effort to the activities of Bible Study and prayer. Being faithful in our stewardship of time, tithes and talents. There’s nothing glamorous about these disciplines. Its good old-fashioned commitment and dedication. That’s all.
Paul also uses the imagery of boxing. He speaks as though he’s the fighter in the ring. He’s not running around aimlessly, he’s not just throwing punches in a haphazard manner, hoping one of them may connect. The man is focused. He knows that he is going to have to take the hits and he knows that when he gets knocked down, he’s got what it takes to get up again.
That too is part of the discipline of discipleship of Jesus Christ. Getting up again when life knocks you flat. Being down, but not out. Being faithful to Jesus Christ means we will get hurt, if not physically, then certainly emotionally and maybe spiritually.
Do you think this world wants you to be a disciple? Do you think there aren’t forces around that are totally opposed to the message of Jesus Christ? Then think again. Hear one of Paul’s comrade in Peter in 1 Peter 5:8 “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.”
Discipleship involves focus. But, is it really worth the effort? I mean I like coming to church, but “Yo Adrian”, your making it sound like hard work! So remember;
2. We’re competing for a prize that lasts forever
In Paul’s day athletes would be rewarded on the podium, not with a trophy or a big check, but with a wreath to show the world they were number One. The main ingredient of the victory wreath at their Olympic Games was withered celery.
So you have to ask the question, ‘If people are willing to go to tremendous lengths, just to stand on a box, have some withered celery wrapped around their necks, … should not we, who are promised the prize of eternal life in Christ Jesus, be willing to give our all for the gospels sake?”
Activity expended for the Kingdom of God has lasting results. Think of the benefits that the gospel message has bought to the world. Think of the tremendous impact the message has had on everything from medicine to education, from democracy to equality, from politics to government, from the arts to architecture.
Invest time and effort in the Kingdom and it changes the world! We’re promised that whatever we do for Christ in this life reaps benefits in the next life. But be careful. Don't let this go to your head! I also want to move on to Paul’s’ third point; that one of the dangers in serving others is that you can neglect to take of your own spiritual fitness.
3. Watch Yourself
Paul talks of taking care to disciple himself “lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified” (verse 27). In a similar fashion to physical fitness, spiritual fitness is not a road that anybody else can travel on our behalf. Somebody else cannot say our prayers or do our bible study or take our pew in church or fill our position on that committee or put our tithe in the collection plate.
God holds us personally responsible for the state of our soul. We live in a culture that is always trying to apportion blame. ‘It wasn’t me. They made me do it. It’s the circumstances I grew up in.”. It’s an evasive trick as old as the Garden of Eden. Adam said, “It wasn’t me, the woman gave me the fruit.” Eve declares, “It was the snakes fault, how could I resist?”
Returning to the race imagery, who’s responsible for seeing that you get to the finishing line? Is it your coach? Is it your team? Is it your parents? Is it your church family? Is it your friends? It’s up to you. You have the responsibility for your own spiritual development, for your personal discipleship, for your commitment to Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave all for us. He died on the Cross for our sins. He was raised that we may live with ‘Hallelujah’ for a theme song. God sends the Holy Spirit as our helper and teacher in the faith. We have the Scriptures for a game plan. We are in the company of brothers and sister in the body of Christ who love us and pray for us. We are surrounded by a great cloud of unseen witnesses; angels and saints in glory.
You want to live a holy life in an unholy world? Then run to win!
Look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Recall that discipleship takes discipline.
We are competing for a prize that lasts forever.
Watch out for yourself.
And to God’s name be the Glory.
AMEN.
Look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Recall that discipleship takes discipline.
We are competing for a prize that lasts forever.
Watch out for yourself.
And to God’s name be the Glory.
AMEN.
Rev Adrian Pratt
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