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Practice Christian Disciplines to be Like Jesus
Illustrated with Inspirational Sports Quotes
Learning to be like Jesus requires practice of certain Christian disciplines. People learn by doing. No one becomes like Jesus by merely thinking about him.
In August 2008, Nebraska football player Philip Dillard was quoted in the Omaha World Herald on what Bo Pelini and the other defensive coaches at Nebraska were expecting. "They're not really trying to correct stuff from last year; they're just coaching their defense. They tell you what you're supposed to do and you're supposed to do it." The coaches expect the players to practice the disciplines of football.
How Jesus taught Christian disciplines
Is learning how to live the Christian life any different? Jesus told his disciples what to do and they were supposed to do it. Of course they didn't do things perfectly at first, and neither do we. That's why we practice. The key to spiritual growth is more than learning Bible facts. We mature by practicing a godly lifestyle. Let's examine how Jesus encouraged the twelve to practice what they learned from him.
Jesus healed (Matthew 4:23) then sent the apostles out to heal.(Matthew 10:1)
Jesus demonstrated his miraculous power in feeding 5,000 (Matthew 14:15-20) and then presented a similar task to the apostles.(Matthew 15:32-33)
Jesus modeled a consistent prayer life (Matthew 14:23) and then asked the apostles to pray in the garden. (Matthew 26:40)
Just do what I'm told?
I'm sure you can think of many more examples. The point is: Jesus expects us to do what he says. That is the object of Christian disciplines. Paul teaches Philippian Christians in the same way -- "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice." (Philippians 4:9)
Christian disciplines are simply practices that Christians do to bring us more in fellowship and obedience to Jesus. You know them - prayer, Bible study, service to others, worship, etc. Are you practicing them?
Two totally different marathon runners
In 1981 Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon. She achieved the third fastest time ever recorded for a female runner. But ironically, she was barely sweating. Race officials immediately began to question her victory and eventually she was disqualified. When the truth came out, it appears that soon after the race began, Rosie intentionally got off the course, took the subway to a point near the finish line, jumped back into the race and positioned herself to be the winner. In the interview between Rosie and a sport reporter (before she was found out), Rosie was asked, "As you prepared for the race, what kind of intervals did you run?" Rosie responded, "What's an interval?"
Can you imagine a follower of Jesus asking, "What's a spiritual discipline?"
US Marathoner, Frank Shorter says it best. Literally minutes after Frank finished second in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, a reporter asked him, "I know you must be disappointed with the silver. Do you plan to go for the gold medal again in 1980?" Frank calmly looked at the reporter and said, "Well, of course I wanted to win the gold medal. But the question I have to ask myself now is, "Will I commit myself to running 10 miles per day, every day, for the next 4 years?"
You have to practice the Christian disciplines
What spiritual disciplines are you actually doing? You can't be like Jesus without practicing any more than you can get in shape by simply watching exercise DVDs. Jesus said, "A wise man hears my words and puts them into practice." (Matthew 7:24)
Author: Paul Schlieker
www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com
Discussion ideas for your small group or Sunday School class:
1. What skills are you currently practicing?
Have you considered
Christian giving
to be a Christian discipline?
2. What practices did Jesus model for his apostles?
3. In what situations were the apostles asked to practice these Christian disciplines?
4. Just as any skill, some spiritual conduct comes more naturally to you than others. Name one Christian discipline that is easy for you to do.
5. Now name one that you need to work on.
6. How has practicing godly behaviors brought you more into fellowship and obedience to Jesus?
6. Who will help you in your journey? Who is your spiritual mentor? Who are you
mentoring?
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