Suggestions for leading a study:
Winner Training
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Discussion Questions
This passage speaks of
training and discipline. Paul uses the
athletes that competed in the Olympic games as an example. In verses 24 and 25 he uses two words to
describe what we are striving for. What
are they? What do you think he is referring to?
Verse 24 tells us to run
our race in a certain way and verse 25 explains what that is. What does it tell us? How do you think that applies to our
spiritual lives?
Do you think that this
sort of an approach would describe how the average Christian thinks about their
spiritual growth?
Re-read verse 26. What do you think Olympic games would look
like if the athletes behaved this way?
Verse 26 implies that we
have goals and pursue them with a sense of
purpose, being very intentional and focused in our pursuit of them. How would that apply to your spiritual
growth? How would it apply to the work
you do for God?
In
verse 27 Paul addresses the issue of how our physical desires can get in the way
of pursuing our spiritual goals. How
does he describe it?
What
role do you think disciplining ourselves physically has to play with
accomplishing our spiritual goals?
In verse 27, what is Paul’s primary task for the
kingdom of God? What is the task that
you think God has given you?
Leaders' Guide
This study points out the importance of being disciplined and focused in
order to accomplish our spiritual growth and be effective in ministry.
This passage speaks of training and discipline. Paul uses the athletes that competed in the
Olympic games as an example. In verses
24 and 25 he uses two words to describe what we are striving for. What are they? What do you think he is
referring to?
The words are “prize” and
“crown.” What they refer to is a little
up for grabs. Most people would assume
eternal life, which wouldn’t necessarily be incorrect. For another perspective, review earlier in
this book what Paul says in chapter 3,10-15.
There he is talking to church workers/leaders and clearly implies a
level of rewards and punishments for good service that goes beyond just
“getting there.” Also see 2 Cor.
5:10. In any event, this is a
discussion starter, and whatever conclusions the group comes to will not
greatly effect the point of the study.
Let them debate it.
Verse 24 tells us to run our race in a certain way and verse 25
explains what that is. What does it
tell us? How do you think that applies
to our spiritual lives?
He says to run the race in a way that will
result in getting the prize. The
discussion as to how it applies to our spiritual lives will depend on your
group and what kind of exposure they have had to “spiritual disciplines.” You have to get out of the starting box, for
one thing. And you have to know where
the finish line is, in other words have a direction that you’re going. The specifics of this will be fleshed out a
little more when we get to verse 26.
Do you think that this sort of an approach would describe how the
average Christian thinks about their spiritual growth?
Just some discussion as to people’s
experience with how disciplined Christians are toward their spiritual lives.
Re-read verse 26. What do you
think Olympic games would look like if the athletes behaved this way?
Have some fun. What if you were sitting in the stands at the games and the
runners were all going aimlessly everywhere, and the boxers didn’t even know
who their opponents were?
Verse 26 implies that we have goals and pursue them with a sense
of purpose, being very intentional and
focused in our pursuit of them. How
would that apply to your spiritual growth?
How would it apply to the work you do for God?
Spend some time here. Try to draw out as detailed a plan for
spiritual growth as possible from the group.
At least encourage them each to go home and write down specific goals
and how they intend to reach them.
Memorize one Bible verse per week, or read through the Bible in a year,
or whatever it is. In regards to the
work we do for God, the final two questions will get more specific in regards
to that issue.
In verse 27 Paul
addresses the issue of how our physical desires can get in the way of pursuing
our spiritual goals. How does he
describe it?
Depending on translations, he describes it in ways such as “beating his
body,” or “disciplining” it, or “keeping it under subjection.”
What role do you
think disciplining ourselves physically has to play with accomplishing our
spiritual goals?
The desires we have in the physical realm can
present all sorts of problems for us.
An extreme example would be addictions of any kind. Sexual temptation is a biggie, especially
for guys. More subtle things can play
into this as well, however. Feeling too
tired to do devotions or accomplish a ministry task for instance. Does your group think that keeping ourselves
physically fit will help us be productive for God? Do our eating habits effect us spiritually? What about money? Or making recreational
activities a priority over God?
In verse 27, what is Paul’s primary task for the kingdom of God? What is the task that you think God has
given you?
Paul’s task was preaching, according to this
verse. Obviously, he also planted
churches and offered leadership, etc.
The point is to remind your group that everyone has an important role to
play in the church and if they aren’t being very purposeful to identify and
pursue that, then a little discipline in that area might be in order.
Is there some
way in which the kind of training and discipline this passage talks about could
help you set and attain goals for spiritual growth and effective ministry?
This is just a
wrap up application question for the group to discuss. You may even want to establish a system of
accountability in your group. Have each
member write down a specific goal and keep track of them so you can ask how
they’re doing with it next week. Or
establish accountability partners. Be
creative, but make it very clear that God does not want our spiritual growth
and ministry to be aimless and undisciplined.
His goal is to get results and his desire for us is to get the prize.