Training for Godliness

In the first lesson of the series, we talk about some basic characteristics that are common to most progressive Christian teachers, and what their implications are for our understanding of God and of the Bible itself.

Be the hero of your own story. That’s kind of how we’re encouraged to look at life today. The idea that if you believe in something strongly enough, if you’re willing to put yourself out there and take risks, you can make things happen in your life - whether it’s in the business world, your relationships, your own sense of well-being. You can achieve your goals, and people are going to see it and acknowledge your success.The Bible is filled with stories like that - or at least stories that se...

This year, one of the most popular topics of discussion concerns the quality of our political discourse - or the lack thereof. As our election approaches, we watch debates where shouting, name-calling, and interruption take the place of intelligent discussion of policy - or in most cases, we brag about how we DIDN’T watch it. If you’re on social media, it’s almost impossible to escape the bitterness and frustration so many are expressing toward both sides of the political aisle.And despite wh...

We’ve talked a lot about motivation this year, and clearly that’s one of the greatest challenges to living a life that demands excellence, but doesn’t always provide us with regular progress reports on how we’re doing. One of the biggest issues we often have – just like with physical training is that unless we have a clear-cut goal in front of us with measurable progress points, we may find ourselves wondering if what we’re doing matters at all. Is the work I’m putting in worth it? Am I reall...

No one likes the "workout" guy. The one always decked out in gym clothes, talking about his training, his diet, his routine, and always willing to point out ways that you could get into better shape, too! We know we need to do better, and we sometimes don't like being around the constant reminder of our shortcomings.But do we let that attitude seep into our lives as disciples? After all, no one likes the person who wears his religion on his sleeve, and Jesus said not to do our works to be see...

Do you ever have days when you just don't feel like putting in the work? You know that whatever work you put into your training that day is going to be half-hearted and probably not as effective as you'd like. Do you go through the motions? Or do you take a step back or take the day off?This can be a tricky question in our spiritual lives, because when we try to act in a Christ-like way, but we don't feel Christ-like while doing it, it can feel like we're faking it. And in an age where "being...

Today's talk is in many ways a message for myself. Because as you may or may not have noticed, we haven't done a podcast in a while. And probably doesn't surprise you to know that podcasts hosts struggle from the same problems that you do, and in many cases when we talk about issues, we're talking to ourselves as much as we are anyone else.And today is one of those days. Not surprisingly, the topic is procrastination.If you're like me, it's easy to be overwhelmed by information, instruction, ...

We all understand the importance of accountability and support, but we often don't look for it in our spiritual lives. But spiritual training and growth requires just as much support and encouragement. If we truly want to grow in our faith, it's vital to find an accountability partner that can help us past the difficult stretches and keep us focused on the goal of becoming the person God calls us to be.

In Ephesians 5, Paul writes "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Since the days seem pretty evil right now, with the coronavirus keeping many of us at home and some of us dangerously sick.But Paul is talking about a different kind of evil, and it's one that has a particular relevance for us this month as we settle into our homes with everything we need to keep ourselves occupied and comfortable during a qua...

We all understand the phrase "no pain, no gain" in our physical training, or even in other aspects of our lives where we're trying to achieve something. Nothing worth having ever comes easily, or without some sort of pain along the way.It's harder to accept that when we don't see how our pain is directly linked to that goal. When we find ourselves suffering in our life, we sometimes struggle to explain why we should have to to deal with it, why God would allow it in our lives, and why he won'...