2Thess. 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.  13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

How is your training going?

Allowing your spring fever to take you out of spiritual training?

I don’t want tonite to be another – Pastor Mark saying we should work harder at Bible reading & prayer. I want tonight to be a time where U really think about training yourself spiritually for the race & life ahead.

In your small groups – check on your devotional scholarship. & If you have not been participating – let me ask you 1 ? – is it because you are doing nothing? Is it because U R lazy or do you just not like accountability? I can’t make this any easier & as I look over those who participate & those who don’t I wonder – how R they really doing?

In Luke 9 – People tell Jesus they want to follow Him but 1st they needed to do something & look how Jesus answers - Lu 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

  God says – we need to work out our salvation – we take Christianity way to casual. How would you train for a marathon. I enjoy hearing my kids talk about gym class & the 20 min. runs & how many can’t make it. People we need to train for life & we are failing because we’re skimping when it comes to our own spirituality.

Many of you have brothers & sisters who enjoy sports. Some of you have tried to run track & cross country – others will never try it. One girl had never really done any sports but thought it would be fun to try with friends  so she signed up for cross country – she got sweaty, red in the face & sore. She wanted to quit but her dad wouldn’t let he – he said it would get easier once she got in shape – she got mad because she thought she was in shape. After a couple of weeks (not days) she noticed that she wasn’t as sore as she usually was. Her times started getting better & she even started winning some races – she was amazed but had to admit her dad was right & if she had quit she would of missed out.

Almost every area of our lives requires training if we want to do it well. The problem is if it doesn’t come easy – we give up – we don’t persevere. Even relationships take work – that’s why we don’t have a lot of close friends because we can’t be good friends unless we spend a lot of time together. The same is true of knowing God. It doesn’t just happen. We don’t get transformed in an instant. We have to spiritually disciple ourselves.

In our small groups we are going to talk a little about training for a marathon – what would U do & before U say – never – would U do it for $, a school scholarship or maybe a lifetime supply of slurpees?

Training gets us in the condition to do things we are not fit to do now. If we’re out of shape spiritually we won’t be ready to perform & be transformed to really make a difference.

What have U trained for?

Were U able to do something U thought was impossible?

1Cor. 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

What did Paul fear if he didn’t train?

How can we get disqualified in your ministry or with your friends?

It starts with loving God. Loving Him enough to spend time with Him or reading about Him.

Can I be honest – some of us are not here yet. Yes you are a Christian. But your actions don’t show love they show laziness. What’s in this relationship for me? Do U really have a desire to be transformed or R U here just for the show?

There was a girl who transferred to a Christian School. She wanted to develop her faith more. She was so excited about being around strong Christians & able to study God’s Word in School.

As she walked out of class 1 day a girl asked her what she was doing that weekend? – She invited me to a party that her parents would be gone for & there would be drinking & smoking. The girl was shocked – she had just prayed out loud in class & now she was talking like this.

She finally understood that Christian Rules don’t always make a difference in a person’s life. What matters is how people relate to Jesus on a personal level, in their everyday life. Just going to a certain school doesn’t make you more spiritual – it’s what you allow God to do in your life to transform us that makes the difference.

Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.

 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

Lu 6:12  Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. – Talk about an all nighter – I think it would be safe to say that if we had an all nighter & all we did was pray – we would have less if we just played games.

 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

1 of my favorite questions is – if I was to video tape you today & show in front of everyone – would you be excited or embarrassed? Would you of pleased God or displeased Him.

We’re in training – not just to run a marathon but to Glorify God. We’re in a spiritual battle & we’re taking naps on the battle field.  I also want to encourage those who have unsaved classmates to speak up because this may be the only chance you have with them. They could move away during the summer.

Let’s pray.