Yes, you want to be stronger, faster, leaner, healthier, more full of energy and you want to live longer too and a whole lot more. But, the faith and fitness mindset goes deeper in realizing that it’s not about YOU. Instead those goals and qualities are the potential you bring to others. Faith and fitness done with proper form happens when you physically and spiritually live out Christ’s prayer, “Not my will God but yours be done.”
YEAH, BUT I’M NOT JESUS – WHERE DO I BEGIN?
It’s easy! Just look around and see who God shows you.
Who are others? Others are your family and friends – near your age or older OR younger. Children these days are more obese and unhealthy than ever before. Being active with children is fun and a powerful way for you to be a huge influence for Christ in the prime season of their physical growth and spiritual formation. But, others are also your co-workers, classmates, neighbors, those in your community and beyond. If you’re in the fitness business others are your clients, patients and members.
We all tend to gravitate to people we like – people who share our interests, make us feel good and are similar to us. But others are also the people with whom you come in contact in the moment. And – they’re not just the ones you like or who you think are cool. Others can especially be the people who are very different from you. So as part of your prayer conversations with God ask that your eyes can be opened to see all of the others who God wants you to see.
In your group share about the ‘others’ who are familiar to you (family, friends, etc.). Who are you most likely to invite to join you for a workout? Describe what that experience would be like.
AND EVEN MORE OTHERS…
Popular fitness culture celebrates and markets those who are strong, active, healthy, motivated, good looking, and successful. It’s one of the reasons the fitness business is a multi-billion dollar industry. But, look further and you’ll see there are many more who not only need and want to be active – they need YOU. They may be week, sedentary, sick, discouraged, unattractive, and failing. It may be that they just need someone that can help them see a better way. But, it may be something more that physically and emotionally challenges them.
Those undergoing cancer treatment or some other medical care AND their care providers are in dyer need for someone to help them to be more physically active and demonstrate compassion to them. Those with disabilities have unique special needs but they also have a special need to have someone who will cheer them on, give them accountability and a hope beyond the obvious limits. Those who are military veterans, homeless or trying to navigate through recovery often have a complex set of challenges. But, being their workout buddy or their friend for a healthy lunch is a simple and easy way you can help them be introduced to a Christ with real and lasting solutions. And – when you get up some mornings feeling sore, achy and perhaps a little older, use that to see those who are truly older. Those in retirement facilities and especially those in elder-care facilities really need someone who not only helps them want to move but supports them when they don’t want to move or worse can’t move.
In your group describe an opportunity you’ve had to support someone facing a challenge? How would being a workout partner to a person in need affect her or his mindset? What reservations do you have that would keep you from doing this?
BUT WHAT IF THEY DON’T WANT TO ‘HIT THE GYM’?
Those whom God gives you may indeed discover the joy of exercise like you have. It may just take a while. However there are many others ways for them and you to enjoy being physically active together:
- Indoor activities are many and include racquet ball or pickle ball, indoor climbing, group classes, trampoline zones, mall walking, ax throwing, swimming, or something as basic as grocery shoppinig.
- Outdoor activities are even more abundant and range from the simple walk in the park to outdoor sports and activities to training for an ambitious goal you both do together (a 5K race or a hiking or kayaking adventure for example).
Being others-minded whether planned, spontaneous or even you extending miraculous strength in a tragic emergency moment is a powerful way for you to do worship and exercise combined. Don’t miss out on achieving the full potential and purpose God has for you:
Tell the group what other ways you like to be physically active besides working out at the gym. Discuss what activity you have not done but is “on the bucket list”. How has this conversation about being others-minded expanded your vision of what it means to do worship & exercise combined?
- Ask God to guide you with the specifics of who, what, when and where.
- Intentionally commit to getting started and doing it within a set time frame. There are still 6 or 7 sessions remaining in this group. Set a goal to be actively engaged in being others-minded with someone before the end of this group.
- Journal your experience. This is a good way to self-evaluate, continually put it all before God, see the progress and have a testimony you can celebrate.
- Follow God’s leading not your expectations or limits. Be adaptive to God’s Spirit. Progress may seem slow or it could grow into what’s next far more quickly than you’d expect.
SERMON BASED DISCUSSION: A FENCE: WHEN OFFENSE CHOOSES YOU
- When was the last time you felt God nudging you to extend grace to someone? Did you listen? How?
- How can you reflect Christ’s love in your daily interactions, even in difficult situations?
- In what ways can you be intentional about speaking life into those around you?
