Stewarding Our Bodies: A Spiritual Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit

Our bodies are not just physical entities; they are sacred spaces where the Holy Spirit dwells. This understanding calls us to a higher standard of care and respect for our physical selves. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul emphasizes that our bodies are meant for the Lord, not for immorality. This means that every action we take with our bodies should reflect our commitment to glorifying God. Jesus, who took on human form and was resurrected in a glorified body, exemplifies the importance of the body in our spiritual journey. By stewarding our bodies well, we draw attention to God and serve others, not for vanity or self-glory, but to honor Him. [08:36]

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you honor God with your body today, considering it as a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Day 2: Exercise as a Pathway to Mental Clarity and Creativity

Exercise is not merely a physical activity; it is a means to enhance mental clarity and creativity. Harvard psychiatrist John Ratey highlights how exercise optimizes brain function, improving learning and creativity. As lifelong learners and disciples of Christ, maintaining a sharp and creative mind is crucial. Exercise helps us focus better, learn more effectively, and approach problems with innovative solutions. By engaging in regular physical activity, we prepare ourselves to better absorb and apply the teachings of Christ in our daily lives. [17:09]

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: What specific type of exercise can you incorporate into your routine this week to enhance your mental clarity and creativity?

Day 3: Physical Activity and the Pursuit of Joy in God

Physical activity is a vital component in our pursuit of joy in God. It is not just about maintaining physical health but about enhancing our spiritual joy. Exercise helps us see Jesus more clearly and savor His goodness more deeply. By engaging in physical activity, we align our bodies and minds to better appreciate the joy that comes from a relationship with God. This joy is essential for glorifying Him, as it reflects our deep satisfaction and contentment in His presence. [21:04]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use physical activity as a means to deepen your joy in God today?

Day 4: Exercise as a Means to Love Others More Effectively

Stewarding our bodies through exercise equips us to love others more effectively. It strengthens our will, combats laziness, and provides us with the energy and resilience needed to serve others. As Christians, we are called to be ready for every good work, using our bodies to bless and help others. By maintaining our physical health, we ensure that we are fit and able to fulfill our calling to serve God's kingdom and those around us. [27:20]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you serve more effectively by improving your physical health, and what steps can you take to start this journey?

Day 5: Modest Upkeep of Our Bodies for God's Glory

The upkeep of our bodies is not about extremes but about being fit for the purpose of glorifying God and serving His kingdom. Simple exercises like walking can make a significant difference in our physical and spiritual well-being. By maintaining a balanced approach to physical health, we ensure that we are ready and able to fulfill our God-given purposes. This modest upkeep is a reflection of our commitment to honor God with our bodies and to be prepared for every good work He calls us to. [35:03]

"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)

Reflection: What simple exercise can you commit to this week to maintain your body for the purpose of glorifying God and serving His kingdom?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we often overlook the profound significance of our physical bodies in our spiritual lives. Today, we explore the concept of body stewardship, a topic that might seem unexpected in our series on virtues. C.S. Lewis, in his book "The Four Loves," outlines three historical views of the body: the ascetic view, which sees the body as a prison; the neo-pagan view, which glorifies the body; and the view of St. Francis, who affectionately referred to his body as "brother ass." This third perspective, which balances usefulness and beauty without idolizing the body, resonates deeply with our Christian understanding.

Our bodies are not merely vessels for earthly existence; they are integral to our spiritual journey. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant for the Lord and not for immorality. This means our bodies are designed to glorify God, and Jesus himself is for our bodies, having taken on human form and being resurrected in a glorified body. This truth calls us to steward our bodies well, not for vanity or self-glory, but to serve God and others.

Exercise and physical activity are not just about physical health; they enhance our mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual joy. Harvard psychiatrist John Ratey highlights how exercise optimizes brain function, improving learning and creativity. This is crucial for us as lifelong learners and disciples of Christ. Moreover, exercise supports our pursuit of joy in God, which is essential for glorifying Him. It helps us see Jesus more clearly and savor His goodness more deeply.

Finally, stewarding our bodies through exercise enables us to love others more effectively. It strengthens our will, combats laziness, and equips us to serve others with energy and resilience. As Christians, we are called to be ready for every good work, using our bodies to bless and help others. This modest upkeep of our bodies is not about extremes but about being fit for the purpose of glorifying God and serving His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, designed to glorify God. This calls us to steward them well, not for self-glory, but to draw attention to God and serve others. [08:36]
2. Exercise enhances our mental clarity and creativity, which is vital for us as lifelong learners and disciples of Christ. It optimizes our mindset, improves attention, and fosters learning. [17:09]
3. Physical activity supports our pursuit of joy in God, which is essential for glorifying Him. It helps us see Jesus more clearly and savor His goodness more deeply. [21:04]
4. Stewarding our bodies through exercise enables us to love others more effectively. It strengthens our will, combats laziness, and equips us to serve others with energy and resilience. [27:20]
5. Modest upkeep of our bodies is not about extremes but about being fit for the purpose of glorifying God and serving His kingdom. Walking and simple exercises can make a significant difference. [35:03]
** [35:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Surrendering to Jesus
[01:32] - Three Views of the Body
[03:06] - Body Stewardship
[04:36] - Christian Hedonism and the Body
[07:00] - The Body and Christian Joy
[08:07] - 1 Corinthians 6: The Body for the Lord
[10:24] - Jesus is for Your Body
[11:13] - God Will Raise Your Body
[12:07] - God Dwells in Your Body
[13:14] - Exercise and Learning
[19:06] - Exercise and Joy
[22:40] - How Exercise Works
[26:02] - Christian Voices on Exercise
[31:16] - Brother Ass: A Balanced View
[33:40] - Ready for Every Good Work
[35:50] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Stewarding Our Bodies

Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 6:13-14, 19-20
- Matthew 5:16
- 1 Timothy 4:8

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Corinthians 6:13-14, what is the purpose of our bodies, and how does this relate to the Lord? [08:07]
How does the sermon describe the three historical views of the body as outlined by C.S. Lewis? [01:32]
What does Matthew 5:16 suggest about how our actions in the body should impact others? [09:47]
In what ways does the sermon suggest exercise benefits our mental and spiritual well-being? [14:28]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) influence the way we should treat our bodies? [12:07]
What does it mean for Jesus to be "for your body," and how does this affect our understanding of body stewardship? [10:24]
How can the idea of letting our light shine (Matthew 5:16) be practically applied in our daily lives, especially in how we use our bodies? [09:47]
The sermon mentions that exercise can enhance our pursuit of joy in God. How might this understanding change one's motivation for physical activity? [21:04]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there ways you might be treating your body more like a "prison" or "glorious idol" rather than a "brother ass"? How can you shift towards a balanced view? [01:32]
Considering 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, what specific changes can you make to honor God with your body this week? [12:07]
How can you incorporate modest exercise into your routine to enhance your mental clarity and spiritual joy? What small steps can you take this week? [35:03]
Think of a time when physical activity helped you feel more alert or joyful. How can you use this experience to motivate regular exercise as a form of worship? [21:04]
Identify one area in your life where you feel called to serve others. How can being physically fit help you be more effective in this area? [27:20]
What are some practical ways you can let your light shine through your actions and interactions this week, as suggested in Matthew 5:16? [09:47]
How can you encourage someone else in your life to view their body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and steward it well? What conversation or action could you initiate? [12:07]

Sermon Clips

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. [00:08:07]

Your body, not just bodies in general, your body is for the Lord Jesus. For the Lord means at least for drawing attention to him, for making Jesus look good. Your body is for the Lord, so glorify God with your body. We were made, Genesis 1 says, in the image of God, and images are irreducibly visible. [00:10:24]

Jesus is for your body. So not only is your body for him, Jesus is for your body. Jesus designed it, and he gave it, and he took it. He took a human body, and in his resurrection body, he still is fully human, glorified at the Father's right hand. He is for your body's good. [00:11:13]

God will raise your body. He raised Jesus's body. Jesus is the firstfruits; we in Christ will be the harvest. If you are in Christ, God will raise your body and glorify your body. It will be changed and will be far better when he raises it, but it will be your body. [00:12:07]

Your body is a temple, a dwelling place for God Almighty by his Spirit. Your body is yours, but it is not your own. No matter how much you hear that it is your own, is not what Paul says for the risen Christ. You didn't make it, God did. You didn't buy it back, Jesus did. [00:13:14]

Exercise that improves learning in some significant ways, which matters to us as Christians. We call ourselves disciples; disciple means learner. Christianity is a teaching movement, a learning movement. To learn better concerns us, not just as college and seminary students, as Christians. Christians are lifelong learners as disciples. [00:17:09]

Exercise supports the pursuit of joy in God. This has been most significant for me. The little bit of exercise that I do is in its highest and best form about enjoying God, which glorifies him. I'm not mainly motivated by living longer. To depart and be with Christ is far better, right? [00:21:04]

Regular exercise makes me more active rather than passive or lazy in every sphere, in every relationship, not the least of which is with God and his word in prayer, but for others also. So here are the other voices, these are the more recent voices. In 2019, we published a short article. [00:27:20]

Walking counts. This is good news. Walking counts. It gets the blood pumping. Small steps over the long haul make a big difference with regard to our bodies. Walking for 30 minutes, five times a week, fulfills the recommendation of most experts. That may sound undoable to you, five times a week, 30 minutes. [00:35:03]

Your body is a priceless gift from God. It is both pathetically and absurdly beautiful. It is a useful, sturdy, often lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable, and infuriating beast, deserving now the stick and now the carrot. And as Christian hedonists, let's pursue the carrots for Christian learning, for Christian joy, and for Christian love. [00:35:50]

Father, you are the all-wise creator. You knew precisely what you were doing in making these bodies, and even though they are wracked by sin and the curse, we want to marshal them, leverage them for joy in you, for thinking rightly, for serving others well. And so, Father, would you make it to be the case that we would glorify you in these bodies? [00:36:40]

We happily say we are not our own. We have been made by you and bought with a price and, wonder upon wonders, become the dwelling place of your Spirit. So give us grace, Father, to glorify you in and through these bodies and in this season of study at Bethlehem College in Seminary. [00:37:20]

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Stewarding Our Bodies: A Spiritual Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit

Day 2: Exercise as a Pathway to Mental Clarity and Creativity

Day 3: Physical Activity and the Pursuit of Joy in God

Day 4: Exercise as a Means to Love Others More Effectively

Day 5: Modest Upkeep of Our Bodies for God's Glory

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Stewarding Our Bodies: A Spiritual Journey

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