Train for Godliness: Honoring God with Our Bodies

Devotional

Day 1: Your Body is a Temple—Honor God with It

Our bodies are not just vehicles to get us from place to place; they are sacred vessels, designed by God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit for those who trust in Christ. This means that how we treat our physical selves matters deeply, not just for our own well-being but as an act of worship and stewardship. We are called to care for our bodies, recognizing that we have been bought with a price and are not our own. This perspective challenges us to see our health, habits, and daily choices as opportunities to glorify God, rather than simply seeking comfort or convenience. [03:44]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can honor God with your body today, whether through rest, nutrition, or caring for your health as an act of worship?

Day 2: Train for Godliness—Remove Every Hindrance

Just as athletes remove every obstacle that might slow them down, we are called to lay aside anything that hinders our pursuit of Christlikeness. Training for godliness means intentionally identifying and eliminating habits, distractions, or associations that keep us from growing closer to God. This is not about legalism, but about devotion—choosing to become more like Christ by removing what weighs us down and focusing on what truly matters. [07:42]

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Reflection: What is one habit, distraction, or association you need to lay aside this week to better pursue godliness?

Day 3: Scan Your Schedule—Make the Best Use of Your Time

Time is a precious, non-renewable resource, and the way we spend it reveals what we truly value. We are urged to honestly evaluate our schedules, identifying where our hours go and whether our daily rhythms are drawing us closer to Christ or simply filling our lives with noise and distraction. By being intentional with our time, we can ensure that our days are shaped by what matters most, making room for spiritual growth and meaningful relationships. [14:55]

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Reflection: Review your schedule for today—what is one change you can make to prioritize time with God or for something of eternal value?

Day 4: Steward Your Strength—Be Ready for God’s Opportunities

God gives each of us a limited amount of strength and energy, and we are called to steward it wisely—not just for our own benefit, but so we can be available for the divine appointments and opportunities He places in our path. Caring for our physical, relational, and spiritual strength enables us to serve others, love well, and respond when God calls. Rather than running on empty or misusing our energy, we are invited to build healthy rhythms that help us last longer in the mission God has for us. [23:13]

Colossians 1:29 (ESV)
"For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

Reflection: Where do you notice your energy being drained unnecessarily, and how can you adjust your habits to be more available for God’s purposes today?

Day 5: Sweat for What Sustains—Pursue Spiritual Disciplines for Eternal Impact

Physical discipline has some value, but spiritual discipline—practices like prayer, worship, Scripture memory, fasting, and Sabbath—shapes us for eternity. We are called to develop habits that help us become more like Christ, not out of legalism, but out of a desire to grow closer to Him and to live for what truly lasts. By prioritizing spiritual disciplines, we invest in what sustains us now and prepares us for the life to come, denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily in pursuit of Jesus. [31:45]

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"

Reflection: Which spiritual discipline do you sense God inviting you to develop or deepen this week, and what is one step you can take to begin?

Sermon Summary

So often, we treat our bodies like old, worn-out cars—just vehicles to get us from one place to another, barely maintained and easily neglected. Yet, Scripture calls us to a much higher view of our physical lives. Our bodies are not just shells; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and meant to glorify God. This means that how we care for ourselves physically is deeply spiritual. Jesus himself affirmed the value of the body by taking on flesh, living among us, and rising again in a glorified body. We are called to honor God not just with our hearts and minds, but with our bodies as well.

This call is not about legalistic standards or comparing ourselves to others. It’s about being available for what God wants to do in and through us. If our physical choices—how we rest, eat, move, and steward our energy—cause us to say “no” to God’s opportunities, then we are missing out on the fullness of life He intends. Paul’s words to Timothy remind us that while bodily training has some value, training for godliness is of value in every way, both for this life and the life to come. The discipline we cultivate in our physical lives should serve the greater purpose of making us more available and effective for God’s mission.

To live this out, we must first scan our schedules and honestly evaluate where our time and energy are going. Are we filling our days with distractions and digital clutter, or are we making space for what truly matters? Next, we must steward our strength—not for selfish gain or appearance, but so we can last longer in the mission God has for us. This means building healthy rhythms of rest, activity, and spiritual practices that keep us ready for divine appointments. Finally, we are called to sweat for what sustains, investing in spiritual disciplines that shape us into Christ’s likeness. True discipline is not about earning God’s favor, but about growing closer to Him and being freed from the gravity of this present age. In the end, it’s not about temporary achievements or physical perfection, but about pursuing the eternal and making our lives—body and soul—available for God’s glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Our bodies are sacred vessels, not disposable tools. Scripture teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, entrusted to us by God. Honoring God with our bodies means recognizing their value and treating them with care, not out of vanity, but out of reverence for the One who made and redeemed us. This perspective transforms even mundane choices into acts of worship. [03:44]
2. The way we spend our time reveals what we truly value. Time is a non-renewable resource, and our schedules often expose our priorities more honestly than our words. By intentionally examining and eliminating distractions—whether digital, social, or habitual—we create space for God to work in and through us. Living wisely means making the best use of our days for things that matter eternally. [14:55]
3. Stewarding our physical and relational strength is essential for spiritual availability. When we neglect our health or run ourselves into exhaustion, we risk missing out on divine appointments and opportunities to serve others. Caring for our bodies and relationships is not selfish; it’s a way to ensure we are ready and able to respond to God’s call, both in daily life and in moments of ministry. [23:13]
4. Spiritual discipline is about pursuing Christ, not earning His favor. Practices like prayer, Scripture reading, worship, fasting, and Sabbath are not checkboxes for legalism, but pathways to deeper intimacy with God. The heart behind discipline matters: we train for godliness not to impress God or others, but to grow closer to Him and become more like Christ. [27:36]
5. Chasing after eternal things gives meaning to our physical discipline. Earthly achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot fill the deepest longings of our hearts. Only Jesus can satisfy the void within us. By prioritizing the eternal over the temporary, we find freedom, purpose, and the strength to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him daily. [30:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Dave Ramsey and the Cash Car Family
[01:43] - Treating Our Bodies Like Old Cars
[02:53] - The Christian View of Body and Spirit
[03:29] - Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit
[05:19] - Are We Available for God’s Purposes?
[06:01] - 1 Timothy 4:7-8: Training for Godliness
[07:42] - Removing Hindrances to Godliness
[09:10] - Scan Your Schedule: Where Is Your Time Going?
[13:22] - Eliminating Distractions and Time Wasters
[17:10] - Stewarding Your Strength for God’s Glory
[20:43] - Building Healthy Rhythms
[22:36] - Divine Appointments and Missed Opportunities
[24:35] - Sweat for What Sustains: Spiritual Disciplines
[27:36] - The Heart Behind Discipline
[29:10] - Tom Brady: Earthly Success and Spiritual Longing
[31:45] - Denying Ourselves and Following Christ
[32:21] - Closing and Call to Rely on the Spirit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV) — > Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, what is the difference between bodily training and training for godliness?
In the sermon, what are some examples given of “irreverent, silly myths” or distractions that can fill our schedules? [[10:27]]
What does the passage say is the promise or benefit of godliness?
How does the sermon describe the Christian view of the body compared to other worldviews? [[03:11]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul say that godliness is of value “in every way,” and how does this compare to the value of physical discipline?
The sermon mentions that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” What does it mean to treat our bodies as sacred vessels rather than disposable tools? [[03:44]]
How can the way we spend our time and energy either help or hinder our availability for God’s purposes? [[05:48]]
The pastor says that spiritual discipline is about pursuing Christ, not earning His favor. How does this perspective change the way we approach habits like prayer, Bible reading, or Sabbath? [[27:36]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to “scan our schedules” and honestly evaluate where our time and energy are going. What is one area of your weekly routine that you suspect is a distraction or time-waster? What would it look like to cut it out or reduce it? [[13:22]]
Are there any physical habits (sleep, eating, exercise, rest) that are currently making you less available for God’s opportunities? What is one small change you could make this week to steward your strength better? [[20:43]]
The pastor shared about missing out on relationships and ministry because of exhaustion and poor self-care. Have you ever experienced a season where your physical or emotional state kept you from serving God or others? What did you learn from that? [[19:02]]
When you think about “sweating for what sustains,” which spiritual discipline (prayer, Scripture, worship, fasting, Sabbath, etc.) do you feel God is inviting you to grow in right now? What is one step you can take this week? [[25:07]]
The sermon says, “Our bodies are not just shells; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price, and meant to glorify God.” How does this truth affect your attitude toward your body and daily choices? [[03:44]]
The pastor mentioned that discipline is not about legalism or comparison, but about being available for God’s mission. How can you guard your heart against comparing your physical or spiritual habits to others? [[05:07]]
Jesus calls us to “deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.” What is one area where you need to deny yourself (a comfort, a habit, a distraction) in order to follow Jesus more closely this week? [[31:45]]

Sermon Clips

The way we spend our time matters. Verse seven says, have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. The word there that Paul uses is beblios. What that means is stories or things with no spiritual value. Have nothing to do with things that offer no spiritual value. [00:09:25] (24 seconds) #ValueSpiritualTime

We fill our days with hobbies, with noise, with digital clutter that do nothing to shape us into being more like Christ. And it's not always a bad thing to partake in things that don't bring us closer to God, because sometimes we do need to relax. But if that is the majority of our life, then we do have a problem. [00:14:33] (20 seconds) #HeartRevealedInSchedule

The way we steward our strength is causing us to miss out on opportunities that God has given us. That's what I'm trying to get at, is are we caring for our bodies and are we stewarding our strength well to where we can capitalize on where God puts us and the people that God puts in our path? Are we doing that? [00:23:33] (21 seconds) #CapitalizeOnCalling

Physical discipline is good. There's some value there, but it fails in comparison to discipline, to eternal discipline, to chasing after the life to come. Are we sweating? Sweating for what sustains. Can we say that we're doing that today? [00:24:20] (22 seconds) #SweatForEternity

A spiritual discipline is a regular intentional practice that grows your relationship with God and shapes your character to be more like him. That's a spiritual discipline. How disciplined is your life right now? And not in a legalistic type of way where you need to do all these things and you're a good Christian. No, but we're called to do things as Christians that help us strengthen our relationship with God. [00:24:54] (30 seconds) #SpiritualDisciplineMatters

It's always important to remember that spiritual discipline, spiritual training, we can't train for godliness if God is not a part of it. There's no point in just being good for goodness. No, it's about our pursuit of Christ. It's about our relationship with him. And that is what we're chasing after. And that's the difference between legalism and discipline. Legalism, following rules, says I do this to earn God's favor. But discipline says I do this to grow closer to him. [00:27:23] (35 seconds) #PursueChristNotRules

Discipline matters. And when we think of discipline, I know a lot of the time is we think of athletes. We think of athletes and we think of people who spend their life and get paid to discipline their body and hone their craft in a sport. [00:28:48] (16 seconds) #DisciplineWithPurpose

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