Following Jesus is like Learning Guitar
A Training Approach to Spiritual Maturity1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NLT) — Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
When I was a preteen, my dad bought me my first guitar.
I grew up watching him play and thought it would be so cool to learn. He was a really good guitarist. When he was in college he did the whole garage band thing; had the long hair, played with his buddies, the whole deal. I wanted to play as good as dad.There are two ways to learn playing the guitar: The hard way and the easy way.
The hard way is to buy a guitar, concentrate, and then try really hard. Move your fingers around fast, strum really hard, and just jam out. I call that the hard way because it’s impossible. No matter how hard you try, you end up just making noise.
My dad taught me to play the easy way (also known as the boring way). Dad printed out simple sheets with G, C, and D chords. He showed me how to position my fingers properly. Then he said “Practice strumming those three chords for an hour every day.” This approach takes time and dedication.
I remember thinking “That’s boring. That doesn’t sound like something Eric Clapman or Brad Paisley would do.” But whatever; I tried it. The first few days, I had to study those chords sheets closely. It took forever to get each finger in the right place. And when I strummed, it had a weird, muffled sound to it. My fingers hurt so bad. They were red and sore from pushing down on those metal strings. After a couple weeks, however, my fingers formed callouses and playing didn’t hurt anymore. Also, I was able to position my fingers without looking at the sheet. Eventually I could even move from G to C to D without looking. I practiced that progression over and over and over and over again.
Spiritual maturity: the hard and easy way.
Parents expect their kids to mature. They expect kids to learn, grow, and become self-sufficient adults who contribute to society. Our Heavenly Father also expects us to mature. Once we become Christians, He expects us to move from spiritual infancy (1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-13) to spiritual maturity (Hebrews 6:1; Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:13-15).There are two ways to become spiritually mature: The hard way and the easy way.
The hard way is to try hard. Look at yourself in the mirror every morning and say, “Today I’m going to be godly.” And then try really hard to be generous, patient, joyful, peaceful, faithful, self-controlled, and impactful. As you can probably guess, this method doesn’t work very well. Maybe it will work for half an hour! But long term, trying hard will only get you so far.
The easy path to spiritual maturity is to train hard. I learned this principle from John Ortberg, who wrote “Trying hard can accomplish only so much. If you are serious about seizing this chance of a lifetime, you will have to enter into a life of training. You must arrange your life around certain practices that will enable you to do what you cannot do now by willpower alone.” (The Life You Always Wanted, p.42) Like learning to play guitar, day by day working out spiritual disciplines gradually shapes how you think, how you feel, and how you act. It’s all about daily habits of opening up your heart to allow the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out.
Two Types of Training
The writers of Scripture repeatedly tell us to train for godliness. Jesus challenged his disciples to be “trained for the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:52). Timothy was instructed to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7) and to enter “training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Paul challenged all believers to “disciplined in their training” (1 Corinthians 9:25).Following Jesus is training regiment filled with instruction in godly living (Acts 18:25; Romans 15:4), transformation into the image of Jesus (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18), and equipping for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). The passage at the opening of this article describes two types of training required to grow in spiritual maturity: self-control and self-discipline.
Self-Control
1 Corinthians 9:25 (ESV) reads “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.” This term is translated from a Greek word meaning “to keep under control.” An athlete’s training requires abstinence from things that hinder progress. She must stay away from junk food that would weigh her down, avoid practices that could slow performance, and keep her emotions or fears under control.Our spiritual maturity requires self-control, too. We must eliminate things that hinder our growth and entangle us in sin (Hebrews 12:1). Poor choices in friendship corrupt our morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Allowing ourselves to enjoy sinful passions defile our holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Matthew 15:10-20). Idols can form in our hearts that enslave us to our own desires (Ezekiel 14:4; Romans 1:21-25; Matthew 6:24).
Believers are warned to avoid practices that impede spiritual growth. “Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you” (Colossians 3:5, NLT). “Flee evil desires” (2 Timothy 2:22, NIV). “Abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV).
Are there any habits, temptations, possessions, or relationships hindering your spiritual maturity? Even activities that are not sinful can be harmful for our growth. “Everything is permissible for me,” writes the apostle Paul, “but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12, HCSB). Consider adding boundaries and rearranging your priorities so that the Holy Spirit can freely work on your sanctification.
Self-Discipline
The second aspect of spiritual training is self-discipline. 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT) reads “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” The writer uses a different Greek verb that means “bring under subjection.” An athlete must push herself to the limit, lift weights, perform difficult cardio, and workout to stay in top condition.
We train for spiritual maturity through regular spiritual workouts. James K.A. Smith tells us we are all “liturgical animals,” shaped by the rhythms, routines, and rituals of our day. Humans are primarily doers, not thinkers (Imagining the Kingdom, p.113). Long lasting maturity happens by changing our desires from secular matters to spiritual ones; and that happens by practicing spiritual self-discipline.
The three essential disciplines for spiritual growth are (1) bible reading, (2) prayer, and (3) church attendance. I have never met a mature believer who did not make these three disciplines a priority.
Other spiritual disciplines abound. Some are commanded by God, like the disciplines of giving (2 Corinthians 9:7), evangelizing (Matthew 28:19-20), and serving others (1 Peter 4:10). Some are only needed for a season, like the disciplines of fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) and solitude (Mark 6:31). There are numerous other spiritual disciplines you will find helpful during different stages your spiritual growth; such as family devotions, journaling, memorizing scripture, volunteering, meditation, and ministering to people in need.
What spiritual disciplines should you start in order to mature in your faith? Perhaps you need to start one of the disciplines mentioned above. Maybe adding a discipline of regular fellowship with a Christian friend or mentor is what you need in this season. Perhaps the best thing you can do for your own growth is take a missions trip or start sharing the gospel. Actions like this train our heart, mind, body, and emotions to sanctification, transforming us more into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
In a way, both of us were right. I cannot run a marathon. I could be prepared with the best running shoes, stocked with the best workout music, and carbed up. I could be the most enthusiastic, motivated person in the race. I could try harder than anyone else on the track. But trying will not get me to the finish line; only training will. I need a workout routine that will position myself for athletic growth so that, eventually, I’m ready to run a full marathon.
Do you want to become spiritually mature? Scripture frequently describes the Christian’s life as a race for spiritual maturity (Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:2; Galatians 2:2, 5:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Acts 20:24; 2 John 9; Philippians 2:16). Running a race and following Jesus have at least one thing in common: they require training. There are two types of training involved: Self-Control and Self-Discipline. What will you include in your training for spiritual maturity?
We train for spiritual maturity through regular spiritual workouts. James K.A. Smith tells us we are all “liturgical animals,” shaped by the rhythms, routines, and rituals of our day. Humans are primarily doers, not thinkers (Imagining the Kingdom, p.113). Long lasting maturity happens by changing our desires from secular matters to spiritual ones; and that happens by practicing spiritual self-discipline.
The three essential disciplines for spiritual growth are (1) bible reading, (2) prayer, and (3) church attendance. I have never met a mature believer who did not make these three disciplines a priority.
Other spiritual disciplines abound. Some are commanded by God, like the disciplines of giving (2 Corinthians 9:7), evangelizing (Matthew 28:19-20), and serving others (1 Peter 4:10). Some are only needed for a season, like the disciplines of fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) and solitude (Mark 6:31). There are numerous other spiritual disciplines you will find helpful during different stages your spiritual growth; such as family devotions, journaling, memorizing scripture, volunteering, meditation, and ministering to people in need.
What spiritual disciplines should you start in order to mature in your faith? Perhaps you need to start one of the disciplines mentioned above. Maybe adding a discipline of regular fellowship with a Christian friend or mentor is what you need in this season. Perhaps the best thing you can do for your own growth is take a missions trip or start sharing the gospel. Actions like this train our heart, mind, body, and emotions to sanctification, transforming us more into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
I recently spoke to a friend who was headed to Pittsburgh for a marathon. It was a 26.2 mile run filled with difficult hills. “Man, I could never run that far,” I confessed. He furrowed his eyebrows and responded, “Sure you could. You just have to train for it.”In a way, both of us were right. I cannot run a marathon. I could be prepared with the best running shoes, stocked with the best workout music, and carbed up. I could be the most enthusiastic, motivated person in the race. I could try harder than anyone else on the track. But trying will not get me to the finish line; only training will. I need a workout routine that will position myself for athletic growth so that, eventually, I’m ready to run a full marathon.
Do you want to become spiritually mature? Scripture frequently describes the Christian’s life as a race for spiritual maturity (Hebrews 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:2; Galatians 2:2, 5:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Acts 20:24; 2 John 9; Philippians 2:16). Running a race and following Jesus have at least one thing in common: they require training. There are two types of training involved: Self-Control and Self-Discipline. What will you include in your training for spiritual maturity?