recap: Middle School Sunday School, 9/9

This Sunday we began a month-long study on disciplines. Often when we think of 'discipline' we think of punishment, but there is another way to think of discipline--as training. For example, a basketball player disciplines himself to play basketball well. Even though the basketball player may not want to practice every day, he does so there will be an end result: he will be a good athlete. As Christians, we are to cultivate spiritual disciplines. These disciplines include things like Bible study, prayer, worship, evangelism, fasting, etc. We need to push ourselves to practice these things, even when they are hard, so that we can achieve the end result: to be conformed, molded, to the likeness of Christ. If Christianity is a race, and becoming a Christian is the starting point, then the finish line is to be just as Jesus is, with Jesus, in the new creation.

Here are some of the verses we went over in class.
Phil 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

1 Cor 9:27-29
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Heb. 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rom. 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Here are the Bible verses we are going to read through each day.
Day 1: Phil. 1:1-5
Day 2: Phil. 1:6-11
Day 3: Phil. 1:12-17
Day 4: Phil. 1:18-20
Day 5: Phil. 1:21-24
Day 6: Phil. 1:25-30
Day 6: whole chapter