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If you’ve missed the first two articles in this series on physical exercise and spiritual disciplines, I encourage you first to get caught up with those articles linked below. Then, come back to read about this comparison between my gym and a church. Taking Care of Ourselves as a Spiritual Discipline 8 Connections for Me between Physical Exercise and Spiritual Disciplines Now, for the connection between my gym and a church . . . Several years ago, I started working out at a gym that offers high intensity interval training. It’s been good for me, especially as a 65-year-old with a family history of heart disease. Honestly, I think many churches could learn some stuff from my gym, like . . . The gym leaders intentionally plan. They know exactly what they want to accomplish each day because they’ve planned ahead. They have goals in mind, and you know they have direction and purpose. Too many churches, on the other hand, operate from Sunday to Sunday, with little planning. Too much gospel effort is only haphazard. They emphasize community. They want gym members to think of themselves as a team, helping each other, encouraging each other, pushing each other. No one has to feel alone in the heavy-duty workouts. In many churches, though, “community” is more a buzzword than a reality. Many church members attend every Sunday while still living on an island in that church’s fellowship. The leaders know each of us by name. I was surprised by how quickly they learned my name and by how often they use it when they see me. I feel like they know me. They recognize me. They don’t let me come and go without addressing me—which is what I’ve experienced in many churches. We often call each other “brother” and “sister” precisely because we don’t know each other’s names. They genuinely coach each of the participants. They watch us working out. They evaluate our form. The coaches gently but firmly correct us when necessary. They want us to get the most out of the experience, so they drive us in that direction. Churches, though, sometimes let members just come and sit. Or, they give members “jobs” and responsibilities without giving them any training—and then get upset with them when they don’t do their roles well. They assume we have a desire to grow. Granted, members pay a fee to be a part of the gym, and the leaders understand that commitment. They assume we come because we want to increase in strength and endurance--so they push us, sometimes beyond our perceived limits, to help us grow. On the other hand, I’ve talked to some discouraged pastors who are convinced their members are comfortable just like they are. Those shepherds give up on the sheep too soon, in my judgment, and they get what they thought they would get: uninvolved, non-growing members. They honor faithful “stick-to-it-ness.” They welcome new members with excitement, but they also celebrate long-term members who reach their goals. They recognize those members and honor them for their persistent work by having them sign a public “goal met” poster. Churches, though, sometimes forget to thank and bless those members who serve faithfully week after week, usually without recognition. Indeed, they are not looking for recognition—but it is still right for churches to express gratitude to them. They view the work as both individual and corporate. They start with us individually where we are, and each of us gets attention from the coaches. At the same time, they want us to get to know each other. They want us to see each other as a team because they know we will accomplish more together than alone. Churches need this kind of balance, too. God never designed us to loners in the work of the gospel, but many churches don’t do a good job of intentionally emphasizing the “family” nature of the church. They want to make a difference in the community. They're not thinking spiritually, but they do watch for needs in the community. For example, they gather school supplies for kids at the beginning of the school year. At Christmas time each year, they collect items so others less privileged can celebrate the holiday. Many churches already do the same, of course, but most of us can likely do better throughout the rest of the year. It should be that our communities miss us if our churches were not there. They've checked on me when I've not attended faithfully. That has not always been the case, but I can point to times when someone from the gym reached out to me because I had not been there in some time. That extra attention (I was still paying monthly, so they were not losing money by my absence) meant a lot to me. Again, churches can learn here. By the time some churches recognize that a member has been absent, he or she is often long gone—and then the church only wonders what happened. They know the body matters. That's their focus, of course, because they really do recognize the significance of being in shape. After all, we have only one body to steward. We believers could give more attention to our physical well-being, too; in fact, our "out of shape" tendencies are not a good witness to the world. That’s one of the points of this entire article series. How does your church compare to my gym? How might your church be stronger?

Need some inspiration? Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps encourages you to face life, not halfheartedly, but with ALL your heart by giving yourself to God’s plan and His power. Discover motivation that will change your work life, your relationships, and your faith! Think of an area in your life where you are just getting by and commit to work at that one area as though the Lord is your boss or supervisor. Think of a relationship in your life that could use some nurturing. Commit to be fully present in your interactions with that person - listening, attentive, and engaged with all your heart.

There are people all around us who need to know the love of Christ. Mark prays for us today asking for boldness and strength as we shine our light to the world.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Reflect How has the Bible impacted your life? When you read God’s Word, do you notice a change in your character or behavior? The Bible is an old book. But really, it isn’t just one old book. It is comprised of 66 old books to be exact, the oldest of which are the books of Genesis and Job which are believed to have been written in approximately 1400 BC. Revelation was likely the last book to be written in approximately AD 90 when the apostle John was exiled on the island of Patmos. That means that the Bible is between about 3,421 years old and 1,927 years old depending on which book of the Bible you are using to measure its age. Regardless, the Bible is truly full of ancient words. So, why do we still care about this old book? Does such an ancient text have anything relevant to say to our postmodern culture? Progressive Christian Rob Bell argues no. He is quoted as saying, “The church will continue to be even more irrelevant when it quotes letters from 2,000 years ago as their best defense.” But the issue at hand is whether or not we truly believe that the Bible is God’s Word. If it is, it will always have something relevant to say and it will have the ultimate authority in our lives. In today’s verses, the apostle Paul affirmed that these ancient words are not just man’s words. He said that Scripture is “breathed out by God.” The words of the Bible were penned by mere men but they were words inspired by the God of the universe. Jesus certainly held the view that Scripture had full authority as God’s very own words. When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He said, “It is written '' three times and then quoted Old Testament Scripture as the final say to Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). In Matthew 15, Jesus appealed to Scripture when the Pharisees and scribes attempted to trap Him. They were accusing his disciples of breaking the traditions of the elders. But Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 20:12, and Exodus 21:17 and referred to them, not as the writings of Moses, but as “the commandments of God” (Matthew 15:3). In this narrative, Jesus demonstrated that Scripture has more authority than man-made traditions. Further, He affirmed Scripture to be God’s own Word and commands. Every time I open my Bible, I marvel at how a book from over 2,000 years ago can still speak truth into my life. But it does! In its pages I find guidance in my own personal life and the answers to society's biggest problems. How would society change if all individuals obeyed the Word of God? What would happen if we all revered God as holy? If all children obeyed their parents and all parents lovingly raised their children up in the Lord? What would happen if men laid down their lives for their wives and loved them as God loved the church? What would happen if all wives submitted to their husband’s leadership? What if no one abused their spouse or children? What if divorce and adultery were a thing of the past? What if every person submitted to a biblical sexual ethic? What if everyone heeded the commandments to not kill, steal, lie, or covet? Can you even imagine a world in which everyone loved God and considered their neighbor as more important than themselves? A world in which everyone gave generously and took care of each other? It’s hard to deny that obedience to God’s Word would radically change our world for the better. Even the historical narratives speak into our human issues of today. Billy Graham once said, “People reading the Bible for the first time are often surprised to discover how much human drama it contains. Almost every conceivable human dilemma and conflict is reflected in its pages.” Sometimes, the human narratives teach us what to do and sometimes they demonstrate what not to do. Either way, we learn valuable life lessons. The truth is, even today, the Bible is relevant and useful. As Paul said in today’s verses, it teaches us and trains us. It corrects us when we go off course and it equips us to do God’s work. But the Bible is only useful if we crack it open and see what it has to say. Respond God, thank You for the Bible. Thank You for giving us the instructions on how to live in a way that honors and glorifies You. Help me to live in obedience to Your Word. Amen. Reveal Share a Bible verse that has shaped your life with a friend or family member this week. Tell them why it mattered to you at a specific moment. Personal stories often help people see that Scripture isn't just an ancient book—it still speaks into real life today.

SPIRITUALLY FIT | TODAY In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole and guest Brian Doyle, founder of Iron Sharpens Iron, discuss how fathers transmit faith to their children through daily actions rather than words. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6:6-7, they explore the importance of authentic spiritual leadership at home and the challenge of older men mentoring the next generation. BACK TO THE BIBLE DAILY What does Jeremiah 29:11 really mean in its original context? In today’s episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores the true message behind this popular verse, revealing how God’s promise was given during exile and what it means for us in seasons of waiting and hardship. ADDITIONAL STEPS: STEP 1 - RECEIVE (Receive God's Word and Grow in Bible Knowledge) Before you can talk about the good news, you need to know the bad news. That's what Paul does in these opening chapters of Romans. We'll find that everyone stands justly condemned before God for violating His laws and His holiness. But of course, this is not the end of the story, and before we end this message, we'll learn a bit about God's grace. STEP 2 - REFLECT (How does this Scripture Apply to your life?) Do you have one of those phones or mobile devices that will keep track of the time you spend on various apps? It's kind of depressing, isn't it. If you're growing concerned with the time you've been wasting, take a minute to join Gary as he shares some wisdom from the Bible. STEP 3 - RESPOND (How will you Win Today?) Need some inspiration? Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps encourages you to face life, not halfheartedly, but with ALL your heart by giving yourself to God’s plan and His power. Discover motivation that will change your work life, your relationships, and your faith! Think of an area in your life where you are just getting by and commit to work at that one area as though the Lord is your boss or supervisor. Think of a relationship in your life that could use some nurturing. Commit to be fully present in your interactions with that person - listening, attentive, and engaged with all your heart. STEP 4 - REVEAL (How will you reveal Jesus to others today through praying and sharing?) There are people all around us who need to know the love of Christ. Mark prays for us today asking for boldness and strength as we shine our light to the world. BONUS STEP Click HERE for your DAILY FORWARD DEVOTIONAL

Before you can talk about the good news, you need to know the bad news. That's what Paul does in these opening chapters of Romans. We'll find that everyone stands justly condemned before God for violating His laws and His holiness. But of course, this is not the end of the story, and before we end this message, we'll learn a bit about God's grace.

Do you have one of those phones or mobile devices that will keep track of the time you spend on various apps? It's kind of depressing, isn't it. If you're growing concerned with the time you've been wasting, take a minute to join Gary as he shares some wisdom from the Bible.

A man I’ve known for years — I’ll call him Brian — is one of the more biblically serious people I know. He has spent decades in God's Word. He believes it, studies it, and has tried to build his life on it. He is not a casual Christian. Several years ago, Brian walked through a prolonged crisis that unfolded slowly and painfully over the better part of two years. He was wronged badly by someone close to him, and the damage spread to people he loved. During that time, he did what a man of faith does. He prayed, pouring out his heart to God. He pleaded with God to intervene in his external circumstances. He begged Him to quiet the internal symptoms that had taken over his body and brain, the kind of sustained inner turbulence that doesn’t have a clean medical name but that anyone who has lived through a severe trauma will recognize immediately. God did not seem to answer either type of prayer. Not in the ways Brian was asking. What followed was several years of something Brian describes carefully and honestly: bitterness toward God. Cynicism about the practical value of prayer. A faith that was still technically intact but had gone cold in places he didn't know how to warm back up. He is mostly through it now. But it took years, and the path was anything but straight. The Doubt That Comes from Believing Here is the thing about Brian’s story that I think deserves careful attention. His doubt most certainly did not come from any kind of preexisting skepticism about God or indifference to Scripture. It came from taking God and the Bible seriously. He had been taught since childhood that God can and does intervene in human circumstances. That prayer moves the heart of God. That He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Ps 34:18). Brian believed those things with his whole heart. And then the results, as best he could measure them, didn’t match what he had been taught to expect. That collision between what the Bible teaches and what a person actually experiences is where some of the deepest and most honest doubt lives. It is not the doubt of someone who never took God seriously. It is the doubt of someone who took Him seriously enough to feel the full weight of the gap. Brian would tell you himself that some of what he felt wasn’t just pain. Some of it was bitter accusation toward God. There were moments when his struggle crossed from honest grief into simmering resentment that indicted God rather than simply questioning Him. He doesn't minimize that. He names it for what it was. But here is what I want you to hear: God did not abandon Brian in that bitterness. He did not withdraw until Brian got his theology straight. He stayed. And over time, slowly and unevenly, Brian found his way back to a faith that is now, in his words, “almost entirely resolved.” Not because the questions all got answered. Because something deeper than answers held. You Are Not the First If you are carrying a doubt you have never said out loud, I want you to know that the Bible has more room for you than you may realize. John the Baptist baptized Jesus. He heard the voice from heaven. He saw the Spirit descend. And then he ended up in prison, and from that prison he sent messengers to ask Jesus a question that must have cost him something to send: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matt 11:3). This is not a man who had never encountered God. This is a man in the dark, asking whether what he had given his life to was real. Jesus did not rebuke him. He sent back an answer, and then he turned to the crowd and said there was no one greater born of women than John. Doubt, in that moment, did not disqualify John. It revealed a man honest enough to bring his hardest question directly to the source. That is what I would ask you to do with yours. The doubts you are afraid to say out loud do not surprise God. He already knows! What’s more, God is not fragile. He does not need you to protect Him from your hardest questions. What He asks is that you bring them to Him rather than letting them settle into a quiet cynicism that slowly hollows out your faith from the inside. Unspoken doubt has a way of rotting the soul. It doesn’t announce itself. It just gradually puts distance between you and God, between you and His Word, between you and the community of faith, until one day you realize you have drifted further than you intended. Brian’s years of struggle were real. The bitterness was real. The unanswered questions are, in some ways, still real. But so is the God who stayed present through all of it, who did not require Brian to have it resolved before He showed up, and who has brought him to a place of genuine peace that years of cynicism once made seem impossible. That same God is not finished with you either. Bring Him the doubts you are actually carrying, so that the real work can begin.

Witnessing doesn't have to be a big dramatic moment of biblical proportions. Jon is here to introduce a concept called the pivot: little changes and adjustments we can make to include others into our lives. Join him as we pray for more of these opportunities.

What are you banking on to keep you safe and secure when you need it most? Well, the answer may not lie in a bank. Today Karmin shares some wisdom with us from the Bible and King Solomon that will help us find the source of true security.