Vice – Part 5
August 30, 2026
Olympic Inspiration
Romans 8:26 (ESV): 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Genesis 48: 1-2 (ESV): After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed.
Matthew 26:40–41 (ESV): 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Spiritual disciplines
- Prayer
- Scripture Reading/Meditation
- Fasting
- Worship
- Praise
- Silence
- Giving
- Serving
- Bible teaching
- Note-takin
These conclusions are influenced by:
The Christian Life is a Spiritual Race
Scripture compares the Christian life to an athletic contest:
I Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV): 24 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. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I Corinthians 9:24 (ESV): 24 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.
I Corinthians 9:25 (ESV): 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Luke 16:25 (ESV): 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
I Corinthians 9:26 (ESV): 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
I Corinthians 9:27 (ESV): 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Jesus Offers Us the Easy Button
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Three Obstacles to spiritual discipline (and how to overcome them)
- Vision, Identity, Commitment
Vision
John 5:19–20 (ESV): 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
John 15:5 (ESV): 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Identity
Ephesians 4:21–24 (ESV): 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Commitment
Luke 14:28–33 (ESV): 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
Books Referenced