Distinct

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 4/13)

Reading: Acts 2:38-47

Picture this: You walk into a crowded gym on a Monday evening. It’s packed. People are working out, but most are in their own world, headphones in, focusing on their personal routines. You nod to a few familiar faces but keep to yourself. Now, contrast that with walking into a community fitness gym, like a CrossFit box. There’s energy in the air. People greet you by name, cheer you on through tough workouts, and even notice if you miss a day. It feels different—connected, purposeful, and supportive. Why? Because in the box, the community is the secret ingredient.

The church is designed to be like that—only much more. It’s not just a group of people gathering under the same roof. It’s a Spirit-driven community with a shared purpose and a unique kind of connection. Acts 2:38-47 gives us a beautiful picture of how the first church began and what made it distinct.

Here’s the backstory: After Jesus rose from the dead, He told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter stood up and preached to a huge crowd, explaining who Jesus was and what He had done. In verse 38, Peter tells the people, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Three thousand people responded that day, joining the movement of God’s people.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: The church didn’t just stop at baptizing those new believers. Verse 42 tells us they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (learning from those who walked with Jesus), to fellowship (deep relationships with one another), to breaking bread (sharing meals and remembering Jesus’ sacrifice), and to prayer (staying connected to God together). They even sold their possessions to make sure no one in the group was in need. Can you imagine that kind of generosity and care? It wasn’t just about attending an event; it was about living life together in a way that reflected Jesus.

What makes this kind of community so unique? First, it’s centered on God, not individual preferences or goals. Everything they did—from eating meals to praying—was focused on God’s presence and purpose. Second, they supported each other in tangible ways. It wasn’t just about saying, “I’ll pray for you.” They took real action, like selling property to help one another. Finally, this community was outward-facing. Verse 47 says they enjoyed the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily. Their love for one another was contagious.

In a fitness context, it’s like a CrossFit box where everyone pushes each other to hit their personal bests and celebrates every victory. The church is like that, but it goes deeper—it challenges us to grow in our relationship with God and supports us when life feels too heavy to carry alone.

So, what’s your part in this community? Are you engaging, or are you standing on the sidelines? Maybe it’s time to step into the kind of connection that God intended for you. The church isn’t just a gathering. It’s a movement of people united by God’s Spirit, living out His love in real and practical ways.

Just like a gym workout becomes more powerful in a supportive community, your faith grows deeper when you’re connected to others. Dive into the movement and experience the joy of doing God’s work together.

Questions for Reflection:

How does the description of the early church in Acts 2 challenge your view of community? 

What steps can you take to be more connected to the people in your church? 

How can your actions reflect the love and generosity that marked the first church? 

Being Transformed

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 3/13)

Reading: Colossians 1:21-29

The 40-minute EMOM was brutal

Whoever created the rhythm of an Every-Minute-On-The-Minute workout needs to be jailed for cruel and unusual punishment.  This particular EMOM was longer than any I could remember in 4+ years of CrossFit. Minute one: 15 calories on a rower. Minute two: 35 double-unders. Minute three: 14 calories on a bike. Minute four: 12 burpees. Minute five: rest (as if you could recover at all after the first four minutes!)  Repeat for eight rounds: a total of 40 minutes.  Brutal!

But here’s what happened: a number of my fellow athletes – particularly the ones who know the benefits of CrossFit – really “leaned into” this workout.  They pushed themselves to finish the specific exercise as quickly as they could, not taking the whole minute. They yelled encouragement to everyone else in the middle of things.  They smiled as they moved from exercise to exercise. They even thanked the coach afterwards for a great workout. Instead of passively reacting to the work in front of them, they embraced how it was making them better.

“Leaning-In” as a CrossFit athlete

I’ve come to learn this is true of most good CrossFit athletes: at some point in their journey, they “lean-in” – they go from accepting the coach’s workout to exulting in the coach’s workout. They revel in the physical stress, knowing it is making them better.

“Leaning-In” as a Christ-follower

Choosing to join a group of other athletes who push themselves is nothing like the persecution that first century Christians experienced. However, this “leaning in” to a tough workout reminded me of a quote from MLK in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

Indeed, in his letter to these early believers living in the city of Colossae, the Apostle Paul talked about life in the early church. He reminded these new believers of where they had come from and where they were going:

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel . . .” Colossians 1:21-23

In some respects, he was challenging them: you are now a part of this new spiritual community; you have been transformed by the grace of God. Therefore, be sure to “lean-in” to your new Christian faith and continue the work God began in you.

What about you – how do you “lean-in” to your own spiritual development?

Questions for Reflection:

Who do you know that is a workout “thermostat” rather than a workout “thermometer?”

How has being in a fitness community helped you lean-in to your physical fitness?

What would it look like to be in a spiritual community that helped you lean-in to your spiritual life?

Unconventional

Spiritual Training Cycle: Foundation (wk. 2/13)

Reading: John 15:9-21

Unconventional fitness. These two words have the power to change your life. I know that because unconventional fitness has changed my life. It has transformed me into a completely different human being. I’m faster. I’m stronger. I’m also more peaceful and patient. Unconventional fitness doesn’t just work for your body, it also works for your mind and soul. Here are three ways unconventional fitness can change your life.

Before we dive in though, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what unconventional fitness is. Simply stated, unconventional fitness breaks away from traditional training methods and incorporates unique approaches, environments, tools, or philosophies to challenge the body, mind, and soul in creative ways.

When you flip a tire or carry an odd object, that’s unconventional. When you swing a kettlebell, jump on a plyometric box, then run 400 meters, that’s unconventional. Unconventional fitness is not random. Rather, it’s a unique way of working out that’s constantly stimulating the body in different ways forcing us to adapt. And it works!

Now that we know what it is, let’s look at how it changes us

Unconventional fitness transforms your mind

How many times have you found yourself doing the same thing over and over again? All the time. And at some point, your brain switches into autopilot and no longer thinks about those decisions. Unconventional fitness keeps your mind engaged. Like a great new series on your favorite streaming service, new daily workouts in new environments with new challenges require focus. And they prevent your autopilot from kicking on. When it comes to fitness training, if you want to sharpen your brain as well as your body, you need to train unconventionally.

Unconventional fitness transforms your body

Let’s face it. We’re lazy people. And I can prove it. Almost every “innovation” in the modern era has been an attempt to ease the burden on our life. Today, we can Facetime our friend while ordering our groceries to be delivered while an Uber driver manages rush hour traffic for us. To people born a few generations ago, our first-world problems hardly seem like problems at all.

But it’s not our fault. We are biologically designed to accomplish any task with the least amount of effort possible. So don’t feel bad that you DoorDash instead of cook.

When it comes to fitness training, the more varied the exercise, the harder it is for the body to adapt. Because the body doesn’t know what’s coming next. Which makes unconventional fitness the weapon of choice.

Vary the intensity. Vary the weight. Vary the exercises. The more you keep mixing it up, the better. When you’re ready for a true body transformation, unconventional fitness will get you there.

Unconventional fitness transforms your soul

When it comes to spiritual exercise, the same rule still applies. You’ve got to train your soul in unique and unexpected ways. When Jesus was talking to His disciples, He gave them a command. A command so unconventional it would rock the ancient world. You ready for it?

Love one another. Loving others may be one of the most unconventional things you do. Because it’s not always easy. Jesus said our love for one another would be proof to the world that we belong to Him. To His church.

The church is not a building you go to on Sunday morning. The church is a global movement of the Spirit of God through the people of God doing the work of God for the glory of God. And love is the unconventional training method the church must use.

Love doesn’t only transform your soul; it transforms the souls of those you love. Even when they don’t realize it. God’s love draws us to Him because His love is unconventional.

Questions for Reflection:

Of your mind, body, or soul, which one needs the most work right now?

How have you experienced God’s unconventional love?

What would it look like for you to love unconventionally?