Jesus increased in stature (Luke 2:52).  Paul wrote that “bodily exercise profiteth” (1 Timothy 4:8), and also said that he brought his body under subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27).  One of the fruit of the Spirit is “temperance” (self-control, Galatians 5:22, 23).  We teach our young people to take care of their physical bodies, especially since “the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Our bodies perform better and function more effiiciently when we have an exercise regiment.  We will live in these bodies our time on this earth, so we need to take care of them.  Concerned for his physical well-being, Paul commanded Timothy concerning what he was drinking (1 Timothy 5:23).  In the Old Testament, God set up a whole set of dietary restrictions as part of his judicial law for Israel.  He was obviously concerned that they eat right.  When Daniel kept those restrictions (Daniel 1), his physical condition was better than those in his captive nation of Babylon.  We believe there is a basis for physical education and sports.

Other lessons can be learned from physical education and sports—selflessness (teamwork, Philippians 2:2-4), preparation (Proverbs 6:6-8), toughness (2 Timothy 2:3), and coachability (Hebrews 13:7, 17).  The field of sports is a place to work on the temper, on respect of authority, on patience, on ridding laziness and even more.  We also take these within their proper place for a balanced person, who grows not only physically, but also spiritually, intellectually, and socially.

All children have some physical education (in the forms of play-yard recess and PE classes).