Spiritual Disciplines

1. Spiritual Disciplines

2. Primary Sources for this Series • The Bible • The Cost of Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life: Donald S. Whitney • Celebration of Discipline: Richard Foster

3. What are Spiritual Disciplines? • Those activities we Christians engage in that will lead us into a deep and intimate communion with the Triune God of the Scriptures. • “Those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” • “Habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by people of God since biblical times.” • Whitney, 4.

4. Nowhere in the Bible is there a list of Spiritual disciplines. However, as one studies the Bible a number of such disciplines will surface.

5. The following are not necessarily a comprehensive list of spiritual disciplines. Nor is there any suggestion that we are commanded to pursue all these disciplines at the same time

6. What Are “The” Spiritual Disciplines? • Inward Disciplines • Meditation • Prayer • Fasting • Study • Outward Disciplines • Simplicity • Solitude • Submission • Service • Corporate Disciplines • Confession • Worship • Guidance • Celebration • Investment Disciplines • Evangelism • Disciple-Making • Stewardship • Journaling

7. Why are these Disciplines important? • “Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” (Foster, 1) • “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in this law does he meditate day and night, and he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings for its fruit in its season, its leaf also shall not perish and whatever he does will prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3) • “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me!” (Luke 9:23) • Before God will lead you into ministry He will call you to Himself!

8. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

9. Who Am I? By Dietrich Bonhoeffer • “Who am I? • They often tell me I stepped from my cell’s confinement, calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a Squire from his country house. • Whom am I? • They often tell me I used to speak to my warders, freely and friendly and clearly, as though it were mine to command. • Who am I? • They also tell me I bore the days of misfortune equably, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win.

10. Who Am I? By Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Am I then really that which other men tell of? • Or am I only what I myself know of myself? • Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, • Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, • Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, • Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness, • Tossing in expectation of great events, • Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, • Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, • Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

11. Who Am I? By Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Who am I? This or the other? • Am I one person today and tomorrow another? • Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others, • And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling? • Or is something within me still like a beaten army • fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved? • Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. • Whoever I am, You know, O God, I am thine!”

12. At the end of the day! • It does not matter what the world thinks of you. • It does not matter what fellow believers say about you. • It does not matter what you have, or have not accomplished in this life. • You do not have to please men. • At the end of the day there is only one question you need to answer… • Did your life bring glory and honor to Jesus?

13. Every person who has ever lived has struggled over the questions of whether or not their lives had meaning and significance.

14. For the believer, these questions have answers! • Our identity is in Christ • Our eternity was secured by His sacrifice • Our meaning and significance is determined by His will • Our purpose and mission in life is defined by His Word

15. Who are you?

16. If you have confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you are a child of God!

17. And, if you are a child of God! • “His divine power has granted to us (you) everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence in your faith…” (II Peter 1:3-5) • If you are a child of God, then you already have everything you need in order to grow in grace and spiritual maturity. • So, take what God has already given you and diligently apply it!

18. We must transition from passively waiting for God to actively pursuing Him! And this will take discipline; Spiritual discipline!

19. Why do we need to engage in spiritual disciplines?

20. So we can fulfil God’s purpose and grow a great soul for the glory of God!