disciplines.w4

Spiritual Disciplines

The Long ViewWeek 4

There is a great market for

religious experience in our

world; there is little enthusiasm

for the patient acquisition of

virtue, little inclination to sign

up for a long term

apprenticeship in what earlier

generations of Christians called

holiness.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson

The Gospel

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –

not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Gospel

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus

to do good works, which God prepared in advance

for us to do.Ephesians 2:10

Disciplines

• Relational with God– Bible Focused– Prayer Focused– Heart Focused

• Relational with Others– Gathering Focused– Serving Focused– Submission Focused

Disciplines and Growth

No rapid growth in Christian maturity will be

attained until the first indispensable step of

submission to the lordship of Christ has been

taken. The key question that determines

whether or not He has been given that place

of authority in the life is, “Who makes the

decisions?”J. Oswald Sanders from Shoe Leather Commitment


• We are encouraged to grow

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all

deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every

kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual

milk, so that by it you may grow up in your

salvation, now that you have tasted that the

Lord is good.

I Peter 2:1-3


• We are encouraged to grow

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary

teachings about Christ and be taken forward to

maturity, not laying again the foundation of

repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in

God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of

hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal

judgment.

Hebrews 6:1-2


• God is at work in our growth

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always

obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much

more in my absence—continue to work out your

salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God

who works in you to will and to act in order to

fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:12-13


• Disciplines are not a “New Law”

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very

eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like

to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by

the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you

so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now

trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so

much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God

give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of

the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Galatians 3:1-5



It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,

then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a

yoke of slavery…So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will

not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires

what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is

contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other,

so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you

are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:1, 16-18



Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step

with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25


• It takes work

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a

good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith

and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do

with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be

godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value

for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to

come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full

acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put

our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and

especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:6-10


• Disciplines must not be substituted for the the relationship

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.

I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you

have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not,

and have found them false. You have persevered and have

endured hardships for my name, and have not grown

weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the

love you had at first.

Revelation 2:2-4

When I Don’t Want To…

• Don’t stop……change!


• Don’t isolate…..embrace!

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,

for he who promised is faithful. And let us

consider how we may spur one another on

toward love and good deeds, not giving up

meeting together, as some are in the habit of

doing, but encouraging one another —and all the

more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25


• Don’t hide….shine!

Neither do people light a lamp and put it

under a bowl. Instead they put it on its

stand, and it gives light to everyone in the

house. In the same way, let your light shine

before others, that they may see your good

deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:15-16


• Don’t abandon…trust!

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do,

for they disfigure their faces to show others they are

fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward

in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash

your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that

you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen;

and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will

reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18

Summary

• Disciplines are putting ourselves in a position to grow in our relationship with God…they are not the means or way to have a relationship with God.

• Faith is cultivated in the absence of benefit.

disciplines.w4

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