The Bible
God’s love story to us!
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Discipline
Spiritual disciplines are those practices found in the Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.
-Don Whitney, What Are Spiritual Disciplines?
Characteristics of Spiritual Disciplines
– The Bible prescribes both personal and interpersonal disciplines.
Matthew 26:36-46: Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Personal)
Matthew 19:13a: Then little children were being brought to him that he night lay his hands on them and pray. (Interpersonal)
– They are activities (not attitudes) and practices (not personal qualities of character).
…the biblical way to grow in being more like Jesus is through the rightly motivated doing of the biblical, spiritual disciplines.
~Don Whitney podcast
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
1 Timothy 4:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
– They motivate us live a Christ-centered life (godliness).
Spiritual Disciplines taught or modeled in the Bible
– Solitude: refraining from interacting with others in order to be alone with God.
– Silence: not speaking, in a quiet place, in order to quiet our minds and tune in to God’s presence.
– Fasting: going without something for a period of time to connect more with God.
– Sabbath: a day or time of rest; to replenish our souls.
– Worship: praising God’s greatness and goodness privately and with others.
– Prayer: one-on-one time with God
– Service: giving our time, talents, and resources.
– Reading the Bible: trusting the Holy Spirit-inspired words as our guide, wisdom, and strength for life.
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Characteristics of Spiritual Disciplines
– They are both personal and interpersonal disciplines.
– They are activities (not attitudes) and practices (not personal qualities of character).
– They motivate us live a Christ-centered life (godliness).
– They are a means, not an end.
So…what practices are in your spiritual pencil case?
What ones do you need to add
Challenge: Engage in the spiritual discipline of self-examination and seek God’s direction for where you need to go.