Spiritual Disciplines

Relational with GodWeek 2

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

What is a Disciple?

The word disciple means “a learner,” but Jesus infused

into that simple word a wealth of profound meaning. As

used by Him and by Paul, it means “a learner or pupil

who accepts the teaching of Christ, not only in belief

but also in life-style.” This involves acceptance of the

views and practice of the Teacher. In other words it

means learning with the purpose to obey what is

learned. It involves a deliberate choice, a definite

denial, and a determined obedience.

Shoe Leather Commitment by J. Oswald Sanders

Disciplines

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

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

Bible Focused

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

Bible Focused

Praise be to you, Lord;

teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119:9-16

Bible Focused

• Bible Study– Systematically giving serious and careful

thought to the Bible for application

• Devotional Reading– Pattern of reading the Bible

• Meditation– Direct focus and reflection on a specific passage

• Memorization– Recording a passage for recall

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:5-8

Prayer Focused

• What is prayer?– Prayer is obeying God– Communing with God– Being moved to God’s agenda

A Life of Prayer by Paul Cedar

Prayer Focused

True prayer – the prayer that must be answered – is the personal

recognition and acceptance of the divine will. It follows that the

hearing of prayer which teaches obedience is not so much the

granting of a specific petition, which is assumed by the petitioner

to be the way to the end desired, but the assurance that what is

granted does most effectively lead to the end. Thus we are

taught that Christ learned that every detail of His life and

passion contributed to the accomplishment of the work which He

came to fulfill, and so He was the most perfectly “heard”.

B.F. Westcott from “Prayer” in the New Bible Dictionary

Prayer Focused

• Private– Journaling– Fasting

• Corporate

Heart Focused

• Confession– To acknowledge sin and guilt in the light of

God’s revelation

Heart Focused

• Confession

Therefore confess your sins to each

other and pray for each other so that

you may be healed. The prayer of a

righteous person is powerful and

effective.James 5:16

Heart Focused

• Confession

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and

just and will forgive us our sins and

purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9

Heart Focused

• Giving– Utilizing time, talents, and treasure for the

Lord

Heart Focused

• Giving

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on

earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and

where thieves break in and steal. But store up

for yourselves treasures in heaven, where

moths and vermin do not destroy, and where

thieves do not break in and steal. For where

your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:19-21

Heart Focused

• Giving

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will

also reap sparingly, and whoever sows

generously will also reap generously. Each of

you should give what you have decided in

your heart to give, not reluctantly or under

compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Heart Focused

• Rest– To pause in acknowledgement of God’s reign

and rule in our lives

Heart Focused

• Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and

burdened, and I will give you rest. Take

my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and

you will find rest for your souls.Matthews 11:28-29

Heart Focused

• Teachable– Willingness to receive instruction

Heart Focused

• Teachable

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to

make it clear to you because you no longer try to

understand. In fact, though by this time you

ought to be teachers, you need someone to

teach you the elementary truths of God’s word

all over again. You need milk, not solid food!Hebrews 5:11-12

Heart Focused

• Submission– Reflecting Christ’s attitude toward one another

Heart Focused• Submission

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as

Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God

something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made

himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being

made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a

man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even

death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

Heart Focused

• Submission

Be very careful, then, how you live —not

as unwise but as wise, making the most

of every opportunity, because the days

are evil…Submit to one another out of

reverence for Christ.Ephesians 5:15-16 & 21

Summary

• Our relationship with God needs to be cultivated to be healthy.

• We grow in our ability to trust God through cultivating our relationship with God.