Our rallying cry for 2021: we practice the spiritual disciplines and we practice the spiritual gifts!
Here, we’ll do a four part series to define and describe both. You can find Part One here. Part Two is a list of spiritual disciplines and brief comments on each one:
Bible Intake – Hear God’s Word, read God’s Word, study God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, meditate on God’s Word, apply God’s Word. Commune with your Father through His Word.
Prayer – Prayer is expected, prayer is learned, prayer is answered. Pray with your Bible open. Pray with others. Pray throughout the day and schedule a specific time each day to pray.
Worship – All of life is worship. Worship is focusing on and responding to God. Worship is done in Spirit and truth. Worship is expected both publicly and privately. Worship is a discipline to be cultivated. We repent quickly forsaking lesser glories and turn to the great glory—God. We delight in the Trinity.
Repentance – Conviction is God’s kindness which leads to repentance (Rom 2:4). In repentance we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin and feel the weight of it before the face of God then we confess specifically that sin to God and others (1 John 1:8-10; Jam 5:16). The act of repenting is turning from your idols to God (see 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:21). It’s a total change of mind. A swapping of your love of false gods to the one true God made known to us in Jesus. It’s turning your worship from creation to Creator and your belief from lies to the truth (Rom 1:25). A life marked by pervasive repentance is one of progress and joy.
Evangelism – Evangelism is expected, evangelism is empowered, evangelism is a discipline. We boldly evangelize to say yes to the Great Commission, to tell of the grace we’ve received, to see more people meet Jesus. Boldly where we are Spirit-filled not fear-filled, intentional not busy, and serious not distracted.
Serving – Every Christian is expected to serve: motivated by obedience, gratitude, gladness, forgiveness not guilt, humility, and love. Every Christian is gifted to serve (see spiritual gifts below). Worship empowers serving; serving expresses worship. The gospel of Christ creates Christlike servants.
Stewardship of Time and Money – We are managers not owners. God has given us time and money to steward wisely for his glory. A disciplined life is possible through the discipline of time. Giving is an act of worship. Giving reflects faith in God’s provision. Giving should be regular, sacrificial, and cheerful.
Fasting – Christian fasting is a believer's voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. A normal fast involves abstaining from all food, but not water. A partial fast is a limitation of the diet, but not abstention from all food. An absolute fast is the avoidance of all food and liquid. Fasting is expected. Fast is to be done for a purpose (e.g. to express love and worship to God, to strengthen prayer, to seek God’s guidance, to express grief, to humble oneself before God, to minister to others needs, to overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God).
Silence & Solitude – Silence is the voluntary and temporary abstention from speaking so that certain spiritual goals might be sought. Solitude is the voluntary and temporary withdrawal to privacy for spiritual purposes.
Journaling – A Christian journal is a place to document the works and ways of God in your life. Your journal also can include an account of daily events, a record of personal relationships, a notebook of insights into Scripture, and/or a list of prayer requests. It is one of the best places for charting your progress in the other Spiritual Disciplines and for holding yourself accountable to your goals.
Learning – Learning characterizes the wise person in Scripture. God is glorified when we use our minds He made to learn of Him, His Word, His ways, and His world. “Love the Lord your God...with all your mind” (Mark 12:30).
Join our rallying cry by committing to read the Bible this year with us and by participating in our Equip classes. Find registrations for both here.
A few other blogs on specific disciplines: